Why oh why won't Tormach make a nice CNC lathe? Not a flat bed...but a nice little 30* slant bed. Something that would have a 1.5" through bore and a high-speed spindle option. Think Wabeco 6000e high-speed...on steroids. Not a full-on production lathe...but more than just a retro-fit. Something in say a 12x36 size? Personally I have no desire for anything with up to 40" center to center...but maybe up to a 13" swing? The user could decide if they want to use gang tooling or a sweet little tool changer. It would still be a benchtop design...hopefully with a nice Tormach stand and an enclosure like the Wabeco. I have it kinda/sorta designed in my head, and some napkin sketches. It would be a pretty simple machine. A U shaped bed...a headstock assembly, and a 30* slant plate that bolts to the back to mount the x axis. A tailstock with pneumatic control would be nice and an air-operated chuck. I have already been working on a simple, elegant bar-feeder design that would work with most CNC'd workshop/hobby lathes. It's not brand-specific, but comes with adjustable legs to match the centerline of the lathe's bore. Sorry I don't have any CAD skills. I'll see if I can whip something up in Adobe to give you an idea of what I'm talking about.

Does anybody know how I can post a pic on here?

Here it is...I hope it worked. Please don't make fun of me...it took me like 15 minutes to make it and is my first Adobe Illustrator drawing, so...

That would be nice, but I don't think that they are done refining the mill yet.

Mike

Try this one...

The market is possibly not big enough. A CNC mill has a much wider appeal than a CNC lathe, just checking the relative traffic on the various forums will confirm this.

Regards
Phil

Why oh why won't Tormach make a nice CNC lathe? Not a flat bed...but a nice little 30* slant bed. Something that would have a 1.5" through bore and a high-speed spindle option. Think Wabeco 6000e high-speed...on steroids. Not a full-on production lathe...but more than just a retro-fit. Something in say a 12x36 size? Personally I have no desire for anything with up to 40" center to center...but maybe up to a 13" swing? The user could decide if they want to use gang tooling or a sweet little tool changer. It would still be a benchtop design...hopefully with a nice Tormach stand and an enclosure like the Wabeco. I have it kinda/sorta designed in my head, and some napkin sketches. It would be a pretty simple machine. A U shaped bed...a headstock assembly, and a 30* slant plate that bolts to the back to mount the x axis. A tailstock with pneumatic control would be nice and an air-operated chuck. I have already been working on a simple, elegant bar-feeder design that would work with most CNC'd workshop/hobby lathes. It's not brand-specific, but comes with adjustable legs to match the centerline of the lathe's bore. Sorry I don't have any CAD skills. I'll see if I can whip something up in Adobe to give you an idea of what I'm talking about.

wow...I guess it's so small of a market that people are CNC'ing their lathes just because they have the parts laying around.

I understand it's not that big of a market...mostly because nobody has put anywhere near as much effort into an affordable CNC lathe as they have with a CNC mill. Just like GM thought there wasn't a market for the Camaro and Firebird...but it's amazing the response they got after they killed it...and again when they did the new concept car. I think that an affordable high quality CNC lathe would sell better than it is being given credit for.

Degree of confidence in a business proposition is often inversely proportional to the level of personal investment required.

Go for it.

Regards
Phil

I think that an affordable high quality CNC lathe would sell better than it is being given credit for.

Small CNC lathes come up on eBay fairly frequently and fairly cheaply.

Look for the Emco compact 5 and others.

Personally, I expect I will do the lathe/mill trick eventually.

-Jeff

For me, even a manual lathe would be good to have. (Am I allowed to say "manual" in the CNC Zone?)

I just added another eBay search. It's time to start looking at the market for these things.

Degree of confidence in a business proposition is often inversely proportional to the level of personal investment required.
Go for it.
Regards
Phil

Actually if I weren't up to my neck with a mortgage and car payment, and a personal business venture of my own I would consider this option. I've never been afraid to risk my own money for the sake of doing the "impossible". If I ever get the CAD drawings done, I'll show everyone a combination CNC machine that I have been spec'ing. It has a decent size work envelope (30"X by 20"Y by 20"Z) and incorporates a vertical mill with a horizontal mill that doubles as a lathe and live axis...

Small CNC lathes come up on eBay fairly frequently and fairly cheaply.
Look for the Emco compact 5 and others.
Personally, I expect I will do the lathe/mill trick eventually.
-Jeff

The only problem with an EMCO 5 is that they are CNC mini/micro lathes...cool for training, not much use for most hobbyist use. Unless you are into turning zillions of .75" or smaller parts. I trained on one at school...the average guy is going to want to turn something in the 1"-1.5" range occasionally and even turn some bigger stuff...swing is important as is a larger thru-bore. Hobby equipment shouldn't mean toy...it should mean that it is capable of supporting the hobbyist's interests.

The only problem with an EMCO 5 is that they are CNC mini/micro lathes...cool for training, not much use for most hobbyist use. Unless you are into turning zillions of .75" or smaller parts. I trained on one at school...the average guy is going to want to turn something in the 1"-1.5" range occasionally and even turn some bigger stuff...swing is important as is a larger thru-bore. Hobby equipment shouldn't mean toy...it should mean that it is capable of supporting the hobbyist's interests.

Yeah, I think my Dynamechtronics DM3000H is pretty much the ultimate "hobbyist" lathe.

It weighs about 1200 lbs, and runs off 220v single phase. It's got a power 5C collet chuck, or a power 3 jaw chuck, and a 6 station tool turret. 0-4000 RPM software controlled spindle speed. I'm not sure the size of the spindle bore, but I'd guess at 1.25" - I know there is more room when using a 1" collet. The longest part you could probably comfortably turn is about 7" at about 4.5" diameter. And the diameter could go a bit larger with some inventive tool mounting...

The Ah-ha retrofit controller isn't the greatest, but it works. Eventually I'll change it all over to Mach3, but probably not until one of the more expensive control boards goes...

Dave

I'm trying to get their website to open. It is sloooooooooooooooooooooow. And it's not my access either. How long have you had that machine? What is the price range, if you don't mind my asking?

Sorry, guess I should have mentioned it a used machine. I think it was made around 1992. I've had it for almost a year now. Had to fix it up a little when I got it, but it does really good now. I know there is someone else here who has one with the original Dyna controller on it - he says it is in almost new condition. Mine was well used when I got it. I probably paid too much for it when I bought it. I think they went new for around $35K or so...

Dave

WYLD,

Check out this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110040243295

This is the one I was looking for before I found the Dynamechtronics. This is about what I paid for mine and it isn't in nearly as nice condition as this one. Not to mention this one about an hour from me vs. the other that I had shipped up from Florida...

New they sell for over $30k, but Denford can only sell to educational institutions due to some software licensing issues.

Dave

If I weren't closing on my house on the 7th, I'd bid on that one. A little paint, and she'd be good as new. Hopefully....

What they should make is a gang tool chucker with a 10" swing, 'bout 10" in Z would be more than enough. maybe 1k lbs that could sit up on a stand, enclosed. 2hp, 3-4k rpm. CSS and threading. Option air collet closer. keep it under 10k. I'd buy one in a heartbeat.

So when will they be ready?:D

Dave

Nervis, does it have to have 10" swing? How about 8 1/2"?

A Lathemaster 9x30 like Ron111 just converted with a gang tooling slide like I am designing would get you there for way under $10K:

http://www.thewarfields.com/cnccookbook/CCLatheCNCGangSlide.html

I've got to finish my basic CNC conversion before I start the gang tool plate, but I will eventually get to it and post some pix.

If you're in a hurry, check out Omni-turn's Hardinge chucker conversions. They fit your spec almost exactly.

You could churn out a lot of parts with a simple machine like that.

Cheers,

BW

Bob, I have an OmniTurn CNC retrofit on a Harding lathe. It's a nice machine - I paid $5,600 on ebay.

Before buying it I was looking for a new, decent sized (i.e. 5C collet spindle), cnc lathe aimed at the home shop machinist. I could not find such a machine.

I have to agree the market is probably too small. On the one hand you have the Sherline sized hobby market, on the other hand you have folks who need to make money with their lathe ( accurate, fast cycle time, rugged, dependable).

For the home machinist market, how about devising a way to mount a stationary lathe spindle to the Tormach mill frame? Then bolt a gang tooling plate to the mill table. Remove the lathe spindle when using as a mill.

Kinda like a milling attachment for a lathe, only this is a lathe attachment for the mill :) May not work as well as a real lathe, but may work for light duty.

Ed

Why couldn't you use an R8 shank lathe chuck or simply chuck the piece you wanted to work on in an R8 collet in the spindle, and have a gang tool setup on the mill table? I have been playing around with this idea and in my drawings it seems to be doable. Granted, you are limited to a relatively short work piece without a tailstock, but it would still work. I think.

I am going to try this out at some point- using lathe cam software and shop made gang tooling installed on a pinned plate for use on a sub plate- that way I should be able to switch setups fairly quick should the need arise.

I just realized how long it has been since someone posted...a little late to the party I guess...

I've seen video of this being done on a Taig CNC mill, so I guess there's no reason why it couldn't be done on the Tormach...

However, you'd be limited to using short pieces of bar stock as well because it would be impossible to have a through hole in your collet with the draw bar there...

Hi Guys

I think Tormach suggests a similar method to true up the end of a Spindle if you want to use TTS Tooling and the end of your Spindle isn't straight.

Willy

Anyone tried mounting a small chuck on the PCNC spindle maybe a 4 inch - and fitting tools in the vise etc - and setting up Mach3 turn - could work well for small parts? maybe Tormach could supply a kit to make it easy?

I am not sure if this is something that anyone would be interested in, but this company just came out with this lathe that would fit many needs for a pretty good price. Might be worth looking at anyway.


http://www.ajaxcnc.com/cnc_lathe_2.htm


Jess

Have a look at this post for a possible low cost (relative term) CNC lathe.

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44439

Phil

Hi Philbur, I started this thread...and I also posted that SmithyCNC lathe one too... :D I actually have a head start on making a CNC lathe from scratch using a high-speed Dunham Tool headstock and a manual Dorian Tool NVIT turret. If I can find a suitable pneumatic tailstock, I'll be set! :D My base will be a slab of Durabar, machined and ground for installation of the slides and headstock...

I've been looking for quite a while hoping to find a cnc lathe I could fit in my basement. With a 5c nose. There's not really anything that fits thru a 32" door but that is still a "production" machine. Omni-turn may be the closest. Cubicmachinery, CMS, and a couple others have somewhat small gang tool machines, but still too big and they cost quite a lot.

So I've been thinking of building my own, right there in my basement. Personally where I get stuck is when it comes to the CNC controls part of the build/design. I'm not sure where to start with that. I'd like to build a machine with .0001" resolution. Use linear slides for sure, but I'd want to use really tough ones.
I have a few ideas regarding the whole bed design and such for weigh and rigidity.

Can you guys give me some ideas of where to look for high quality CNC components? I'd like it to be able to cut threads so it needs an encoder. Is it possible to get all matching components from 1 company? I think Fagor may offer that, but I guess just the price for such a kit must be really high.

Anyone ?

thanks

SND- have you considered the Haas Office Lathe? I think they are meant to fit through a standard door (is there such a thing?) :) They are pricey but I am not sure what an Omniturn costs so I thought I would throw in my $.02.

This will fit in your basement:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230113174548

I know I've got one in mine... :)

Not sure that I'd pay that much for it though...

Dave

I spoke to Tormach recently, and asked the guy about what they have in the works. Turns out they have more than one new product that has been discussed in this thread...

Tormach CNC lathe is supposed to be finishing up in the first quarter of 2008. I didn't ask him about any of the specs, but I think he said something about it being similar in size and cost to their CNC mill.

He said that they are also working on a mill bed mounted mini lathe and a spindle nose mounted tool holder. He said that the headstock wouldn't have a real encoder, but would have something to make it possible to cut threads.

So, don't lose hope!

Hi Guys

Have you Guys seen anyone that has a CNC Mill convertion to Lathe by adding a bed mounted spindle and using spindle mounted tooling? Videos, Pictures? The application sounds interesting. What would some of the issues being with a setup like this? Mill X Axis would be Lathe Z Axis. Mill Z Axis would be lathe X Axis.

Willy

@willyb

Yes, there is a guy on here who is building a cnc lathe- I can't remember his name but before his build he did just that- mounted a lathe headstock and mounted tooling in the spindle. There were pictures on another site- if I can track 'em down I will be back with the link.

@willyb

Yes, there is a guy on here who is building a cnc lathe- I can't remember his name but before his build he did just that- mounted a lathe headstock and mounted tooling in the spindle. There were pictures on another site- if I can track 'em down I will be back with the link.

Here is a thread where Hoss26 built a lathe on the table of his cnc'd X2 mill. The lathe info starts at post 79.
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30385

Alan

Tormach IS designing a lathe. Wozzwinkl was correct. No specs were given on design, and I was told that it was a year out. I'm thinking with design and test, we're looking at first quarter of 2009 before the first lathe will be available for sale. Which means all the bugs should be worked out by 2010. Considering what is currently available, I'm quite sure this will be worth the wait.

would this size of Boxford lathe do
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38006&page=2

I have 4 ready to upgrade the controls and need some help
I want to fit new drives for the servo motors and run Mach3

Tormach is currently in the engineering phase for their next machine. I have NOT been able to pry any info from Bob or Greg at Tormach, but I'm expecting something similar to an EMCO or Boxford, in a 10" X 24" to 12" x 36" format. Again, it should be priced within arms reach of the the mill. I would encourage ALL current Tormach owners and users to send Tormach emails with your requests & wishlists for the machine. This is great news, as I'm in the market for a mill & a lathe for my home shop and was beginning to seriously consider the Wabeco CC-6000E High-Speed lathe as a partner for my Tormach mill. Now I can have two machines with the same software (Mach Turn & Mach Mill) and tech support.

I asked Tormach about the possibility of them coming out with a lathe back in Dec of 2005, a couple months after I bought my Tormach. I was looking into a used Denford Easiturn with a 280mm x 500mm capacity, power chuck, and 6 or 8 tool turret.

I was told that the lathe was still at least a year out, but was assured that, "it will have almost no overlap with the functionality of a 280 mm lathe like the Denford." I never asked what that meant, but I'm guessing it's either going to be much smaller? Or much larger?

I ended up getting the Dyna 3000H which is very close to the Denford I was looking at. But I'm very interested to see what Tormach will have for us...

Dave

This is my first post. The lathe function has fascinated me for some time. I bought a little 7X 12 Mini lathe, stripped it of all but the bed and motor, bolted it to my Tormach bed and away we go. I'm using VECTOR cad, drew my part, a push rod for another Morton M-5, in the X,Z plane. After modifying the spindle lock so the spindle was completely immobilized, made a lathe bit holder to fit. The code for the mill has to be prefixed with G18. Using the vertical Z axis as a cross feed, the Tormach worked just fine as a lathe, allowing me to make ball ends from 3/32 drill rod in a fraction of the time it normally takes me. I don't expect it to chew steel like you see in the demos. I'm mainly interested in making the tiny parts that my miniature engines require. Now I'd like to cut threads. I have a circuit that generates a pulse every revolution of the lathe spindle. I plug it into the probe outlet, and the diagnostic screen knows the pulse is there, but I can't figure out how to get the X axis to respond to it's presence, and without a timing signal there won't be any threads.
Odie

Hi Odie

Would you happen to have any pictures or videos of your setup?

Bill

Hi Odie

Would you happen to have any pictures or videos of your setup?

Bill

x2


thanks.

Yes, I do, but I've got to make the video smaller. Right now it's a little over 600K, and the Zone only allows 500. Odie

I hope the pix come through. Right now I'm using a 3C collet adapter made from a 3MT taper shank drill. 3C max dia. is 1/2". I'm sure the small 5C collet chuck could be fitted to the Mini spindle. The spindle has a bore of about 3/4". I'm waiting to make sure I've worked out all the bugs before I spend any more money. In one of the pix, you can see that I've also moved the monitor arm assy. to the right, and much lower. In use, it swings well out of the way of chips, and it's sooo much more comfortable to use.

Apparently the pix didn't go through. I guess I'm not clear on how to post pix. I might try again tomorrow. I still need a connection between the X axis, and the probe input, so threads can be cut. Odie

I'll try again to send video.

Damned creative... it's almost like those 3 in 1 machine now eh?

I'll try again to send video.

pretty cool! now i have to try to come up with something like that. problem is i haven't even figured out how to use my tormach fully yet.

Another approach is to mount the work in a spindle and use table-mounted cutting tools. That limits you on the size of stock that can be "turned" but it does offer the possibility of having multiple tools mounted at once.

Mike

The new Service Bulletin 22 on estops makes several references to the "Tormach Duality Lathe", and the last page has an entry:

Part Number: 30689
Name: Duality Lathe
Description: Lathe for combination manual and CNC. The Duality Lathe includes Estop Integration Cable, Integrated Estop Installation Kit, and Estop Feedback block.

Just a heads-up. :D

Randy

Before you get your hopes up too far, I should tell you that it's only practicle for very small work, such as the pushrods I made in the video. I tried turning a larger piece, and had nothing but chatter that I couldn't get rid of. Since then I've modified a Grizzly 12 X 24 lathe with a Microkinetics kit. I'm still in the setup phase. They have some software issues, especially in threading. I went to a parallel output so I could use Mach3 software. The hardware installation has a few problems, but as a machinist, you you'll be OK. Otis

Do you have one? Tell us more.

Phil

Before you get your hopes up too far, I should tell you that it's only practicle for very small work, such as the pushrods I made in the video. I tried turning a larger piece, and had nothing but chatter that I couldn't get rid of. Since then I've modified a Grizzly 12 X 24 lathe with a Microkinetics kit. I'm still in the setup phase. They have some software issues, especially in threading. I went to a parallel output so I could use Mach3 software. The hardware installation has a few problems, but as a machinist, you you'll be OK. Otis

And please post pictures! From earlier rumors, it was going to be in the same size/stiffness/capability range as the 1100 mill...

Randy

And please post pictures! From earlier rumors, it was going to be in the same size/stiffness/capability range as the 1100 mill...

Randy

From his earlier posts it sounded like otisba was talking about a generic 7x11 mini lathe that he had mounted on his Tormach table. Are you and Phil talking about a Tormach lathe?

Mike

Yes, my post #48 immediately preceding otisba's post. If he wasn't responding to my post, then "never mind..." :)

Randy

LOL


Phil (chair)

From his earlier posts it sounded like otisba was talking about a generic 7x11 mini lathe that he had mounted on his Tormach table. Are you and Phil talking about a Tormach lathe?

Mike

harley573 has posted on the Yahoo list that the Duality lathe will indeed be "a lathe of around 4"x12" capacity that would be capable of stand alone performance as a manual lathe, but could also be mounted to the mill table on the pcnc1100" with the toolbit holder clamping onto the spindle nose. So it is very like what otisba made.

Randy

afetr looking at the mill i finally got arou to the purchase of my very own, I think i will be happy with my mill, would love to see a lathe if they ever produce one, I think we should all start emailing tormach to see if one is in the works
I have looked at most of the others that are on the market, they are either to small or too overpriced for my small budget.

just a thought
jlittle

There's a lathe that is near final production from Tormach. There's a hot topic on this in the yahoo tormach forum. They (Tormach LLC) are supposed to make a public annoncement soon.

Yes Freddy,

I too belong to the Tormach PCNC 1100 group on yahoo. Unfortunately, I'm less interested in the Duality lathe, than the other lathe that they are supposed to be developing as well.

I'm patiently waiting to see what Tormach comes out with for the Duality lathe. Based on what they've done with the mill so far, I'm sure we'll all be impressed. In the meantime, what about mounting this in the spindle and using a gangtool setup? Pros/cons?

http://cgi.ebay.com/4-3-JAW-SELF-CENTERING-LATHE-CHUCK-W-R8-BACKING_W0QQitemZ300213425014QQihZ020QQcategoryZ61574QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem