frizzy curly swarf - more weight

[nikc]

Hey There

I am using a MSS vintage mono lathe with myshank diamond and blanks.
Cutting has been going great, but recently swarf has gone frizzy and curly and not going up the tube!
I am already pressing down with 16grams. so dont want to go too high.
The cuts are still sounding ok if i sweep away the swarf (and get in a big tangles mess).
Oh an i am heating the blanks up to 26 degrees C and using a little stylus heat

Anyone got any ideas?

Regards
Nik

[handcut]

Are you using any anti-static treatment? It could be humidity-related also. Not too sure about London, but up here we've just gone from a heatwave to unseasonably cool - high humidity to low - so more static. Do you have a microscope? Rather than relying on weight are you able to measure the width/depth of the grooves? Have you changed the angle at all?

[nikc]

Hi Handcut, Thank you very much the reply.
Yes I am using turtle wax spray for anti-static. The humidity is around 47% the moment, which it good. Though its been hot here (for London) and humid at the same time. sometimes it gets down to 27%.
I do have a normal microscope but not attached to the lathe as cant see how i would get one to see under the MSS cutterhead. But i can look at blanks once they are cut. I could measure the groove width i guess, but how would you measure the groove depth?. The cutting angle is roughly the same but i'll take a closer look.

i will get a photo of the cutterhead

Best wishes

Nik

[nikc]

..... and here is photos to show the head

http://www.nikclifford.co.uk/photos/20210611_105600.jpg

http://www.nikclifford.co.uk/photos/cutterhead_smaller.jpg

[Aussie0zborn]

The microscope goes on the side opposite the head.

[dmills]

Groove depth is always just under half groove width if the cutter stylus is in even reasonable condition, as the stylus has a 90 degree tip (With a typically 1 micron rounded point, hence the just under).

[Discomo]

I had a likewise problem but with a VR.
Could only solve it by increasing the weight of the head. Had torque issues as a result and needed to upgrade to a better table with more torque. But this solved the issues with swarf completely. Now at about 21 grams I think.

[Discomo]

Rather than relying on weight are you able to measure the width/depth of the grooves?

I’ll be interested to hear how to do this…

[nikc]

The microscope goes on the side opposite the head.

Thanks i'll look into that.

[nikc]

Groove depth is always just under half groove width if the cutter stylus is in even reasonable condition, as the stylus has a 90 degree tip (With a typically 1 micron rounded point, hence the just under).

Thanks that really good to know. What is a goo groove width?

[nikc]

Hello again
my groove width is roughly 50um. That seems like its in the range of ok. Yes?
Best
Nik