I need a little help on the metal lathe

Maker Talk
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I have a short project for someone that can operate the metal lathe. I’m willing to pay someone to help out.

I’m making a prototype hand tool. The handle requires a few brass tube spacers and to get the needed accuracy it probably best to make the parts on the metal lathe. The profile needs to be square so probably just a parting tool. The raw material is 0.3125" brass tubing 12" long. I need at least 3 spaces but 12 spacer parts cut to 0.265" long would be safer in case one rolls under the work bench.

Everything is pretty small. Just need some help from someone to cut these for me.
I’m ordering the tubing but probably be a week before it arrives. Not a rush job. Willing to pay

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I can certainly do this for you, and I’ve been intending to seek out more paid work opportunities. I will DM you with more info.

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Beware the resident parting tool. You may want to pick up something specific for this job.

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I haven’t had problems with it recently. We should probably replace it since one end is bent, but the remaining end works fine if used with appropriate care: straight in with lubricoolant and a pretty slow feed rate.

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IIRC, the current parting tool takes a 3mm wide (or 1/8") insert. That’s probably not what you want for such a small diameter part. 1mm or even smaller may be required to not have the part climb up on your parting tool. A 3mm wide cut imparts a lot of force. Another method would be to cut these a little long in a saw, then measure them and trim the excess with a facing tool on the lathe.

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Hey Alex, thanks for your input. What little I know about machining informs me that you have a good point. That said, I am not pursuing this direction for my project any more - but it may offer folks more information how to do somethingk like this. All good.

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