Goniostat for the Tormek

[RichColvin]

I am in the process of designing a goniostat for the Tormek, and am seeking feedback.  This jig is designed for sharpening these types of tools:

• Single point cutting tools for small metal lathes.
• Engraving bits used in rotary cutters, especially as driven by a router type motor on a CNC machine, and
• Tools for ornamental turning, especially on rose engines.
• End mills

The picture below shows the parts I've designed so far.

The parts are:

• DBS-22 Plate (item #2, p/n 2350, shown in gray).  This slides left / right on the base of the DBS-22.

• Goniostat Base Plate (blue).  The final one will need some form of marking to show the angle for setting.  The drawing below shows shows the tool fence with the pointer at the top and the locking knob removed.  This angle would read 90°, and the fence can be rotated left or right as needed.

• Tool Fence (red) - used to set the angle for grinding the edge.  The tool or tool holder would be held against this when sharpening.
   
  The bolt coming up thru the Goniostat Base Plate is a T-Slot bolt from McMaster-Carr (p/n 92770A113).  I had to turn the shoulder down a little so that it did not protrude too much above the surface of the Goniostat Base Plate.  The area noted in red below is what was turned to the the same as the screw shaft.

• Plate Angle Gauge (yellow) - used to set the angle of the plate (DBS-22 and Goniostat Base Plate) on the USB.  This would also have indicator marks.  They are simulated at 15° increments in the drawing below.  There are no rollers on the design (like on the TTS-100).  That would be an improvement which would be welcome.

• Round Tool Holders (green) - these are used to hold tools for sharpening which have round shafts.  They have a 60° nose angle to allow the held tool to be ground up close.  The hole in the top is for a 6mm set screw to hold the tool's shaft in place.

The sizes shown on the right are the ones I will use.  3D printing the 8 of them will take a while on my 3D printer, which is pretty slow. There are two generic ones shown on the left.  The left-most one is 25mm square and would be drilled for holding bigger tools.  The other one is 15mm square and would be drilled for holding smaller tools.

These are videos of the goniostat in use.

• https://youtu.be/7UShseLaNI8?si=XE2Nq1f4dvdIp4Pc
• https://youtu.be/xmIeUmbD2pU?si=g-4b0Y7l3e4fEYCc

[Rimu]

Very cool idea. I look forward to watching it develop.
Would some of this not benefit from using the side of the wheel for a completely flat grind?

[RichColvin]

This design allows for use of the side of the grinding stone, but certain angles would not be cut using that approach.  For example, the single point cutters used on metal lathes have a cutting edge angle along with a rake angle.