4th axis "lathe"

[jeffery71]

When I built my CNC table a few years ago I built it with the idea of putting the 4th axis on the side.

I am finally getting around to working on it some.



The "lathe" can be moved up or down in and out to adjust for sizes up to 24" diameter.
2 trailer jacks are used to raise and lower the lathe. The lathe is attached
to the table in away that it can slide up and down.




The 4th axis can also be turned vertical if needed. I need to install the
motor/pulleys and covers. I will probably paint it to match the table.



The bed is made from 2x6 tubing with 1/2x2 1/2 cold rolled bar stock for the "ways"






I have to finish putting the motor and pulleys together yet.

Jeff T.
http://www.3dcarvestudio.com

[eloid]

Originally Posted by jeffery71 When I built my CNC table a few years ago I built it with the idea of putting the 4th axis on the side. I am finally getting around to working on it some. The "lathe" can be moved up or down in and out to adjust for sizes up to 24" diameter. 2 trailer jacks are used to raise and lower the lathe. The lathe is attached to the table in away that it can slide up and down. The 4th axis can also be turned vertical if needed. I need to install the motor/pulleys and covers. I will probably paint it to match the table. The bed is made from 2x6 tubing with 1/2x2 1/2 cold rolled bar stock for the "ways" I have to finish putting the motor and pulleys together yet. Jeff T. http://www.3dcarvestudio.com

what the gear ratio you got in that gear box, is it a muilt stage gear box... with 2 reduction stages do you have more pictures of it?

[jeffery71]

The gear box is going to be about a 46:1 reduction. It has 3 step downs. I am waiting for my belts to get here. When I get them I'll put it all together and take some more pictures.

I should have about 50 rpm's at the spindle with my servo setup.


Jeff T.
http://www.3dcarvestudio.com

[eloid]

I would like to see that, The question i have , are you planing on using a tenssion arm, in some way to tenstion the belts?

[jeffery71]

I had some time this week to work on the 4th axis. I got it finished and working. I still have some little things
to workout but everything seams to be working well.



Close up of the "gear box" The belts are tensioned by sliding Al "box"
and then tightening the bolts.



Here it is installed.



First cut. This is just a log I had laying around outside. It was really wet.



I did some roughing passes using standard 4thaxis. Then I had the idea
of setting up Mach3 to use the 4thaxis as a spindle. It work really nice.
I just made a tool path for the profile of the turning and had mach3 turn
on the 4th axis as a spindle spinning continuously.



Turned out pretty good. Its about 10 inches in diameter. Took probably an
hour and a half to cut completely.

I guess now I can do some minor tweaks and I should be all set.
I really like the idea of running Mach3 as a lathe spindle if you are doing
just simple turnings. I made 2 new Mach profiles one for using it as a standard
4thaxis and one for using it as a lathe

Jeff T.

http://www.3dcarvestudio.com

[Trucks]

That is awesome, i have been following this for a little while now, with plans to put a 4th axis on my machine.

Would you mind sharing where you got the 2 "lathe" fixture ends? I have had no luck with any of the woodworking shops.

Thanks, Andy