On Apr 4, 11:09*pm, Bob La Londe wrote:
If you needed to put a hemisperical end on a bunch of 1/4" stainless
dowels how would you tackle it? *Say 400, give or take.

Classic method(besides Ed's), is to use a collet with a stop in the
lathe and a pivoting tool rest. This last can be just a bar with a
pivot held by some means on the compound rest up to an elaborate gear
driven C-shaped holder in a half-gimble. Here's one sort:

http://www.littlemachineshop.com/pro...1970&category=

Most of the ones I've seen have the pivot point with a vertical axis,
you can offset your pivot from the workpiece's axis for different
shapes that way. Can go from a complete sphere to just a spherical
corner break.

Advantage of that method is no special tool grinding needed, just
stick in a HSS tool with a standard tip for the material and have at
it.

Ball-turning attachments are perennial articles in the home shop
magazines.

If you're really going to go into production, use the form tool/
milling cutter ideas.

Stan