Dazza Posted December 9, 2004 Report Posted December 9, 2004 Does anyone have any information for a DIY metal turning lathe, Just a small basic one.It will come in handy for my hydrogen project, for the construction of the reactor chamber.Thanks for any help :). Quote
ante Posted December 9, 2004 Report Posted December 9, 2004 Hi Dazza,Here is something for your inspiration mate!http://silent1.home.netcom.com/HomebuiltLathe.htmhttp://www.pioneer.net/~felice/taig.htmlhttp://www.woodturners.org/tech_tips/cnc-lathe/cnc.htm[move] 8) 8) 8) 8)[/move] Quote
Dazza Posted December 10, 2004 Author Report Posted December 10, 2004 Thanks ante,Very very helpful ;).Question ante ;D, what is the best method of varying the AC motor speed 240v 50Hz 1/2 3/4 Hp, in addition to the mechanical gearing. It will need to be very stable especially if I want to eventually use it to cut threads.Thank you. Quote
ante Posted December 10, 2004 Report Posted December 10, 2004 It depends on which type of motor it is you are using. Synch, asynch or series with brushes? Quote
Dazza Posted December 11, 2004 Author Report Posted December 11, 2004 Hi ante,Yes of course, I should have realised the motor choice would need to be known first ::).I'm looking at two possibilities, a washing machine motor or a small benchtop drill press, a drill press would probably prove to be the most cost-effective, around $100 because it already has the mechanical speed adjustment as well as other useful bits.Ok probably the only thing I really need to know at this stage, would be the motor type what would be the most suitable for this application, I understand that I will need some kind of feedback from the motor to the speed control, I won't need this degree of accuracy for now (the feedback) I just need the bare bone unit, for machining parts needed for my reactor.Thanks ante :). Quote
ante Posted December 11, 2004 Report Posted December 11, 2004 Dazza,I would go for a 3-phase motor, such a motor will maintain (only some minor slack) the rpm until the power rating (hp) is exceeded. These can be found in 2 speed version and will combined with a Quote
Dazza Posted January 10, 2005 Author Report Posted January 10, 2005 Hi Ante :),Well I decided to go a similar path to this guy(http://www.backyardmetalcasting.com/index.html) I have worked in a foundry and I pretty much no the whole process, so it makes sense to me to make a small foundry, then go on to make the equipment that l will need .A series inventor need some good equipment to get serious ;).I have discovered a SmartDrive washing machine, I think it's electric motor would be ideal to use for a lathe. It's a 3-phase motor with a 42 pole stator and 36 magnets. Hopefully I can pick one up for the right price somewhere, I'm not sure on the Hp of these motors and I'm not sure on the Hp that I will need, as I have decided to make a decent size lathe :). Quote
ante Posted January 10, 2005 Report Posted January 10, 2005 Hi Dazza,Metal casting sounds a bit dangerous to me; I prefer spilling coffee in my lap before liquid metal! :o I remember the small soldiers we made of tin when I was young Quote
mixos Posted January 14, 2005 Report Posted January 14, 2005 Check out those plans i foundPlans_for_Micro_Lathe.pdf Quote
Dazza Posted January 16, 2005 Author Report Posted January 16, 2005 Hi Ante, mixos,I think I will just start building it to the scale that I want, then worry about the Hp that I'll need later 8).Molten aluminium will bounce off of your skin it wont stick, but it is no fun when it goes into your boot, believe me I no :o.Thanks for those plans mixos very very useful :). Quote
ante Posted January 16, 2005 Report Posted January 16, 2005 Hi Dazza,Have you seen this one: http://www.backyardmetalcasting.com/lathe1.html ? Quote
Dazza Posted January 18, 2005 Author Report Posted January 18, 2005 Hi Ante,Thanks Ante, yes that's the same guy with the foundry, the link I posted above ;).I have about 90 percent of the materials needed for the foundry. The ingredients needed for the refractory were very hard to find in my area. The heat will be on soon ;D, this project is bringing back bad memories, of working in the middle of summer in a foundry, hot hot hot :(. Quote
Dazza Posted January 20, 2005 Author Report Posted January 20, 2005 Hi Ante,Beer cans are not a very good choice, about 70 percent is waste slag which is skimmed off the top of the molten metal. Cylinder heads are good, because you know that they are the type of aluminium that is use for casting, but the biggest problem is breaking them up into small pieces that will fit into the crucible. Quote
ante Posted August 27, 2005 Report Posted August 27, 2005 Hi,I don’t think this has been posted before:Plans_for_6_inch_Turret_Lathe.pdf Quote
Guest Alun Posted August 27, 2005 Report Posted August 27, 2005 Wow, this looks old, where did you find this?Old things are often the best and this will never go out of date, old is golden. Quote
ante Posted August 28, 2005 Report Posted August 28, 2005 Hi Alun,Yes it’s old but at least you can snatch some ideas from it. I can’t remember exactly where I got it, just found it on an old CD-R “backup”. 8) Quote
Dazza Posted August 30, 2005 Author Report Posted August 30, 2005 Thanks Ante :D, I love these old designs 8).Alun, did you get the one that mixos posted on the previous page? Quote
ante Posted August 30, 2005 Report Posted August 30, 2005 Dazza; I knew you would like it! After all this time I almost know how you think, scary isn’t it! ;D ;D Quote
oldgrandpainmi Posted May 27, 2006 Report Posted May 27, 2006 Dazza,Having gone thru this receiently, I want to pass this on.If you are considering constructing a part with .001" tolerances, or better, there are a couple machinist forums out there that have CRC lathe operators that will do work on the side, at reasonable prices.I was considering building a metal lathe for some rifle barrel work. I designed a new type of muzzle brake I wanted to attach to a 1903, 8mm Mauser. I found a local guy thru a forum who cut the barrel down from 29" to 24", threaded the barrel end, and turned the brake blank's, all for less than $100. The tolerances were .001, and if I wanted to pay for them, I could have had them down to .0005".Doing a bunch of parts may warrant a lathe, but if only a few parts are needed, you can save money haveing them done professionally.Just a thought!Oldgrandpainmi Quote
Virus Posted May 27, 2006 Report Posted May 27, 2006 DazzaSorry for being so nosey, seams like all the other guys know, no one asked, what is the “…hydrogen project, for the construction of the reactor chamber.” for, this could be dangerous stuff, right ?Just for interest sake.Virus Quote
oldgrandpainmi Posted May 27, 2006 Report Posted May 27, 2006 Sounds like another attempt at Cold Fusion. Quote
Dazza Posted June 1, 2006 Author Report Posted June 1, 2006 Hi grandpa, Virus :)The chances are I won't get it right the first time, or the second time, or the well I'm sure you can guess what comes next ;D.Thanks for the info grandpa vary handy to know ;), there will be parts of my lathe that will need to be made on a lathe, so it sounds like the way to go to get it done on the cheap :D.Virus, yes this can be very dangerous, this is where I started with the hydrogen project http://www.electronics-lab.com/forum/index.php?topic=1321.0 Quote
Virus Posted June 1, 2006 Report Posted June 1, 2006 Hey DAZZASee in what big letters I type, (eyes isn’t that good any more), please save me 10 page of reading, and tell me...Again, sorry for being so nosey, what is the “…hydrogen project,” for ? ? ? ? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH A “ hydrogen reactor chamber . . . “, WHAT IS THE END PURPOSES. I, myself am very interested in alternative energies etc. Would it be for such an endeavor that you purpose this project ?GreetingsVirus Quote
Guest 65ShelbyClone Posted June 16, 2006 Report Posted June 16, 2006 I'm interested in how durable and accurate these mini lathes are. I imagine they're nice when you don't have a hangar to store everything in.On the other hand, I've worked in a prototype machine sho and it is soooo nice to have access to a full sized Bridgeport mill or a Hardinge lahe(or a Haas 10hp CNC mill ;)) plus all the tooling. Good machines are expensive, but good tooling and inpection equipment will kill you. Quote
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