Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: turning center retrofit for home shop?

Keith Clark wrote:

>Jon,
>
>I have a large Monarch manual lathe 21x72. Since you have worked on
>a large manual lathe, what do you think about the possibility of
>making my Monarch CNC? I wouldn't know where to start, but have
>wondered what it would take to retrofit a large manual lathe.
>
>
>

I got a ballscrew out of a Bridgeport BOSS mill that is about the right
size.
My Sheldon has both a threading leadscrew and a feed driveshaft. I figured
I could pull the driveshaft out and install the ballscrew right through the
apron where it went. I could probably rig a flange to the apron, so the
ball nut could be detached for manual operation.

As for the cross slide, I could use the existing Acme screw with the
compensating
nut used on this machine, or come up with a little smaller ballscrew for it.
The compound rest would come off, and a tool turret would be put on,
if I get ambitious enough to build one, or come along one I can afford.
There was a guy selling 5 Baruffaldi tool turrets on eBay some years ago,
but they were a BIT rich for my blood!

I'm not in a great hurry to do this, as most of my lathe work is one-off
gizmos. I did make 6 ball joints by CNC by mounting the 1" rods in my
mill's spindle and putting a QC tool holder (without the toolpost) in the
milling vise. It worked RATHER nicely, in fact!

Jon