Getting Smooth Curves with a Holdridge Radii Cutter
If you've ever spent an afternoon wrestling with a file trying to get a perfect sphere on the end of a steel rod, you'll immediately understand why the holdridge radii cutter is such a legendary tool among manual machinists. It's one of those attachments that transforms a standard lathe from a machine that only does straight lines and tapers into something capable of producing beautiful, flowing geometry. Honestly, once you see one in action, it's hard to go back to the "old way" of hacking out a radius with a form tool or a steady hand and a lot of sandpaper. ...