VB Toolrests

VB Manufacturing, Phoenix House, Tern Hill, Market Drayton, Shropshire, TF9 3PX
TEL: FAX: E-Mail:
+44 (0)1630 637375 +44 (0)1630 637377 sales@hegner.co.uk

Toolrests


	Conventional 'T' Rests:

		These are used to support tools when spindle turning and for general faceplate work. Short toolrests are used where longer versions might foul

some projecting part of the work or of the surrounding structure. Long rests are more convenient where space permits because they do not have to be re-positioned so frequently and allow uninterrupted sweeps of long features. Long rests are also useful for reaching inside a bowl or wide-mouthed vessel to bring the point of support for a tool as close as possible to the work.

It might reasonably be assumed that tool-rests for different lathes will provide pretty much the same facility. However, many lathes do not have a support structure for the toolrest that enables it to be adjusted close to the turning axis. The blade of such rests has to be angled forward and largely prevents the use of an underhand grip. The point at which the vertical post meets the blade also creates an obstruction to the free passage of the forward hand along the face of the rest. VB rests are carefully designed to permit the use of any preferred grip without

An underhand grip allows the fingers to exert control force on the toolshaft very near to its tip for optimum effect with minimum effort

the fingers becoming entrapped when the tool handle is held low, and to allow a full traverse of the rest without the hand or fingers having to adjust to changing contours.

So that they can happily withstand the potentially huge loads to which a lathe with the VB's capacities may subject them, VB toolrests are made from a combination of materials. (One such situation for example could be when supporting the turning tool on one of the extreme ends of the 16" toolrest and truing up a heavy log.)
The toolbearing blade is cast from SG(Spheroidal Graphite) iron which has about the same tensile strength as mild steel ¥ that is, about twice the tensile strength of ordinary cast iron. The 40mm diameter vertical post that carries the blade is machined from EN8 steel, much tougher and harder than mild steel and impervious to the indenting pressure from clamping screws. The area of potential weakness where the vertical post meets the blade is eliminated by having the post threaded to enter a reinforced area of the blade casting. Both the

shoulder of the post and the underside of the blade are machined flat to form a perfect interface for the final assembly which is completed by a permanent fusion process.

VB toolrests have an additional feature to aid tool control in particular situations. This is the "Firmager Pin" ¥ a horizontally projecting pin that can be screwed into the turner's side of the toolrest face to provide a positive anchorage point for the forward hand whilst the fingers curl around the toolshaft. (A technique developed by Melvyn Firmager.)

Order No.

Description

Ex. VAT

Inc. VAT

VBT130

130mm straight toolrest

VBT200

200mm straight toolrest

VBT300

300mm straight toolrest (supplied as standard with lathe)

VBT400

400mm straight toolrest

VB-MF

Firmiger Pin - fits any VB toolrest




	Deep Hollowing Rests:

      Deep, hollow form turning is carried out with tools that differ from conventional turning tools in that they are designed to be used horizontally and frequently project over the toolrest by distances of 12" (300mm) or more. Cutting performance inevitably deteriorates as projection increases, to a point where it becomes impossible to take a clean cut. Having the facility to place the support point of the toolrest actually inside the work obviously extends the depth to which a vessel can be worked. Even where tool projection is not an issue, best control is obtained when there is minimal overhang.
      In conventional turning, the forward hand would normally be in contact with the toolrest and cradling the toolshaft at that point. (Try conventional turning with the forward hand withdrawn from the rest to appreciate the contribution that positive hand contact with the toolrest makes.) A potential hazard arises in the case of hollow form turning in that the end of the rest which supports the tool may be inside the work. It would be extremely risky to insert the forward hand through the neck of a rotating vessel. In practice, the forward hand is used at some point back along the toolshaft, out of contact with the toolrest, and some element of control is lost.
     VB Deep Hollowing Rests have an independently adjustable handrest outside the work. The net result is that the tool restcan be positioned inside the work to reduce overhang to a minimum and optimize cutting performance, whilst the handrest gives positive anchorage for the forward hand away from rotating sharp edges etc.
     The toolrest component of a VB DHR (Deep Hollowing Rest) has holes along its top edge to accept a fork insert or avertical pin to limit to the travel of the tool when it is possibly out of sight inside the work. The handrest bar can also be used as a toolrest where the neck of the vessel is too narrow to permit the toolrest itself to enter. In anticipation of the fact that the handrest may sometimes be used as a toolrest, it has been designed to accept the vertical pin or fork inserts.
     We make two versions of the DHR. Both provide a rock-steady platform for deep hollowing tools and are designed on the principle of linked, but independently adjustable tool and hand rest components as described above.

Holes are provided on the top edge of both the tool and handrest bars for insertion of a fork or pin. Also, the handrest bar has a threaded hole for use of a "Firmager Pin".

Small Ø eccentric h/rest bar has unstepped tool support surface

The Standard Deep Hollowing Rest provides for an 8" (200mm) reach inside a hollow form. That is, it increases the total controllable reach of the tool by 8". The handrest bar, when used as toolrest, can be extended up to 9" inside the work. A choice of even narrower bars can be fitted in place of the standard handrest bar for use through smaller apertures. Both of these are machined with a camform to bring the tool-bearing edge level with the support boss and form a continuous bearing surface for the tool. (The photograph above right illustrates this.)

Order No.

Description

Ex. VAT

Inc. VAT

VB-DHR

Deep Hollowing Rest System, comprising curved tolrest with 200mm (8") reach; 300mm (12") handrest bar with adjustable clamps etc.

VB-MF

Firmager pin - fits any VB toolrest

DHR5

Short fulcrum pin for DHR system

DHR6

Forked toolrest insert for DHR system

DHR7

Eccentric handrest/toolbar; 110mm reach x dia. 16mm

DHR8

Eccentric handrest/toolbar; 200mm reach x dia. 20mm

Extra Long-Reach Deep Hollowing Rest

The handrest bar component of the XDHR is available independently and gives an extensible reach up to 12".

The XDHR assembly has a sliding toolrest beam with locking swivel extension which together give reach adjust-

ment of between 4" and 20" (100 ¥Ÿ500mm). Such a pot-entially long extension of the toolrest means that its mount-ings can be subjected to enormous leverage forces. To enable it to absorb such loads the steel beam is mounted on an SG iron casting which encircles the outer diameter of the main toolrest support post (60mm O.D.). Because of the weight of the assembly, we strongly recommend it be used in conjunction with the HSC60 height setting collar. (See next section.)

Order No.

Description

Ex. VAT

Inc. VAT

XDHR

Extra Long Deep Hollowing Rest ( Standard 500mm / 20" )

XDHR/XL

Extra Long Deep Hollowing Rest ( Extended Arm 1000mm / 39")

VB-XLA

Extra Long Arm 1000mm to convert XDHR to XDHR/XL

XDHR3

Handrest assembly for use in with XDHR or XDHR/XL (Or as long-reach toolrest)

XDHRP

Short fulcrum pin for XDRH3 or XDRH5

XDHRF

Forked toolrest insert for XDRH3 or XDRH5




	Height Setting Collars:

	VB rests are intentionally heavy! The standard 12" (300mm) toolrest supplied with the VB weighs about 8lbs (3.9kgs) and the XDHR toolrest, without the handrest component weighs 45lbs (20kgs)! Height setting collars are available to support the weight of any toolrest and maintain its chosen height setting when its clamp is slackened to make a swivel adjustment. HSC40 is suitable for all toolrests with 40mm Ø stems, that is, all VB 'T' rests and the standard DHR rest. HSC 60 is only for use with the XDHR toolrest assembly.

Order No.

Description

Ex. VAT

Inc. VAT

HSC40

Height setting collar, 40mm Internal Dia. For 40mm stem toolrests (NOW COMES AS STANDARD ON VB36)

HSC60

Height setting collar, 60mm Internal Dia. For XDHR5 toolrest asembly


	Bennison Adapter:

	Invented by VB owner John Bennison, this device allows a useful range of effortless adjustment of the toolrest without having to re-position the main toolrest support beam. A capped sleeve sits over the 60mm Ø post. It extends laterally to form a 40mm Ø receiver for any of the VB's 'T' rests or the standard DHR. A wedge sits in the central gap between the 60mm post and the 40mm toolrest stem. An external handle is threaded into the wedge and, when turned, pulls the wedge against the sides of the post and toolrest stem, effectively locking the double swivel action they provide. A height setting collar can be used in conjunction with the toolrest enabling the whole operation to carried out with one hand.

Order No.

Description

Ex. VAT

Inc. VAT

VB-BEN

Bennison Adapter (NOW COMES AS STANDARD ON VB36)


	Free-standing Toolrest Holder:


	The VB toolrest beam can be positioned behind the turning circle of the work and offers a range of movement so that the back and outer rim of a large diameter workpiece (up to 86"/2200mm in the case of the VB 'L' model and 92"/2350mm for the VB 'H') can be shaped. With the beam swiveled forward to work on the front face, the maximum diameter that can be swung over the beam is 36"/925mm. The Free-standing Toolrest Holder (VB80) allows a toolrest to be located in any required position with no obstruction to the work, irrespective of length or diameter. The VB80 is supplied in H and L
	versions to match your lathe and accepts all of the VB's rests, including the XDHR. (Outrigger legs are available to further extend the footprint of the VB80 if working with the XDHR.)


	The VB80 can also be positioned behind oralongside the turner to act as a handle rest for long handled deep hollowing tools. In this mode, the horizontal attitude of the tool is effectively controlled by two rests, the conventional toolrest at the front and the handle rest at the rear. The turner simply uses sufficient downwards pressure between the two rests (or directly over the handle rest) to keep the tool in contact with both. The Handle Rest insert (VB80/BR) provides 26"/650mm total lateral sweep for

The VB80 can be used as a rear positioned "handle rest" for long tools

the tool handle before re-positioning becomes necessary. Stops at each end of the rest prevent the tool accidentally running off when concentration is focused on the cutting action.

Order No.

Description

Ex. VAT

Inc. VAT

VB80(H)

Free-standing toolrest holder for VB36(H) lathe

VB80(L)

Free-standing toolrest holder for VB36(L) lathe

VB80/OL

Outrigger legs (pair) for free-standing toolrest holder when using XDHR 500mm/20" reach toolrest system.

VB80/OL/XL

Outrigger legs (pair) for free-standing toolrest holder when using XDHR/XL 1000mm/39"" reach toolrest system.

VB80/BR

Rear toolhandle rest (positioned behind turner for added control with very long deep hollowing tools).

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HEGNER U.K.
Phoenix House, Tern Hill, Market Drayton, Shropshire, TF9 3PX, England.

SALES: +44 (0)1630 637375
TECHNICAL: +44 (0)1630 637376
FAX: +44 (0)1630 637377
E-Mail: sales@hegner.co.uk