QCTP (Quick Change Toolpost) Base

A while back I bought a QCTP from TS Engineering<. The QCTP is very nice, but I don't like where the toolbit is positioned when it's put in either of the slots on the crosslide. If I put it in the left slot, then I can't get the tailstock close enough. If I put in the right slot, I can't get the toolbit right up close to the chuck. I also discovered that I had to put some packing under my 1/4" toolbits in order to get them high enough to be on center.

This baseplate solves both of these problems, by allowing the QCTP to be positioned partway between the slots, and it raises the height of the holder slightly.

Fly Cutting the base

Here's a photo of the base being flycut using my new fly cutting clamps. Bigger...

Finished Pieces

Here are all of the pieces that will be used together. The base piece was mostly machined using CNC. I did the countersunk portion using my drill press, since it's easier. Bigger...

Back of baseplate

Here we can see the backside of the base. The funny shaped recess on the right was to allow the square portion of the T-nut to fit. Since it's on the bottom, it doesn't really matter since you can't see it. Bigger...

Mounted on the crosslide

This is how it gets mounted on the crosslide. Bigger...

QCTP installed

Here we can see the QCTP mounted as well. Bigger...

Dimensioned Drawing

This is a drawing of the baseplate. Also available in PDF and Rhino formats. This is the G-Code that I used as well. It uses tool change calls and expects that your software will pause to change the tools. I used CutViewer Mill to proof the G-Code and Mach2 to control the mill. Bigger...


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Copyright 2010 by Dave Hylands