11-10-2012, 08:34 AM
That knurler (the one TomG posted in his first pictures) is far superior to any scissor type because of the inherent rigidity of the opposing knurls in a solid frame.
I used to use a knurler in CNC machines that would remind you of the Aloris one posted by petertha, though it was far sturdier. It had two opposing slides that slid in & out on dovetails with a common LH/RH threaded screw. The "carrier" that held the roller assemblies had float up & down in the track for centering, but bolted solid once you had it in place. It was a robust tool, and it's bulk was more vertical than horizontal. On CNC lathes with limited Z axis travel, this was important.
Like the Aloris shown, getting the rollers right over "top dead center" and bottom was the key to success. The one TomG shows is better in that the design puts the knurls right on center opposing each other perfect without any fuss. I might like to build something similar, though I'd like to make the knurl holding sliders out of a hex or 12-sided stock so I could index the knurls. This allows using straight knurls to cut (rather than press) a diamond knurl, cut straight knurls with left and right angles knurl wheels, or altered angle knurls with various settings.
I used to use a knurler in CNC machines that would remind you of the Aloris one posted by petertha, though it was far sturdier. It had two opposing slides that slid in & out on dovetails with a common LH/RH threaded screw. The "carrier" that held the roller assemblies had float up & down in the track for centering, but bolted solid once you had it in place. It was a robust tool, and it's bulk was more vertical than horizontal. On CNC lathes with limited Z axis travel, this was important.
Like the Aloris shown, getting the rollers right over "top dead center" and bottom was the key to success. The one TomG shows is better in that the design puts the knurls right on center opposing each other perfect without any fuss. I might like to build something similar, though I'd like to make the knurl holding sliders out of a hex or 12-sided stock so I could index the knurls. This allows using straight knurls to cut (rather than press) a diamond knurl, cut straight knurls with left and right angles knurl wheels, or altered angle knurls with various settings.