Is there any such thing as a stock shaft material?

[dodgygeeza]

Zapp have ground shaft and i think they will be able to machine the ends for you.
this is a link.
http://www.zappautomation.co.uk/mech...-rail-385.html

[magicniner]

Stock material for shafts is called shafting, google, for instance, 25mm shafting

- Nick

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[Jonathan]

Perhaps you could get round the small lathe problem by machining it in separate pieces? Machine the ends you require on something shorter, then join it to the steel bar (e.g. press fit, key, etc)? Unless the runout required is really strict (seems unlikely due to the length), that should be fine...

Or just find someone with a not tiny lathe. Mine has a 38mm spindle bore. Not sure about 3m long though - there may be a wall in the way!

[Clive S]

Not sure about 3m long though - there may be a wall in the way!

Drill a hole in the wall of your workshop standard practise.

[magicniner]

Can you do it the way they used to in industry where everything fits on the shaft rather than having to machine the shaft to accept something?
If you buy shafting rather than round bar the OD will not require machining down to accept bearings.
Taper lock couplings could provide a way to securely fit ends on a length of stock shafting with pillow blocks (if and where required) to support the free length.
Everyone's poking around in the dark because there isn't enough requirement info in the question for a definitive answer,
Regards,
Nick