CNC Lathe Build. Hopefully.
Hello all.
Right, after the reasonably successful mill build, I've decided that I need a CNC lathe. Nothing too big or clever - heh, in all honesty I'm struggling to think what I'd make with it, but no doubt it'll come in handy at some point.
The control electrics are pretty much sorted as I'll use my mill box to drive the steppers, so essentially I'm after building a couple of short linear stages (1605 ball-screws, 20mm profile rails), populating one of 'em with a tool-post and getting hold of a spindle/chuck - probably from a lathe manufacturers spares section (think Warco etc.) I've not even thought about thread cutting as yet, although it would be a very cool thing to be able to do...
Materials to turn: 6082 mostly, brass, steel perhaps. Small scale stuff.
I did start out thinking about a conversion until I saw this video the other day:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1IDHIcyHLY
Excellent. Apart from the mind-blowingly ace turret, these are the lines along which I'm thinking.
Do-able? Any advice/links to other builds of interest?
All the best.
Wal.
Re: CNC Lathe Build. Hopefully.
Nice looking machine and pretty simple design, apart from the turret you mention, although you would definitely have to include that. I did notice there is no tailstock, are you planning on fitting one ?
Would it be worth considering at this stage to allow adaption to a 4th axis cnc with router ?
Re: CNC Lathe Build. Hopefully.
It's pretty cool, eh?
There are plans out there for that turret, although my efforts will be more along these lines:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnSqy0oKyTQ
Yes, I wondered about the tailstock. Bearing in mind this will be for small scale stuff, is it essential?
Wal.
Re: CNC Lathe Build. Hopefully.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Wal
Yes, I wondered about the tailstock. Bearing in mind this will be for small scale stuff, is it essential?
Wal.
their dead handy for stopping skinny work pieces bending during cuts. Depends how much they stick out of the chuck i guess and also being cnc you can always do the boring thing of taking it down in short steps
Stuart
Re: CNC Lathe Build. Hopefully.
Re: CNC Lathe Build. Hopefully.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mekanik
It's like that old saying about a lathe being the only tool that can make itself.
Or why buy it for $5 when i can make it for $50 ;)
Stuart
Re: CNC Lathe Build. Hopefully.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mekanik
Ah, the "Yeomans Technique", but with concrete!
Obviously it's a technique of "Not Quite Using The Quoted Technique"
You can't even weigh that in, at least Gingery's designs had that small advantage ;-)
- Nick
Re: CNC Lathe Build. Hopefully.
Frankly I would start with one of the small Sieg lathes, also sold under other names, rather than try to make your own if you don't already have a lathe. But not too small. You get a reasonably accurate bed, spindle and slides as well as the motor drive. Backlash is not nearly so critical in a lathe so you can live with the normal feed screws though ballscrews are nice to have. It is easy to underestimate the rigidity you need for a lathe as well as the fit of the slides if you want to turn anything metal. Lathes are the essential machine tool.
Re: CNC Lathe Build. Hopefully.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
JohnHaine
Lathes are the essential machine tool.
Agree, as long as the part is small enough a sliding table mounted vertically on the cross-slide allows you to mill things. It's what I did before I got a mill. For simple stuff you don't even need a table, a right-angle mount will do, tedious to move workpiece manually but doable
Re: CNC Lathe Build. Hopefully.
Hi Guys
The intention of my post was just to highlight the use of concrete as a solid base for construction not to construct the lathe shown. a couple of lengths of 25mm square steel bar and a small quantity of rebar and a simple box mould would give you a solid base on which to mount a couple of Hiwin Rails.
I have seen on superb gantry mill manufactured this way(sorry can't find the link) but this is something similar.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDiEi2bOXgs
Regards
Mike
Re: CNC Lathe Build. Hopefully.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mekanik
Hi Guys
The intention of my post was just to highlight the use of concrete as a solid base for construction not to construct the lathe shown. a couple of lengths of 25mm square steel bar and a small quantity of rebar and a simple box mould would give you a solid base on which to mount a couple of Hiwin Rails.
I have seen on superb gantry mill manufactured this way(sorry can't find the link) but this is something similar.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDiEi2bOXgs
Regards
Mike
Yeah concreet was very popular during ww2 for lathes and mills and some boats, its the diy lathe thing if funny because of the availability of lathes for cheeps that already have nice ways and alignment and all that stuff. E.g. The boxford plain lathe for £350 that would make an awsome base for cnc lathe and tey can be got for even less if you hunt arround a bit.
although making your own tools is an amazing way of learning a lot about the way they get made and what makes them good or bad.
no offence ment prommis,
Stuart
Re: CNC Lathe Build. Hopefully.
I agree Stu
But seemed like Wal just wanted to build something a bit different.
Mike
Re: CNC Lathe Build. Hopefully.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mekanik
I agree Stu
But seemed like Wal just wanted to build something a bit different.
Mike
Yeah thats always a fun thing to do, i do like that rail based slant bed lathe thats been home brewed (always comes up if you search for cnc lathe on u tube).
I feal bad now that we've hijaked the thread with chit chat, sorry bout that.
Stuart
