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Can I machine a axle shaft?

WaterH

WaterH

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May 20, 2020
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I need to make some threaded bushings. I don’t have any round stock to make them from. I do have an old axle. If I heat it cherry red and let cool, can I machine it. If it’s going to be a major bitch, I will just get some mild steel.
 
You will have a better time just machining it cold with carbide. The heat treat goes in about 40 thou. I might be way off base on the number, that's just what I remember from whenever the last time I took a cutter to one was. :laughing:
 
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WashingtonMatt said:
The back in the day it was a common thing to have full size front axles cut and resplined for Broncos. I'm still running mine today.
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Yea, but they ground the splines in. No problem do that in hard metal. I want to machine a step in the side, drill and thread a hole through the center.
 
arse_sidewards said:
You will have a better time just machining it cold with carbide. The heat treat goes in about 40 though. I might be way off base on the number, that's just what I remember from whenever the last time I took a cutter to one was. :laughing:
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That’s what I was thinking about the center. I guess I’m going to try to heat it.
 
Axle shafts aren't through hardened so tapping the center won't be a big deal. Remember all the hack and tap slip yoke eliminators were done with a hand drill and hardware store taps. :laughing:
 
lots of aftermarket shafts are through hardened though the center does usually stay pretty soft since you can't quench it hard enough through the rest of the shaft, and the induction hardened ones are usually hard for a good 1/4" skin depth

yes you can anneal it real easy as you'd expect to anneal it, it'll make dimensional accuracy a lot easier for a beginner
when hard turning you've got to come up on your final dimension bang on without a light finish pass, and this is something lots of people find near impossible
 
So I heated the end of the shaft.

IMG_1598.jpeg


I machined one bushing pretty easy, but the second one was a bitch. (Still in the chock here)

IMG_1600.jpeg


It tour the insert out of my tool holder.

IMG_1601.jpeg


I put it back together as best I could with a new insert and finished the second bushings.

IMG_1602.jpeg


That’s good for a test fit, but I have 8 more to make. I’m not going to try with the rest of the shaft. Too much of a PITA.
 
Uh, you tried to take too big a bite.

Either need a bigger tool holder and cutter or just feed less.
 
first one softened
second one was hard as dick because the shaft's mass quenches the edge of the heat affected zone

anneal the whole shitaree at once (hot until not magnetic, then a little more) and you'll do better
or just buy stock
 
Chevy_man said:
Uh, you tried to take too big a bite.

Either need a bigger tool holder and cutter or just feed less.
Click to expand...

I’m a pussy when running the lathe. I was taking 10 thou cuts.

[486] said:
first one softened
second one was hard as dick because the shaft's mass quenches the edge of the heat affected zone

anneal the whole shitaree at once (hot until not magnetic, then a little more) and you'll do better
or just buy stock
Click to expand...

That’s what I figure. If you look at the pic of the red, it seems like I was far enough away from the cooler section. I’m just going to get mild steel shaft.
 
So the only shaft I could find at the scrap yard was a hydraulic shaft. I know they have hard chrome on the outside, but would it be a hardened shaft?
 
WaterH said:
So the only shaft I could find at the scrap yard was a hydraulic shaft. I know they have hard chrome on the outside, but would it be a hardened shaft?
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Typically induction hardened.

You don't have a steel supplier that sells drops? I have an Alro Metals Outlet near me that has racks an racks of drops they sell by the pound. And for a few bucks exta, they'll cut stuff so you're only buying the length you need.
 
WaterH said:
So the only shaft I could find at the scrap yard was a hydraulic shaft. I know they have hard chrome on the outside, but would it be a hardened shaft?
Click to expand...
They may or may not be hardened, based on the application. They are typically 1045 and if hardened, it will be to a depth of around 0.080-.0100" deep. For hardened, I use my metabo cutoff to cut the outer 0.100 depth, then toss them in the band saw to finish. You can machine off the hardness layer as long as you take the 80 thou depth of cut in one pass. It wastes the insert, but does the job. Ceramic insert turns it off like butter.
 
CJeep77 said:
They may or may not be hardened, based on the application. They are typically 1045 and if hardened, it will be to a depth of around 0.080-.0100" deep. For hardened, I use my metabo cutoff to cut the outer 0.100 depth, then toss them in the band saw to finish. You can machine off the hardness layer as long as you take the 80 thou depth of cut in one pass. It wastes the insert, but does the job. Ceramic insert turns it off like butter.
Click to expand...

80 thou in one cut? Did I mention I’m a pussy on the lathe?


Sceep said:
www.mcmaster.com would have had you raw material the next day instead of you wasting all the damn time fucking with scrap BS. :laughing:
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Well, the axle was free. I like McMaster, but they are proud of their stuff. I’m not in a rush for this.
 
I found another chunk of shaft that is not hard. Now I just need to find time.
 
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