I make pulleys too.

[aametalmaster]

Lots of them up to 5" from steel and aluminum. Here is a little vid cutting the groove with a 1/4" HSS tool bit. I take a groove right down the middle of the blank then make the 15* angles on the sides...Bob
http://s110.photobucket.com/albums/n86/a...the023.mp4

[DaveH]

Bob,
So do you cut the 1/4" groove to the full depth first then open up the sides.

Do you have one of those "fancy" tools that cuts the sides for you at the correct angle?

DaveH

[ETC57]

Bob,

What keeps the material your working on from slipping on the shaft your turning it with?:shy:

Is there a dog I'm just not seeing?:shy:

Inquiring minds gota know!!

Jerry.

[aametalmaster]

The pulley arbor is keyed as well as the pulley blank so it doesn't slip.
The pointed HSS tool bit shown in the 1st pic cuts the edges but just at the point of the tip. I turn the compound and cut the one side first then turn the compound and cut the other side and hope :) everything is in the center...Bob

[Highpower]

Bob, what grades of steel / aluminum do you find works best for pulleys in general?

[aametalmaster]

I have used 6061 4" aluminum stock and it cuts stringy. I have a small bale of stringy alum chips about 3' in dia from the last 2 alum pulleys. I like cutting CRS better than HRS but i do use both as well. Its what i can find cheap at the time. Everyone does know that CRS started out as HRS just re rolled cold to give it more strength and make it smooth...Bob

[DaveH]

Bob,
If you have a lot of Aluminium swarf you can send it to Willie, he seems to collect it


DaveH

[Highpower]

6061 stringy? Why, whatever do you mean??? :tongue:





Dave....

[stevec]

Dave, what king of grind do you put on your cutting tool to make the stringy swarf feed into the garbage can?

[Highpower]

That weren't Dave - that was me.

After having it fly all over the place, stop the lathe, scoop it all up, drop it in the can, start the lathe, have it fly all over the place..... yada, yada, yada...

I found that with just the right carbide insert / chipbreaker, and the right amount of feed, and placing the can just right.....

I was just giving Dave the "rasberry" for saying I collected aluminum swarf!
I don't know where he get's these ideas....



By the way Dave...
I guarantee you Bob has generated way more swarf than I ever have. Maybe I should be shipping mine off to HIM, eh? LOL.