IH CNC paired with a benchtop lathe?

[Garland]

anyone ever used a benchtop lathe under the IH spindle?

I wonder if the CNC IH could control the lathe RPM for threading/tapering operations.

Does the IH 4th axis option do the same thing as a small lathe?

[TOTALLYRC]

I have seen others use a small lathe as a 4th axis. What they do is drive the spindle with a stepper/servo and tie it into the control. Not sure if IH is setup for a fourth axis, but it is amazing what you can do if you put your mind to it.

I have a 7x12 lathe and will probably use the headstock and tail stock to make a small 4th axis to do toothed pulleys for the rest of the machines I have under way.

Mike

[LUCKY13]

There is advantages and dissadvantages for both fourth axis types that are normally used.


#1 type , the rotory table turned into a fourth axis.

Main advantage, can be used in both vertical, or horizontal possitions.

Main dissadvantage, RPM/speed of table rotation. (bushings instead of bearings)

Can be used with a tail stock to turn inbetween centers just like a lathe


#2 type, using a lathe head for a fourth with a servo/stepper driving it.

Main advantage, more RPM/speed at the spindle. (bearings in spindle)

Main dissadvantage, can only be used horizontally.

Can be used with a tail stock to turn inbetween centers like a lathe.


#3 type - use whole lathe. Not sure of the advantage of doing this. Look in the Tormach section on this forum and search for "Duality Lathe" and you will see a setup just like this.

One advantage I can think of is easy setup (tail stock and head stock are already inline). Plus maybe some rigitity advantages.

One dissadvantage would be it takes up a lot of room,, and is very heavy to remove fro mill table. Also you would be limited to the swing of the lathe bed, as to where any of the other two setups could be shimmed up to allow more swing.



I think most people just modify the G-Code to make these setups work. Or you can use Mach3-Turn to make it happen. In the end it is possible and if you search you will find many people using one of these three type setups, with one or the other softwear work arounds to make it happen. (lathe operations) fourth axis opps is no problem and can already be done with Mach3-mill, but the lathe opps may need a little fiddling with code or use Mach3-Turn.


I hope this was all explained correctly. If you do a search for HOSS (a user on these forums) you will find a good example of the lathe head being used.


Here you go a link to the thread
X2 cnc finished for now maybe


Jess

[Garland]

Thanks guys!

[EvanVH]

#1 type , the rotory table turned into a fourth axis.

Main dissadvantage, RPM/speed of table rotation. (bushings instead of bearings)

http://www.sherline.com/3700pg.htm

This rotary table has bearings. It is small (4") but quality product. Hang a stepper on it and away you go. For threading operations I think that this would be a good start.



Evan

[devincox]

http://www.sherline.com/3700pg.htm

This rotary table has bearings. It is small (4") but quality product. Hang a stepper on it and away you go. For threading operations I think that this would be a good start.



Evan

I am actually using the sherline 4" cnc ready rotary table for my 4th axis now on my sherline cnc mill now. I am going to use it for the 4th axis on my IH Mill once its done as well.
Devin

[philbur]

I think the essential difference is that they are not intended to fulfil the same function. The rotary table has high resolution together with a high mechanical advantage so you can use it as a fourth axis when running milling cutters in your mill spindle. The lathe spindle has low resolution and low mechanical advantage so can only be run at speed using single point cutters. Comparing advantages and dissadvantages has no meaning, they are used to perform different operations.

Phil

There is advantages and dissadvantages for both fourth axis types that are normally used.


#1 type , the rotory table turned into a fourth axis.

Main advantage, can be used in both vertical, or horizontal possitions.

Main dissadvantage, RPM/speed of table rotation. (bushings instead of bearings)

Can be used with a tail stock to turn inbetween centers just like a lathe


#2 type, using a lathe head for a fourth with a servo/stepper driving it.

Main advantage, more RPM/speed at the spindle. (bearings in spindle)

Main dissadvantage, can only be used horizontally.

Can be used with a tail stock to turn inbetween centers like a lathe.


#3 type - use whole lathe. Not sure of the advantage of doing this. Look in the Tormach section on this forum and search for "Duality Lathe" and you will see a setup just like this.

One advantage I can think of is easy setup (tail stock and head stock are already inline). Plus maybe some rigitity advantages.

One dissadvantage would be it takes up a lot of room,, and is very heavy to remove fro mill table. Also you would be limited to the swing of the lathe bed, as to where any of the other two setups could be shimmed up to allow more swing.



I think most people just modify the G-Code to make these setups work. Or you can use Mach3-Turn to make it happen. In the end it is possible and if you search you will find many people using one of these three type setups, with one or the other softwear work arounds to make it happen. (lathe operations) fourth axis opps is no problem and can already be done with Mach3-mill, but the lathe opps may need a little fiddling with code or use Mach3-Turn.


I hope this was all explained correctly. If you do a search for HOSS (a user on these forums) you will find a good example of the lathe head being used.


Here you go a link to the thread
X2 cnc finished for now maybe


Jess