Zabco:
I was using the parting tool and holder that I got with the Sherline. I was using it on the front, but it had to have a
LOT of tool stick-out in order to get it on centerline. I have since switched to the 1.5mm x 6mm parting tool that I got for the Unimat, If I want to use it on the Unimat I'm probably going to have to get another one of them. I mounted it in the rocker tool-post I got with the Sherline, and that's where it will most likely stay. I put it on the back as you suggested, and things went much smoother. That could have been because there was less tool stick-out, but from now on parting off will probably be done like that.
I did have a problem when I tried to take off a 0.13mm cut like that though, it seemed like that 1.5mm blade just wanted to deflect. I got a BUTT-load of tooling with the Sherline, including a bunch of brazed carbide bits - most of them still had the wax coating on them. After trying one I understood why they were unused, straight from the factory the brazed carbide cutting edges are useless. The set I got from HF years ago were the same way, the bottom edge of the brazed carbide would hit the part before the "cutting" edge would touch the part. After touching up the relief angles on a diamond hone, so the cutting edge actually cuts instead of just rubbing the part, I have useable brazed carbide bits.
I've also got a complete prototype modified axle.
