Quirky Turn Mill Build

[vtcnc]

I can use CAD, and even draw with ink on drafting film (ancient, I know), but sometimes I like to just build something, and work out the inevitable planning mistakes miscalculations in real 3D. For erasers I have torch, hand grinder, hack saw and files.

A couple weeks ago I decided to stop just thinking about it, walked down to the shop, grabbed a couple pieces of channel iron, square tube, and some iron pipe and started welding up a base and rails for a turn mill I had in mind. It felt great to actually do something!

The capacity was supposed to be 12" x 24, but I can already see that failures of visualization may reduce that an inch or two.

The square tube was for frame support, the pipe for rails set floating in collars made of larger pipe welded to the channel iron. The rails will be positioned by bolts through the collars.

I was thinking about making the mill convertible as either as turn mill, or a flatbed, but again, visualization limitations at my age may limit what I actually achieve. Turn mill is essential, flat bed optional.