Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Invitation to group members: the OpenLathe Project

Michael,

With the cheap China lathes readily available and used lathes on eBay why try to reinvent the wheel?

When you say "hobbyist with modest equipment and skills" and describe a precision metal lathe that size I kind of scratch my head because I know what is involved.

If your desire is a quality lathe to make things with you may be barking up the wrong tree. If your goal is to enjoy building a lathe it might be a good project but you might want to go smaller and keep it pretty simple. Also expect to spend a lot of $ since you are also into a learning project which could be expensive and castings are reletively expensive. Expect to make mistakes!

Building a small (6X12?) and simple lathe might be a good first time machine building project if you have some castings made and machine and scrape the mating surfaces yourself. Look at some of the very old lathes for design ideas. A small heavy duty lathe might be fun to build.

It's always good to learn to walk before you run.

Good luck with your project!

Jack



Michael Fagan <woodworker88@...> wrote:
All various ideas are being considered, but we're thinking probably
along the lines of a 9-12" swing, probably around 24-36" between
centers. For bed ideas, we've got plain iron castings, induction
hardened and ground castings, and a "laminated" bed with a thin layer
of hardened and ground flat stock or other precision bearing surface
which is connected to a base of steel box or other ironwork. This
would go along the lines of a Taig (scaled way up, and no aluminum
extrusions, just steel) and the flat way design (such as how to lock
the tailstock and the shape of the carriage gibs and ways) borrowed
from the Hardinge and Rivett machines.

Got any good ideas?

Michael

On Wed, Apr 23, 2008 at 3:55 AM, Jack McKie <freshwatermodels@...> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
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> Michael,
>
> Sounds like an interesting project. What size lathe are you considering?
> What do you plan to use as a bed?
>
> Jack
>
>
>
> Michael Fagan <woodworker88@...> wrote:
> I am helping to start a new project known as the OpenLathe Project, an
> ongoing project to build a fully-featured metalworking lathe buildable
> using the resources available to a network of home shop machinists.
> We will be basing the project on the structure and principles of the
> open source community, to help provide a free exchange of ideas and
> sources. Ultimately, we would like to create the opportunity for a
> hobbyist with modest equipment and skill to build a metalworking lathe
> from scratch.
>
> Among other aspects of the project, we would like to make the machine
> control neutral, with both manual and CNC control equally feasible.
> We would also like to incorporate the E-Leadscrew project as a
> potential option.
>
> To support the efforts of the project, we have created a Yahoo group,
> OpenLathe, at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OpenLathe/
>
> I encourage all interested group members to actively join and
> contribute.
> Please join the group and have fun!
>
> Michael
> Co-Founder, OpenLathe Project
> OpenLathe@...
>
> ---------------------------------
> Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it
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>
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>
>





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