Converting my Engine Lathe to an 8-Station Turret Lathe!

[LUCKY13]

It took me awail to understand how the turret worked ( by looking at your pics of the pieces). But I think I understand now. The locking part is bolted down to the base, inside of it is a piston, the piston has a arbor that goes threw & bolts to the turret(top). So when air pressure hits it, the piston raises the turret top, which lets the eight(I believe it was eight) regesters seperate so it can be rotated.


That looks like a pretty good design. It has a lot of regester surface to keep it in possition. So it should be very accurate (repetable) when rotated.


One thing I am not understanding is your use of the pins ( when making the gragh for the base plate). Are these pins in holes that are used to attach to the base plate that your making? I understand how your using the pins to find the center of the holes. But, what are the holes for?



Also, someone else meantioned about the type turning that could be done with this setup. It is pretty much like any other turret lathe. But after thinking about it I got to wandering if there is things that you would be limited with this type setup. ( remember I am not with expeirance of lathes). Anyway this got me wandering about having it mounted as a rear tool post. I guess one thing that is not known for me is how the cutters/tools attach to the post. So I dont understand the possition of the tool. So what kinda tool holder attaches to a turret of this type?



Jess

[widgitmaster]

LOL Bill!
That is a picture of my lathe when it was brand spanking new! It didn't even have power connected, fresh off the forklift!

As for the turret's function, there is a large diameter piston inside which when air pressure is applied, pulls down on the top turret and locks it into position on the eight alignment rails.

There are many types of tool holders for this turret, ranging from turning to facing to boring and angle turning! Then there is a holder with a 5/8 bore which can hold Geometric Die Heads and large boring bars! Also the basic drill chucks!

[BobWarfield]

Same tooling fits gang tool plates for Hardinge CNC's as well as Omniturns. There is another thread where we're discussing building such a plate for mini-lathes. I like that style of tooling. It also looks like it wouldn't be that hard to make your own holders, especially for the Widgitmaster!

Eric, from your photos above, I am inferring that you used your surface plate and height gage to measure coordinates for all the features on the base plate and then transferred that to a drawing on graph paper. Did you literally measure X and Y with the plate rotated 90 degrees?

FWIW, a list of those coordinates would make doing a drawing in most any CAD program super easy. I happen to prefer Rhino, but there are many available, and it seems like it would save you some time.

Best,

BW

[widgitmaster]

Thanks Bob!
Yes, I clamped the plate to angle plate so I could lay it on it's side and measure the other direction!

Not all the dimensions were direct transfers to the new plate, as the origonal plate was goofy and had the turret sitting on an angle????

So I calculated all the bolt circles and rotated it so one flat edge of the octagon was perpendicular to the spindle! Then I had to relocate all the air porting and re-design the valve assemble! Challenging, but fun


Widgit

[widgitmaster]

Made a little progress today!
I found 4 out of 5 O-Rings in ACE Hardware!

Now the search is on for the big 4 3/4" OD O-Ring for the main piston, it has a thickness of .145" (but it is very worn and disfigured)

I have been told that the "Make-Your-Own" O-Rings don't hold up well within a sliding mechanism, so I will search for a direct replacement!

Yesterday I re machined the small bearing surfaces that contact the thrust bearings when the turret is lifted and rotated, those surfaces had slight wear grooves in them. About .005" deep.

The CAD file is finished, and waiting for the slab of cast iron!

Widgit

[lerman]

Mcmaster (www.mcmaster.com) will have a replacement o-ring for you. .145 doesn't seem to be a standard size, but a nominal 1/8 o-ring measures .139 and should be close enough. Just pick a material that is suitable for the lubricant you are using and it should be fine.

Ken

[Runner4404spd]

the original size was .125. seals always swell when coated in lubricant.

[LUCKY13]

Widget, you might make a trip to your local Transmision repair guy to find a good Oring that will work. You could even machine the piston to work with the lip type seals they use in a lot of the tranny pistons. It might hold up a lot better than a normal Oring. It would be something to fall back on if you cant find what you need anyway.


Jess

[widgitmaster]

Thanks guys!

I just ordered 10 for $9.00 at McMaster Carr!

I fount the Neoprene 1/8 x 4.75" OD !

Now I have a few extras to sell on eBay

Can't wait for that slab of Cast Iron!!

Widgit

[widgitmaster]

The slab of Cast Iron arrived today! I don't think the USP guy liked it very much!

I have been busy making little stainless knobs on my lathe, and had I an 8-station turret, it would have been much easier to make the 30 pieces!

[BobWarfield]

The slab of Cast Iron arrived today! I don't think the USP guy liked it very much!

45ish pounds, eh? Annoying just to hump that thing in off the front porch and into the shop.

I've had a hard time getting Speedy to quote me a piece of cast iron that's 18" x 5" x 1" thick. I've been going by email and it has been hard. They just keep saying "regrets" and won't quote it. I guess I'll have to call and see what their story is.

I did get another outfit to quote me $125 delivered for the slab, but I really kinda wondered what Speedy's price would be before I order.

Best,

BW

[widgitmaster]

Hey Bob, call Speedy's 800 number (1-888-744-4140), and ask for Marty or Anson! Tell them Eric says hello!
These guys are very helpfull, as I have spent a ton of cash there with all my little projects!

Widgit