Miniature Lathe

[rossbotics]

Started working on this project about a month ago now, it's starting to take shape and looking more like a lathe than a pile of parts and pieces, so far it's coming together nicely, although I must say working with these small of pieces does become a little cumbersome at times, it's been along time since I worked with small taps like 2-56, although in my early days of machining I worked for a guy and we did a lot 0-80 threads.

I'm designing this as I go along and documenting the build in cad, the bed is 12" long that's been machined and ground from solid steel, the headstock and tailstock were machined then ground in alignment to fit the beds ways perfectly, this project will take me several more months to complete I'm sure of, not only is it a model but it will be a working model with power feed.

I have attached a couple photos of the build as it is at this stage, anyone with a comment or idea would be appreciated

Doug

[Walkman]

She's a beaut, Doug! Keep up the beautiful work and make sure to let me know when prints are available!!

Walkman

[steamingbill]

Is it intended to be the equivalent of a small Taig or Sherline Lathe ? They are useful for folk with limited area to undertake their hobbies.

[rendoman]

Impressive!!

[old_toolmaker]

rossbotics,

This is going to be one nice and ambitious project Doug! It will be fun to follow your progress as it unfolds. Can't wait to see the next installment!

[petertha]

Very neat! This is going to be cool to watch unfold.
Since it looks mostly complete I'd like to learn more about your spindle design - bearings / bushings / arrangement. Hollow vs solid shaft? Screw on chuck mount? Provisions for collets maybe?

[Canobi]

That is a true thing of beauty Doug but then I don't think I've ever seen anything you've made so far that wasn't cause for bouts of heavy drooling and wondrous awe.

Would love to have more details of the build so far, like the steel grades used for the various parts etc.

Any plans for scraping and/or hardening the ways?

[hemmjo]

I am very anxious to see the quick change gear box!!! Actually, that thought started out as humorous, then as I it wrote, it morphed into, he very well might do that!!!!

Very awesome project to be sure.

[Clockguy]

Nice job Doug!! Your lathe reminds me of my old jeweler's lathe used when I was repairing antique clocks. My lathe has the ability to cut almost any part of a working mechanism of many old grandfather clocks on down to the finest smallest toothed wheel and shaft for a lady's wristwatch. The only thing missing is my experience at manufacturing many of these items normally handmade to replace any broken parts on the clock. I limited my repairs to only large clocks and left the fine work to my mentor who was still repairing tiny watches at the age of 89, when last we talked. I marvel at his competence and patience with maneuvering such intricately small parts under 10X magnification when I sometimes had trouble properly replacing a worn sleeve bushing in a clock works for a big daddy Grandfather clock!

I cannot wait to see the finished product, good luck with your build.

[jjr2001]

Now that is worthy of the new Tool of the Year award. Haven't seen that award yet but I
am nominating your lathe for the new award!

I don't use too many of the computer generation words or phrases but
your new project is Eye Candy to me. Looks like it will be an order of
tolerance better than any of the current brands of very small lathes.

Cheers, JR