RISER BLOCKS FOR UNIMAT LATHE

[morsa]

This is a project made in November, 2011.

The aim of the riser blocks is to increase the lathe swing over bed, in order to increase turning capacity, or to attach some accessories. Although there are commercial block sets, these are my homemade version.

The blocks are 20 mm thick, so the locking bolt secures the headstock column in the secondary groove.















I’ve seen riser blocks made in aluminum, with CNC router; I guess it would be possible to make them with 3-D printing.

Regards, morsa.

[DIYer]

Thanks morsa! We've added your Unimat Riser Blocks to our Lathe Accessories category,
as well as to your builder page: morsa's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Unimat Riser Blocks by morsa

tags: lathe

[Hemi]

This one here is VERY useful! I'll be attempting this with Aluminum for my Machine!!!! NICE job tho in wood!!!! (I just can't get past the thought of the wood swelling with use of cutting lubricants!)

[morsa]

This one here is VERY useful! I'll be attempting this with Aluminum for my Machine!!!! NICE job tho in wood!!!! (I just can't get past the thought of the wood swelling with use of cutting lubricants!)

Thank you, Hemi. I completely agree. Although at that time (more than five years ago), I considered the possibility of making them in aluminum, I have to admit that I do not have the capacity to machine this material (my hobby is wood work rather than metalwork).

The blocks were finished with sealant to prevent moisture absorption and have never been bathed with cutting lubricants, so the blocks remain intact and functional to this day.

I hope to see your riser blocks in aluminum.

[Hemi]

Yeah, it be just my luck that they'd swell......... LOL (Murphy's Law, don't ya know!)

[morsa]

Of course I know.
The blocks were made with a 19 mm agglomerate (which with moisture deteriorates worse than wood) and was covered with Formica on one side to reach 20 mm thickness, so that the locking bolt enters the secondary groove of the headstock column.