I built this lathe in my basement shop.
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I built this lathe in my basement shop.
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Hi Tim - welcome to HomemadeTools.net :welcome:
Great first post! I'm moving this discussion into our main Homemade Tools subforum, so that we can get it added to our encyclopedia and credited to your name.
Got any details on the build?
Thanks, Jon. I do have details, and more photo's, I will be posting soon. This Lathe is just one of several machines that I have built, or restored, for my shop. This one though, was the most challenging, and the most fun!
timcruzen,
You have a very interesting design and build to your lathe. I also see you have a gear box behind the headstock for the lower speeds. Looking forward to seeing more about the homemade lathe. This is a great first post and sure to generate a lot of interest!
Thank you for sharing the photos,
Paul Jones
It would be fantastic to see more info on this machine. I've actually toyed with the idea of doing a CNC mill or router type machine but haven't had the cash to move forward.Quote:
Originally Posted by timcruzen
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Thanks timcruzen! We've added your Metal Turning Lathe to our Lathes category,
as well as to your builder page: timcruzen's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:
<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-metal-turning-lathe-2"> <img src="/uploads/156409/homemade-metal-turning-lathe-2.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-metal-turning-lathe-2">Metal Turning Lathe</a> <span> by <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/builder/timcruzen">timcruzen</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/lathe'>lathe</a>, <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/motor'>motor</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>
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Hi Tim
Welcome to home made tools, that's a very good workmanship, a lot of hours I'm sure, would love to know what intrigued you to build this machine, was it just something you wanted to do ?
Great work
Doug
Very nice lathe. Great work. Why 2 motors? Minor detail, might need to cover that center mounted lead screw, swarf is gonna fill it up real quick, but I do like that idea.
Great project. Like it. Looking forward to see more pics.
Could it, motor 2, be to run the lead screw, and the toggle switch be for forward/reverse.
I notice some of the things, like what is the second motor for? the feed screw will fill up quick in it's location without protection. Also dod you get your tailstock and lathe chuck from a HF lathe?
Thanks all for your interest. This is actually the second lathe I have built. The first attempt worked, but had several shortcomings, that I corrected in my second build. I will go into a more detailed summary of this project soon. To answer some questions... The second motor was my answer to the problem of low RPM turning. I could not afford a VFD to run the main motor at low RPM's, and still retain the torque needed. I decided that a good gear motor should be able to do the job. I used a reversible, low RPM with plenty of torque, and accomplished what I needed. I need only to switch belts between motors, to switch from high to low RPM's. This lathe has no power feed, although I did consider it during the build. I opted not to add it at the time, But, I did leave the option open for the future. I've become accustomed to hand feeding, and have become quite good at it. Reverse is used primarily for threading. I use taps, and dies, along with a home made die holder. More details coming soon... Thanks again, keep checking in...
I like the design ,help us with your plans if you can.
Hello all. I wanted to update my post, and add a few photos, before I continue with more project detail... For those of you that noticed the location of the lead screw, and thought it would be problematic, I considered that early on in the project. Because I wanted the action of lateral feeding to be as smooth, and friction free as possible, I decided to keep the lead screw centered between the bearings on the cross slide saddle. All I had to do was to come up with a way to keep screw clean, at least clean enough to prevent having to stop, and clean it during a project. The photos show what I use... Just a simple plastic deflector/ guard to redirect the chips/swarf. It's kind of difficult to see in the pix, but it works great. I can say in all honesty, that I have not had to stop mid project/operation, to clean the lead screw, EVER. By the way... the manual feed is ultra smooth, with no discernible resistance at all. I am very happy with my decision for the lead screw location.
This lathe was fabricated using primarily "free" materials. I'd say 80 to 85 percent of the project was "rescued" from the scrap yard. What I mean by that is... I work for a company that is very liberal about the disposition of materials, and scrap that is no longer useful to them. They let employees take scrap from the dumpster, for home projects (with the proper notification) almost always for free. I am VERY fortunate. Here's the break down: Rescued materials: Lead screw & nut (L.H. thread), Hardened bed ways, and mounts, matching bearings (4) for the cross slide, all steel plate, tubing, etc., VERY fortunate indeed! Both motors, were given to me by a co worker who intended to scrap them for the copper, again free. The only parts I had to purchase at a retail price were: 4" chuck, the cross slide/compound assembly, the tailstock assembly, and the Quick change tool post. More details coming... stay tuned in.Attachment 13687Attachment 13688Attachment 13689
All - I forgot to mention... Yes, I purchased the aforementioned parts from The little machine shop. I have also purchased several tooling items from them, Milling attachment, Knurling tool, indexable turning tools, live center, etc. I have also made several tooling accessories myself, Dead centers, HSS turning bits, profile cutting bits, live center, and a few other items. Here are a few Lathe specifications:
4 " 3- jaw chuck
9" swing
18" between centers
Motor 1
3/4 H.P. 1725 RPM
115V 10.4A
Continuous duty Spindle speeds: 875 1350 2250 3450
Motor 2
1/4 H.P. 30 RPM
115V 4.6A Cont. duty
Ratio: - 58:1
Torque 400 IN. LB. Spindle speeds 24 36 58
More details ...soon. For those interested in plans... I apologize, But - I cannot help with that. I consider this lathe to be unique, & would not want it to be copied. However, I would be happy to give advice, or my opinions/ thoughts, to any who request it. I am a 57 year old Tooling specialist,(that title is rather flamboyant sounding, I don't like it much), and I really enjoy helping others with projects. I've done it for nearly 37 years, with great satisfaction. I've been employed at the same company for that long. Picking up knowledge, and passing it along when I can. I do plan on updating this post again, if there is interest, and I have other projects/ machines as well, I will share in the near future. Please let me know if I can assist you, on a project. I will help, if I can.
Thank you so much for your interest. More to come.
Thank you Paul, for your kind words. It is appreciated.
if there is interest, and I have other projects/ machines as well, I will share in the near future.
I am always interested in any machine that is DIY. Ideas, Ideas, IDEAS!!!
I have a 12" Craftsman lathe that I use all the time, The only problem I run into Is the 12" limit. I am trying to design me a 24" lathe with an 18" bed. You don't need it often, but when I do I wind up having to take the piece to a machine shop. When I tell them what I'm trying to make I often get the old "Thats never going to work" or a price that is so high I can't afford the project
Dave
Great work, Tim!
Looks like you re-purposed a mini lathe tailstock. I noticed the round way bars. Does the carriage have linear ball bearings perhaps?
Impressive! Looking forward to more photos and information!
That is very interesting Tim. Those are beefy looking pillar block bearings- do they cater for end thrust pressure?
Did that main shaft start life as a heavy truck axle?
Wow amazing 👍
Aside from clean work, nice features and respectable size; best aspect is my No. 1 looked for design........substantial distance of bearings between head and drive end.
Telling you all, a sh--ton of commercial machines don't have that.
