Being a complete electronic idiot.. I'm taking a step back from my grand plan of converting my engine lathe and mill/drill to CNC...

In favor of starting small to (hopefully) avoid electrocution or destroying more expensive hardware...

A friend pointed out the Clisby miniature metal lathe at http://www.clisby.com/
At $199 US, it sure looks like it could be not only a good learning tool, but a great deal of fun!

Anyone ever convert one?

More importantly, being an electronic idiot (have I mentioned that?).. connecting an encoder to a (for example) Gecko driver for threading is a bit over my head...
Could someone point out a site, book, or crayon diagram where i could start some 'learnin' before starting to buy things?

Many thanks!
Paul F.

Don't bother they are terrible.

I bought one to convert (I only make tiny things) but it is so bad it has put me off. Spend a few seconds on EBAY, pick up a few short THK rails buy some 6mm threaded rod and some Delrin for nuts. Buy a Sherline or taig headstock and a collet or two and build your own lathe that will actually be useful in an afternoon.

JMHO

Thanks! I appreciate the reply!
In fact, I've been doodling on paper something simillar...

Was there any area in particular that the Clisby lathe particularly sucked? Or is it just generally bad?

Paul F.

Get one of the 7x series lathes or the 8x12. Here is the review: http://www.cnczone.com/modules.php?s=&name=Sections&sop=viewarticle&artid=18

Eric

Balsaman;
I had my eye on that one too.. but it's several times bigger than the Clisby and twice as expensive...
A bit too much for a "learning with the potential of screwing it up" project...
However, since I've decided to jump in with both feet and retrofit my Mill/Drill, I may get one of the Harbor Freight 8x12 lathes to retrofit into a screw and pin maker later...

Paul F.

pfeist, don't follow in my footsteps - I bought a Taig lathe last year to make parts for my cnc router, then had to sell the Taig as it was not big enough to do any "real" work. Take Balsaman's advice, and get a decent size lathe to begin with. They are good at making small parts too, and should be a breeze to cnc-ify!

Kong;

Oh, believe me.. I've been down that road!
In this case, my "overall" plan is to build an inexpensive lathe as a learning tool, one that will later do "semi-production" on short runs of specialty screws and pins (I'm a gunsmith...).

My "big" engine lathe is for the big work...
I can't decide if I want to retrofit my engine lathe after my Mill/Drill, or if I would be better served getting a higher quality and more rigid lathe instead and CNC THAT...

Either way, the "Small" lathe will be used for parts under 3" long and under 1" diameter. Bigger than that, and I use my "big" lathe instead...

I wanted a small lathe mostly to learn the electronics end of the CNC... I learned how to RUN them in school, not how to BUILD them.
Syncing the carriage to the rotation for threading for example makes my head hurt...

Sure appreciate the opinions!
Paul F.

Here's something for that headache: http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=24703#post24703
Add to that a couple of Mach2 macro's, and you have cnc threading. If you ask Bloy nicely, I'm sure he will explain how it's done!

pfeist,

Look at the "Frog" at

http://www.avatartools.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=L

The've got a "Frog" about all of the little mini-lathes. Take a peek at the threading figures for the Clisby compared to the others. It's pretty pitiful.

And Adapting a Taig for threading just simply Sucks... (tried that, and ended up selling the taig.)The Sherline is probably the easiest to adapt but with a 20tpi leadscrew, coarse threads might be a little tough.

The clisby wasn't put together right when i got it, the 4-jaw is a bit naff and the 3-jaw has no taper to locate with so runs well off centre, it doesn't take collets and there is a heck of a lot of backlash and play.

Just go for gold and double check things I'd say. My interest in making a micro CNC lathe is because I really do just want micro parts.

Graham

Graham, did you ever make the lathe? The reason I ask is because Axminster power tools have just brought out a new micro lathe - might be worth a look?
http://www.axminster.co.uk/default.asp?part=010060