Friend just gave me a lifetime supply of hydraulic cylinder rod. What insert do u use? Have heard of guys using ceramic,,,,,, like that’s cheap and easily come by. Was hoping just to do a .050 cut at .008 tir with a regular insert. Induction hardening is supposedly only .050 thick on a 1.5 inch rod. Thoughts?
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Tips/Techniques Hydraulic Rod
- Thread starter Shoprat
- Start date
Tips/Techniques
Quite frankly I have not had good success turning hydraulic cylinder rods. They are plentiful in old farm machinery, but regular carbide inserts and HSS are usually toast before I can even get going. For me, it's cheaper to buy regular steel rod at a steel supplier.
Many rods are either chromed or nitrided and hard as diamond. Just kidding but you get the idea....
Therefore, I'll be following your question hoping someone can provide good advice.
The bit of hydraulic cylinder I've turned seemed nearly impossible on the outside but if I got underneath the surface it turned fine.
I hear you!!!! Ceramic inserts at 30$ a pc go a long way to buying rod. Heard that kncr u got through all the hardening etc it was ok, but getting there
I can probably help with this. I machine hydraulic rods at my day job. The Secret is to try and get under the hard outer layer in one pass at low speed and then the center part of the rod is actually pretty soft. On a 3.25" rod I take .25" off in the first pass at 80 rpm with a sandvik CNMG insert. The PR chip breaker lasts a long time .031 corner rad. You will need coolant and a rigid machine but you don't need anything fancy.
1/4" in one pass eh......
What feed rate? Most of what I get is 1.25 to 1.50. Maybe the odd 2" rod.
What would you cut that at?
Last edited:
Tom Kitta
Ultra Member
I turn a lot of cylinder rod. I have a lot. It is a nice metal, probably 1008. It is quite soft.
Exception is some rod for aircraft - these seem hardened and of alloy steel - i.e. not easy to turn.
That's really strange. I'd think most rod is like mine. Not soft at all. They are just standard 3000psi hydraulic cylinders.
Tom Kitta
Ultra Member
Mine is usually from things like caterpillar control rods. Some are form just regular hydraulic cylinders. Maybe the idea here is that I just remove the top layer rather quick and deal with the soft interior.
It can also be subjective - I deal a lot with 4140 and 4330 - so anything softer than these is ... soft.
I have ran into a lot of Hydraulic Cylinder RODS that are case hardened and ground.
The better finish enables a longer life for the rod seals.
The rods themselves are generally ‘low carbon’ for toughness, while the case hardening is generally 1/32-1/4” deep, depending on the rod diameter.
We have a few TIGERCAT plants in the Cambridge area.
The better finish enables a longer life for the rod seals.
The rods themselves are generally ‘low carbon’ for toughness, while the case hardening is generally 1/32-1/4” deep, depending on the rod diameter.
We have a few TIGERCAT plants in the Cambridge area.
Low sfm. 70sfm works good for what I am cutting. That means a 1.5" rod would machine well at 180rpm. Keep the feed rate high. Ten or fourteen tho. Per revolution. The hard exterior is chrome on the rods I am machining and is about .125 thick.1/4" in one pass eh......
What feed rate? Most of what I get is 1.25 to 1.50. Maybe the odd 2" rod.
What would you cut that at?