Has anyone ever made their own lathe?

[sanddrag]

I was wondering if anyone has ever made their own lathe.

[miljnor]

try this one its one of the better ones!

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8928

[tobyaxis]

Checked out that Lathe, Best I've seen.

Thanks for the link Miljnor

tobyaxis

[Mcgyver]

Just for fun, here's one by Bill Huxhold (from our local model engineering club) he's master metal worker...check out is near perfect working replication of a hardinge lathe. i say for fun, because I'd say Bills objective is more perfect models rather than just focused on making tools, but it does show what's possible. what's not easy to appreciate is how small this stuff is - the twin corliss just about fits in your hand.

http://www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com/images/Huxhold3.JPG
http://www.mini-lathe.com/Cabin_Feve...01_Huxhold.htm

[Ken_Shea]

Bill Huxhold's work looks to be beyond master metal worker.

(from our local model engineering club)
McGyver,
Are you involved in this hobby as well ?

Ken

[miljnor]

Thats a sickness man!

Those things are unreal!

I like it!

[Mcgyver]

Ken, model engineering was my initial draw into metal working, and I occaisonally go to the Toronto Society of Model Engineers (TSME) meetings. I should go to all as a lot is offered there, but time is always scarce. Bill is a frequent presenter. While I've seen photograph's of other's work that is in the same class, I've never seen finer in person.

[tobyaxis]

True Craftsmanship, and Craftsman. Old style machine shops running on steam engines. The History CH had a special about Macine Shops about 8 years ago. Very interesting on how these places worked.

Great Link Mcgyver, Thanks. Definately one for the Favorites.


tobyaxis

[wizard]

I saw Huxholds lathe at NAMES a few years ago. It was one thing that stood out in my mind after the show and has generated interest on my part in model engineering and machining in general. The pictures don't really do the lathe justice, it is osmething you need to see in person.

As to building your own lathe that is a subject that has had a following for years. It is only the advent of cheap imports that interest has settled down a bit. One approach to take is the Gingery technique of boot strapping a metal working shop. There is a whole series of books that cover the beginnings of a nice work shop.

I'm actually intriqued by the whole Gingery concept. That is starting out with nothing and ending up with a machine shop at very low costs. I however haven't taken that approach yet simply due to the lack of time, work does suck the energy from you. The other issue is that if you are interested in CNCing anything the Gingery lathe needs to be reworked.

CNC machine off an opportunity to take a different approach. Much of what is needed for a conventional lathe can be done away with and you have a lot of options for implementation. This is where I currently see the best value in home built machine tools. That is build for capabilities you can't get in the imports. The biggest hold back is casting iron, but there are modern ways around that.

Consider searching the net for information on Gingery machines, home built lathes and such. There is a very wide assortment of implementations.

Thanks
Dave

[delstanton]

Random thoughts on a home made lathe..

The heck with steel castrings! Sand and epoxy to stiffem and damp a welded structure.

Maybe 8 years ago I saw a small CNC lathe with a very long cross slide that mounted 5 or 6 tools. Automatic tool changer be dammed, just move to the next tool post. (This does seem to eliminate the possiblility of a tailstock.)

I am thinking of small lathe - say 6" swing over the cross slide.

Del Stanton
Owner of a Taig Lathe - I plan to CNC it.

[metalworkz]

Hello,
I just found this post while doing a search for Gingery machines, and did not realize this question had been asked here. I have made the Gingery metal lathe, metal shaper and horizontal miller from Dave Gingery's books, and also the sheet metal leaf brake. It took me about ten years working on them in my spare time and has been one of the most rewarding projects I have ever attempted. I know most of the people I knew back then did not believe it could be done or that I would actually complete any of the machines and have something worthwhile, but I proved them all wrong and have some great manual machines to use on the projects I work with. I would recommend the Gingery series of books to anyone, but be prepared to spend some time working your way through them.

[Fastest1]

Have you looked up "Dumpster CNC" on YouTube? Incredible work there too.