Lathe Tool Grinding Helper

[randyc]

After my customary morning nap, I spent a few minutes aligning the vertical mill vise and edge finding the axes then started learning the DRO functions.  As previously noted, the manual for the thing is useless so I spent about ten minutes playing with the bolt circle function.

The commands on the display are not in any form of English that I'm familiar with but I muddled through and figured it out finally.  (E.g.  the word "end" is "ed" on the display and not because it lacks enough display characters, LOL.  I'm thinking that the software code was written by ed chang.

I started working on the Delrin block that forms the base for the tool holder (the camera tripod with the tiny vise).  Drilling the holes probably took half the time it normally would - no need to double-check every dimension before turning on the machine, LOL.  It only takes two or three minutes to calculate the X, Y dimensions from the bolt circle dimensions but again, there is the possibility of error.  (I sometimes print a full size copy of anything with unusual shapes or weird dimensions and rubber cement it on the part, to double check my dial crank turns.)

Anyway, here is the start of the Delrin block.  Tomorrow I'll do the boring and OD turning followed by some jeweler's rouge and a buffing wheel.