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S_J_H A benchtop cnc lathe build 07-16-2007, 03:39 AM
bigbunny5 That is Nice Man, I'm a Huge... 07-16-2007, 07:35 AM
WilliamD Very Nice!!! I can't believe... 07-16-2007, 10:26 PM
Al_The_Man Look like a fairly large... 07-16-2007, 10:32 PM
S_J_H Thanks guys. I'm just having... 07-16-2007, 11:41 PM
FPV_GTp hi I have to agree with... 07-16-2007, 11:54 PM
S_J_H FPV_GTp, Thanks, I think Al... 07-17-2007, 05:29 AM
digits That's looking great Steve :)... 07-18-2007, 12:13 AM
S_J_H digits, My mini lathe... 07-18-2007, 05:43 AM
zephyr9900 Steve, didn't you write that... 07-18-2007, 07:31 PM
bigbunny5 SJS when you finish that... 07-18-2007, 06:44 AM
S_J_H wow that would be small!... 07-18-2007, 08:35 PM
zephyr9900 :idea: I have always thought... 07-18-2007, 11:51 PM
keitholivier Steve You should consider... 07-20-2007, 03:10 AM
zephyr9900 Steve, I found the thread I... 07-20-2007, 07:04 AM
dfro Steve, I have some... 11-28-2009, 07:49 AM
S_J_H cross slide base/rails... 07-18-2007, 10:38 PM
S_J_H Keith, I have a lot of... 07-20-2007, 04:19 AM
Mcgyver Steve the lathe looks great.... 07-20-2007, 01:20 PM
S_J_H Randy, yes that is correct.... 07-21-2007, 01:40 AM
S_J_H Will, I use a ground and... 07-21-2007, 02:24 AM
S_J_H Thanks Alan, yes the cross... 08-18-2007, 01:08 AM
will gilmore follow up question to above... 07-21-2007, 01:52 AM
will gilmore thanks for the reply i hadnt... 07-28-2007, 04:00 PM
acondit Steve, I saw on your photo... 08-16-2007, 07:42 PM
handlewanker Hi Steve, just found your... 08-18-2007, 06:53 AM
S_J_H Hi Ian, The max parallel... 08-19-2007, 01:25 AM
S_J_H There is simply no available... 08-20-2007, 02:18 AM
S_J_H Ian, here is a shot showing... 08-20-2007, 04:19 AM
S_J_H Thanks Ron! A couple... 08-31-2007, 05:10 AM
S_J_H I used precision flat stock... 09-04-2007, 04:37 AM
zephyr9900 What surface did you set up... 09-04-2007, 07:21 AM
S_J_H Randy, The rail risers were... 09-04-2007, 01:58 PM
Rube Damn Steve...you'll have to... 09-04-2007, 05:50 PM
S_J_H Rube, Thanks, you'll be able... 09-05-2007, 06:36 AM
zephyr9900 Steve, I think I have one of... 09-05-2007, 07:33 AM
Oldmanandhistoy Steve, Put some blue on a... 09-05-2007, 08:07 PM
handlewanker Hi, is the screw going to be... 08-19-2007, 09:11 AM
rustamd If that screw will be cut off... 08-19-2007, 05:46 PM
handlewanker Hi rust, In photo 3 it looks... 08-19-2007, 06:17 PM
Oldmanandhistoy Hi, That’s the way I see... 08-20-2007, 01:30 AM
rustamd to me it looks like it was... 08-20-2007, 01:33 AM
rustamd it does look that if nut... 08-19-2007, 06:27 PM
handlewanker Hi Steve, I assumed the nut... 08-20-2007, 03:19 AM
Ron111 Steve, I like it!!!!!!!!!... 08-27-2007, 04:36 PM
rustamd its looking good! 08-31-2007, 05:18 AM
Builder4wd Hi, You mentioned that you... 09-01-2007, 01:26 AM
rustamd i would want to think that... 09-01-2007, 01:30 AM
Oldmanandhistoy Steve is your test indicator... 09-04-2007, 05:54 PM
will gilmore what kind of accuracy are you... 09-06-2007, 02:55 AM
snapman Very nice! In another... 09-06-2007, 05:34 AM
rustamd any more progress... 09-07-2007, 07:15 PM
S_J_H No new pics yet. I begin... 09-07-2007, 08:57 PM
rustamd That sounds like a plan, just... 09-07-2007, 09:03 PM
S_J_H pics,... we need more f-ing... 09-09-2007, 12:09 AM
Willyb Hi Steve Looks good. I... 09-09-2007, 01:02 AM
S_J_H Willy, I thought long and... 09-09-2007, 03:55 PM
S_J_H The rail risers are now flat.... 09-09-2007, 11:55 PM
S_J_H John, thanks! I'm just having... 09-10-2007, 07:04 AM
S_J_H Thanks Rube. It was very nice... 09-10-2007, 10:10 PM
Builder4wd S_J_H, Great job on the... 09-13-2007, 05:13 AM
Oldmanandhistoy How I would do it and it is... 09-13-2007, 11:53 AM
S_J_H You just want the surfaces... 09-13-2007, 01:52 PM
Oldmanandhistoy Shim:eek: :D 09-13-2007, 01:57 PM
S_J_H Ian, I am not sure what you... 09-14-2007, 05:38 AM
Oldmanandhistoy And I thought he was paying... 09-14-2007, 09:03 AM
S_J_H Well you know, sometimes... 09-14-2007, 02:06 PM
S_J_H ok ok ok, No shim! I'll do it... 09-14-2007, 02:11 PM
Oldmanandhistoy Very nice job on the rail... 09-10-2007, 12:18 AM
Willyb Hi Steve Your risers look... 09-10-2007, 02:52 AM
Rube I agree. I had the pleasure... 09-10-2007, 02:45 PM
handlewanker Hi all, it just goes to show... 09-13-2007, 04:15 PM
Oldmanandhistoy Steve, Good luck with the... 09-13-2007, 04:22 PM
handlewanker Ooooooohhhhhh.......a kick in... 09-14-2007, 01:47 PM
Oldmanandhistoy :) 09-14-2007, 02:15 PM
handlewanker 'lo John, getting a bit testy... 09-14-2007, 05:37 PM
S_J_H Ian, thanks for the detailed... 09-14-2007, 09:52 PM
Oldmanandhistoy I’m only 42 btw. Right... 09-14-2007, 10:17 PM
S_J_H From your handle I thought... 09-15-2007, 01:23 AM
Oldmanandhistoy Long story, lets just say... 09-15-2007, 10:25 AM
S_J_H A few new pics. The rails are... 09-17-2007, 04:48 AM
Oldmanandhistoy :) John 09-17-2007, 01:03 PM
S_J_H Ian, sorry I misread your... 09-17-2007, 02:04 PM
handlewanker Yeah, I thought he was a bit... 09-15-2007, 10:42 AM
handlewanker Hi SJH, nope, re post #91, I... 09-17-2007, 01:31 PM
handlewanker Hi Steve, If you look at... 09-17-2007, 02:47 PM
Oldmanandhistoy And I would be one of them... 09-17-2007, 02:54 PM
Willyb Hi Steve What is the... 09-17-2007, 10:29 PM
S_J_H Willy, the parallels were ... 09-17-2007, 10:50 PM
S_J_H Willy, there is no encoder or... 09-18-2007, 03:13 AM
S_J_H yes, several improvements and... 09-24-2007, 02:57 AM
S_J_H Ian, Well the old machines... 09-29-2007, 11:28 PM
S_J_H Very close to making some... 09-30-2007, 11:30 PM
Willyb Looking good Steve. Why the... 10-01-2007, 03:19 AM
S_J_H Willy, yeah the old belt... 10-02-2007, 01:06 AM
S_J_H First tests of the x and z... 10-03-2007, 08:35 PM
Willyb Looks Good. 10-03-2007, 09:58 PM
S_J_H Willy, yes the belt drive is ... 10-04-2007, 12:50 AM
Rube Hey Steve...that looks great.... 10-04-2007, 12:04 PM
S_J_H Ian, I do not really... 10-04-2007, 01:58 PM
Willyb Hi Steve Thanks for... 10-04-2007, 04:34 PM
rustamd any more progress or taking... 09-23-2007, 11:19 PM
handlewanker Hi Steve, and I thought my... 09-29-2007, 05:26 PM
rustamd looking beautifull!!! 10-01-2007, 12:05 AM
Oldmanandhistoy So what do you think the... 10-04-2007, 12:46 AM
handlewanker Hi Steve, very interesting... 10-04-2007, 04:58 AM
Oldmanandhistoy Hi Steve, ... 10-04-2007, 05:52 PM
handlewanker Hi Steve, that was only my... 10-04-2007, 06:18 PM
S_J_H :rolleyes: I did consider... 10-04-2007, 09:41 PM
S_J_H Willy, I am planning on... 10-04-2007, 10:04 PM
digits Asymmetric, or not, IMHO it's... 10-04-2007, 11:30 PM
S_J_H Thanks Digits, Well all, The... 10-05-2007, 12:10 AM
Willyb Hi Steve Just curious what... 10-05-2007, 04:25 PM
hybidder Very nice project. I read... 10-07-2007, 03:29 PM
S_J_H Hello everybody, The... 10-08-2007, 06:14 AM
Willyb Hi Steve I am really... 10-08-2007, 07:57 AM
digits Congratulations Steve - you... 10-08-2007, 09:27 PM
S_J_H Willy, I'll need more low... 10-09-2007, 01:41 AM
Rube Congratulations on the... 10-09-2007, 06:30 PM
zephyr9900 That is looking mighty tasty,... 10-09-2007, 09:07 PM
S_J_H Ahh it's just a cobbled up... 10-10-2007, 01:30 AM
zephyr9900 Steve, if you can get by with... 10-10-2007, 04:23 AM
Willyb Hi Steve Just finished... 10-10-2007, 04:24 AM
S_J_H Hi Ian, Good, very... 10-10-2007, 05:10 AM
S_J_H Randy, very interesting. I... 10-10-2007, 05:26 AM
handlewanker Hi John, I suppose you could... 10-04-2007, 06:49 PM
Oldmanandhistoy Ian, As I said I see your... 10-04-2007, 07:16 PM
handlewanker Hi Steve, do you know why... 10-05-2007, 03:36 PM
handlewanker Hi Steve, just reread your... 10-05-2007, 04:34 PM
Oldmanandhistoy Hi Steve, As you say “the... 10-08-2007, 12:24 PM
handlewanker ZINGGGGGGG, now that is what... 10-10-2007, 03:32 AM
CountZero Very impressive! Stupid... 10-10-2007, 08:35 AM
S_J_H This is Ron's schematic I... 10-10-2007, 01:49 PM
S_J_H ......BREAKING NEWS....... ... 10-10-2007, 08:59 PM
S_J_H The lathe threads. I have... 10-13-2007, 01:14 AM
Willyb Way to go Steve. Looks... 10-13-2007, 11:25 AM
S_J_H Well I played with cnc... 10-14-2007, 12:38 AM
dkowalcz I have a setup very similar... 10-14-2007, 03:05 PM
Willyb Hi Steve I would go with a... 10-14-2007, 11:07 PM
S_J_H HP is King! 10-15-2007, 12:31 AM
Oldmanandhistoy 0.1" :eek: Way to go :) you... 10-15-2007, 12:45 AM
Willyb Hi Steve You have got to... 10-15-2007, 12:58 AM
S_J_H Yeah I am pretty happy now.... 10-15-2007, 02:38 AM
S_J_H Ian, great story about the... 10-15-2007, 02:44 AM
dkowalcz Sure. These pictures are... 10-15-2007, 03:50 PM
S_J_H the4thseal, I don't have 220... 10-15-2007, 12:41 AM
svenakela This is a beauty! Wouldn't... 10-10-2007, 09:20 PM
belli Hi Steve, If memory serves... 10-13-2007, 12:04 PM
the4thseal can you use tapered roller... 10-14-2007, 05:39 AM
the4thseal i do not have 220 in my shop... 10-15-2007, 12:14 AM
Willyb You can get VFD's that will... 10-15-2007, 12:44 AM
the4thseal thanks for the vfd info.....i... 10-15-2007, 01:28 AM
the4thseal sjh- what motor are you... 10-15-2007, 01:32 AM
handlewanker Hi Steve, about your 5V... 10-15-2007, 02:27 AM
the4thseal can i use any ac motor with a... 10-15-2007, 03:44 AM
Willyb You will need to use a 3... 10-15-2007, 05:42 AM
the4thseal i understand....i... 10-15-2007, 06:01 AM
Willyb For the 1hp setup you could... 10-15-2007, 07:50 AM
S_J_H A few things to consider,... 10-15-2007, 01:19 PM
Willyb Steve Good point Steve. ... 10-15-2007, 06:45 PM
balsaman Actually it's not that close.... 10-15-2007, 07:27 PM
samco I am assuming that those... 10-15-2007, 07:43 PM
handlewanker Hi Steve, I replied 2 pages... 10-15-2007, 04:17 AM
the4thseal this one in the 1hp range.... 10-15-2007, 06:27 AM
svenakela Steve, what is the feedback... 10-15-2007, 10:19 AM
balsaman No feedback. A VFD varies... 10-15-2007, 12:19 PM
svenakela Yes, I know the VFD part, it... 10-15-2007, 04:17 PM
Willyb Hi Guys Actually I think... 10-15-2007, 08:18 PM
S_J_H dkowalcz, nice work. I would... 10-16-2007, 03:48 AM
svenakela Thanks for the info Steve, I... 10-16-2007, 06:49 AM
Willyb Hi Steve Wanted to ask you... 10-16-2007, 06:33 AM
S_J_H Matt, yes 44 passes and it... 10-16-2007, 01:33 PM
Willyb Hi Steve Thanks for the... 10-17-2007, 07:54 AM
S_J_H Willy, I know that if... 10-18-2007, 01:05 AM
romihs Great job Steve! 10-18-2007, 09:30 PM
Willyb Hi Guys Went to CMTS... 10-19-2007, 12:14 AM
S_J_H Thanks Sandi. I'll be... 10-19-2007, 07:16 PM
S_J_H Lathe mounted with new vfd... 10-23-2007, 12:54 AM
S_J_H The big motor kicks some... 10-23-2007, 06:13 AM
Willyb Looking good Steve. Can't... 10-23-2007, 06:37 AM
S_J_H photobucket seems to be... 10-25-2007, 04:50 AM
S_J_H screeeeeechhhhh!!... I put... 10-26-2007, 01:07 AM
S_J_H rustamd, oh sure it has been... 10-26-2007, 04:39 AM
S_J_H It's nice when something... 10-27-2007, 10:58 PM
S_J_H It's just flex hose ducting.... 10-27-2007, 11:21 PM
S_J_H final videos. Enjoy! 10-29-2007, 02:20 AM
S_J_H Thanks Ian! If you look close... 10-29-2007, 09:14 PM
keebler303 Steve Is your 4 key... 10-16-2007, 04:29 AM
the4thseal ok...wait a minute......you... 10-16-2007, 08:30 AM
keebler303 Great work Steve. The... 10-23-2007, 01:53 AM
handlewanker Hi Steve, the set-up is... 10-23-2007, 03:39 AM
rustamd It looks very good. I'm... 10-23-2007, 03:53 AM
rustamd too bad you not driving the... 10-26-2007, 01:29 AM
handlewanker Hi Steve, the proof is in the... 10-29-2007, 03:45 AM
RotarySMP Hi Steve, Great work. Have... 10-30-2007, 09:44 AM
miljnor Hey Steve, You mentioned... 10-31-2007, 05:11 PM
Ron111 Steve, Good job!!! Makes me... 10-31-2007, 11:26 PM
the4thseal i have a question......while... 11-18-2007, 07:42 AM
RotarySMP To address the opposing needs... 11-19-2007, 02:19 PM
the4thseal for a lathe of the size and... 11-19-2007, 06:35 PM
the4thseal i am not saying that your... 11-20-2007, 08:45 AM
the4thseal well i am trying to feel... 11-21-2007, 01:13 AM
digits I've been lusting after an... 06-20-2008, 10:58 AM
will gilmore Now that you have had your... 06-18-2008, 09:39 PM
handlewanker Hi Steve, I would hate to... 06-19-2008, 05:41 PM
S_J_H W. Smith, I'll keep my eye... 07-08-2008, 07:27 PM
S_J_H Thanks Ian. I could... 07-09-2008, 03:21 PM
S_J_H Thanks Bob, Yes a gang tooled... 07-09-2008, 11:45 PM
S_J_H Possible new lathe build ?... 07-13-2008, 09:50 PM
S_J_H Ian, Thanks for your input!... 07-14-2008, 03:38 PM
S_J_H Well, I had a little... 07-15-2008, 02:54 PM
BobWarfield Set the slide up as a generic... 07-15-2008, 03:11 PM
S_J_H ah hell, I think it'll just... 07-16-2008, 07:26 PM
S_J_H Ian, A SB9 uses the inner... 07-17-2008, 02:12 PM
S_J_H Ian, Yes my bed suffers from... 07-18-2008, 02:06 PM
S_J_H Ian, Yes, I would very much... 07-19-2008, 04:57 PM
S_J_H It's official. I have started... 07-19-2008, 11:06 PM
S_J_H Ian, Thanks for all the tips... 07-25-2008, 01:55 PM
will gilmore Here's to a speedy recovery.... 06-21-2008, 05:22 AM
CNCfun&games Steve, Nice Build!... 07-02-2008, 07:14 AM
handlewanker Hi Steve, glad to hear you're... 07-09-2008, 04:13 AM
BobWarfield Steve, I continue to admire... 07-09-2008, 04:19 PM
will gilmore i see the turnbuckle briefly... 07-09-2008, 04:58 PM
The Blight Make a mill! Use it as the... 07-14-2008, 12:50 AM
handlewanker Hi Steve, quite an... 07-14-2008, 03:03 AM
handlewanker Hi Steve, true, at least you... 07-15-2008, 02:46 AM
will gilmore Steve, How much Z and X... 07-15-2008, 08:41 PM
handlewanker Hi Steve, a horizontal borer,... 07-16-2008, 04:36 AM
handlewanker Hi Steve, just looked at your... 07-17-2008, 11:59 AM
handlewanker Hi Steve, yep I know what you... 07-18-2008, 04:47 AM
handlewanker Hi Steve, I really like that... 07-19-2008, 04:39 AM
Oldmanandhistoy :p 07-19-2008, 07:29 AM
handlewanker Wow Steve, you little ripper,... 07-25-2008, 04:22 AM
mattinker hand planer 07-25-2008, 10:40 AM
handlewanker Hi Steve, the tailstock is... 07-25-2008, 09:18 PM
mattinker Thread squatter, again! 07-25-2008, 10:06 PM
asuratman Gilman 07-30-2008, 04:08 AM
S_J_H Aristo, thanks, The little... 07-31-2008, 11:18 PM
dfro Steve, Could you provide a... 01-07-2009, 08:50 AM
S_J_H dfro, The tailstock uses a... 01-08-2009, 06:36 PM
dfro Steve, Thank you! The pics... 01-10-2009, 08:54 AM
S_J_H Thanks Joe. The lathe has... 04-25-2009, 08:25 PM
asuratman Hi Steve, I can open that... 07-31-2008, 03:09 PM
asuratman Steve, Thanks, I can open... 08-01-2008, 01:37 AM
keebler303 Dave Is this the flat way... 01-10-2009, 06:36 PM
tootalew would A-36 be a good steel to... 01-22-2009, 10:06 PM
CNC55 Info need please, 03-13-2009, 05:08 PM
Joezx10r Thread digging a little here... 04-25-2009, 03:10 AM
Joezx10r Could U tell me what the... 04-26-2009, 06:55 AM
Rube Hi Joe...the distance from... 04-26-2009, 04:32 PM
Joezx10r Thanks for the info I would... 04-26-2009, 04:55 PM
Sadheer CNC Lathe 11-28-2009, 03:54 PM
mwood3 quick question, what length... 06-10-2011, 07:02 AM
S_J_H hmmm.. I could use a few... 04-30-2009, 02:57 AM
praetor Much appreciated 05-01-2009, 03:59 PM
handlewanker WHAT........you got rid of... 04-27-2009, 05:56 AM
Rube HAHAHA...yeah, Steve seems to... 04-27-2009, 01:17 PM
praetor Joezx10r is that a possible... 04-28-2009, 10:15 PM
Joezx10r Heres the link to the... 04-28-2009, 11:43 PM
handlewanker Hi Rube, thanks for the link... 04-29-2009, 04:26 AM
Rube HAHA...actually, I didnt get... 04-29-2009, 12:21 PM
BobWarfield Good news and bad news on... 05-01-2009, 04:19 PM
Rube Thanx for the input Bob. I... 05-02-2009, 01:55 PM
CNCfun&games Steve: This is an... 12-03-2013, 10:15 PM
mountaindew Hey thanks for bump on this... 12-04-2013, 06:40 PM
Azalin Re: A benchtop cnc lathe build 09-23-2015, 09:54 AM
DICKEYBIRD Re: A benchtop cnc lathe build 09-26-2015, 02:08 PM
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Posts
    357

    Smile A benchtop cnc lathe build

    Hi everybody, I thought I would share my current project which is a cnc benchtop lathe. After seeing the great work by other members and their custom machine projects I was motivated to try and build myself a nice little benchtop lathe. I already have a import 9x20 and I really have no interest in converting it. I wanted to just start fresh.:idea:
    The lathe is a work in progress, I started on it about a month ago.
    I adapted a mini lathe spindle and a mini mill spindle base to form the headstock for this project. Nice cast iron parts. I discarded the mini lathe plastic gear drive and built a new belt drive using a HTD primary and dual 3mm polyflex to drive the spindle. It will use a mini mill dc motor with a variable speed DC controller. The headstock is mounted through the bed with four studs. It's very solid.

    The bed is made from 1" thick ground steel with 1/2" thick sides and boxed in underneath by welding. The bed is 5" wide and 24" long.
    I mounted the z axis rails(Hiwin 15mm) today. I have them nice and parallel at around .0002" variance.
    The tailstock will also be mounted to the z-axis rails on 2 blocks. The threaded holes in the bed are for locking the tailstock in place.
    As shown in the pics it weighs about 100lbs right now. I'll be making a turret toolchanger. I figure the little feller will come in at around 150+lbs when done. So it'll be fairly easy to move around.
    Well here are a few pics of my progress.
    Steve




  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Posts
    100
    That is Nice Man, I'm a Huge Fan of well made, Shop Made tools. Any FOOL can go to harbor Freight, and start laying down $100 bills for Mediocre at best tools, But it takes a real Craftsman to Build a finely honed piece of Shop made tooling! I look forward to following your build. Please post lot's more pictures!
    An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy of being called an idea at all, and Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Posts
    249
    Very Nice!!! I can't believe you did that in a month! Did you have the steel ground for you, or pick it up stock? Nice idea with using the mini lathe and mill headstocks. I want to build one a lot like it.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Posts
    24260
    Look like a fairly large (DC?) spindle motor, what are using to control it?
    Al.
    CNC, Mechatronics Integration and Custom Machine Design

    “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”
    Albert E.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Posts
    357
    Thanks guys. I'm just having fun building it "on the fly" without any real plans.
    I won't be able to work on it for a few weeks as I'll be to busy. I'll start up again on it in August. I'll get the x axis finished up next and then mount the ballscrews.
    The steel is precision ground flat stock. I figured I could save myself some machining by starting off with nice ground stock. A bit more expensive but worth it to me.

    Al, I'll be using a Minarik DC drive. I was going to use my old mini mill dc drive but some goofball without much electronics knowledge(me) smoked it by accident.
    I'll use a proximity sensor to index the spindle to mach3.

    Steve

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    481
    hi

    I have to agree with the guys very nice job so far SJH

    Minarik DC drive ??? never heard of this brand , why not concider Gecko G-REX G100 , USB or Ethernet communication connection.

    cheers

    cheers

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Posts
    357
    FPV_GTp,
    Thanks, I think Al was asking about the controller for the spindle motor, not the axis stepper motors.
    For the spindle motor which is a 100volt dc motor, I will be using a manual DC drive for spindle speed, probably a Minarik drive.. For now anyways but that could change.
    For the axis motion control and future tool changer l'll use a spare Xylotex 3 axis drive and 269oz steppers I have on hand. I will be using those with Mach3 Turn. Should work great with this machine.

    Steve

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    1602
    That's looking great Steve

    I bought a mini-lathe headstock to do a similar thing, but rather tediously it isn't flat based like the mini-mill headstock - it has a dovetail groove cut into it. I think you've got it spot on by mixing and matching the spindles and castings from the mill and lathe

    Do you mind me asking how you're going to synchronise the motor with the X-axis for thread-cutting - are you going to add an encoder somewhere?

    Cheers.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Posts
    357

    Smile

    digits,
    My mini lathe headstock did have a dovetail but I machined it away completely.
    Same thing with the mini mill base. The cast iron in these 2 parts is quite good. Machines beautifully and is free of voids.
    The motor is not indexed. The spindle gets indexed with a sensor. Mach will read how fast the spindle turns and adjust the axis speed to match the spindle for threading.

    Steve

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Posts
    1051
    Quote Originally Posted by S_J_H View Post
    My mini lathe headstock did have a dovetail but I machined it away completely.
    Steve, didn't you write that up somewhere? I've searched the forums here but haven't run across it.

    Sweet looking build so far. Is your base material that oil-hardening stock that MSC sells? I see that it's +/-.001 on thickness and squareness. Almost certainly better than I could square up material on my Tormach...

    I've been considering something similar. I have a whole box of Thomson 10mm profile slides with preloaded carriages, so was considering using 6 carriages each on the Z and X axes (I've read about using 6 carriages anyway for "tolerance averaging" and that would get the allowable load up also).

    Is there a reason that you are looking at a turret rather than gang-slide? There actually seem to be good reasons behind both, so I'm curious to know what swayed your decision.

    Best regards,

    Randy

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Posts
    100
    SJS when you finish that lathe I'd love to commission you to build me one about 1/8 scale. That has been giving me Ideas that I shouldn't dwell on. but suffice to say as a model builder I've felt the need for a lathe about 1/4 scale of shurelines something like the Clisby but not as toy like or foreign! something Very accurate yet portable that can be carried out to the race track.
    An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy of being called an idea at all, and Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.

  12. #12
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    Mar 2006
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    357
    SJS when you finish that lathe I'd love to commission you to build me one about 1/8 scale.
    wow that would be small! Sounds like a fun project though.

    Randy, I am not sure if I ever talked about machining off the dovetails on the 2 bases. I may have mentioned it at the HSM site.
    I am using Starret low carbon and oil hardening ground stock. It is very accurate dimension wise but the longer pieces do have some warp or Bow to them. So I did needed to flycut the z axis risers after it was all bolted together to keep the rails nice and even. What I could really use is a surface grinder. My x3 is fairly accurate though and I did not need to shim the rails at all.

    The main reason I am going with a turret vs a gang slide is because I want to be able to use a tailstock if needed. Plus I think the designs for the pneumatic/stepper driven turrets are neat and I want to make one.:rainfro:


    Steve

  13. #13
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    Feb 2006
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    1051
    Quote Originally Posted by S_J_H View Post
    I want to be able to use a tailstock if needed.
    :idea: I have always thought "the gang slide is just a long cross-slide, what's the problem?" but doh, the tailstock gets in the way of changing the tools past the end of the part... (I was a little slow in figuring that out...)

    I guess that what would be needed would be a leadscrew-driven tailstock with a live center backed up by a stack of Belleville washers, and a limit switch that would close when the center was loaded enough to compress the Bellevilles. That way, you could retract the tailstock, change tools, advance and reload the tailstock to the right pressure and resume machining...

    Quote Originally Posted by S_J_H View Post
    Plus I think the designs for the pneumatic/stepper driven turrets are neat and I want to make one.
    ...or do it your way with the turret.

    Best regards,

    Randy

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Posts
    59
    Steve

    You should consider beefing up the spindle. In my opinion, the small cross section of the spindle is going to be the limiting factor in the rigidity of your machine. If you want to keep the workload down, at least consider turning a new spindle out of some good steel and leaving the center solid. That will let you keep the same bearing setup but have a more rigid spindle itself.

    The bed and guides look great.

    Do you have plans for guards to keep swarf off the bed

    Keith

  15. #15
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    Feb 2006
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    1051
    Quote Originally Posted by S_J_H View Post
    I am not sure if I ever talked about machining off the dovetails on the 2 bases. I may have mentioned it at the HSM site.
    Steve, I found the thread I was thinking of. It's MikeAber's mods to a mini-mill spindle on http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showth...t=10695&page=7 where he was modding it to allow higher speeds. (It's obviously the gray paint that had me confused!)

    When you say "mini mill spindle base" are you talking about the piece that normally slides up and down the column?

    Randy

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Posts
    229
    Steve,

    I have some questions about your pulleys. What size timing belt pulley are you using on your benchtop lathe headstock spindle, and where did you buy it? How many teeth did you choose?

    I have the same kind of headstock as you on my benchtop lathe build, but I am having trouble finding a timing pulley that has a 1.050 bore. Did you turn the bore to size?

    Thanks,
    Dave

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
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    357

    cross slide base/rails installed

    I managed to get a little time in the shop last night. I machined and mounted the cross slide base and installed the x axis rails. I am happy to say not even the slightest trace of binding on the z axis.:banana:
    This is my first experience using linear rails and I am really impressed. So smooth and rigid at the same time.


    Steve

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
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    357

    Smile

    Keith, I have a lot of experience with a 7x lathe which this spindle came from. It's pretty rigid actually for it's size. Even made 8 rib blower pulleys for my strip car with it. On the 7x lathes the spindle is without a doubt the beefiest part of that machine. It's the same spindle / headstock used on the x2 mini mills as well. I only have a 350 watt dc motor powering it so I think it is well matched. I don't expect to hog off 1/8" cuts with this machine. But we'll see how it works once it is done. I will consider a heavier duty spindle if I find the need for it.

    As for swarf, well the ballscrews will be covered and I am not concerned about the rails. I made the decision not to machine holes in the bed for swarf. The rails are almost 5" wide and elevated so there is a lot of room for swarf. The smooth bed surface should be a snap to cleanup/shopvac the swarf. It's only a hobby machine and won't ever see a production type use. Again only time will tell though how it all works out.
    Steve

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
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    1136
    Quote Originally Posted by S_J_H View Post
    I managed to get a little time in the shop last night. I machined and mounted the cross slide base and installed the x axis rails. I am happy to say not even the slightest trace of binding on the z axis.:banana:
    This is my first experience using linear rails and I am really impressed. So smooth and rigid at the same time.
    Steve the lathe looks great. I haven't used linear motion rails either but wonder with your recent experience what your comments would be regarding alignment and binding etc. Strikes me that whatever the clearance is on them, lets say its .0002, the alignment would have to be better than .0004 else you'd get binding. Now i can create two planes, coplanar to .0004 over a distance but its not an easy thing. I'd guess parallelism is easier to obtain using an indicator on one rail to set the other? things get more complicated when you consider most applications seem to use rolled stock or even fabrications that haven't been normalized so you'd expect movement....or with a bolt together assembly its going to be slightly different every time its assembled - even using ground stock, its going to bend to a degree to the base to which is bolted, right? Not yours, but some applications i see posted here couldn't possibly be hold .0004 thou; ie long runs on no-so-solid a base, yet they seem to work...puzzles me how these linear bearings work will if what they are attached to isn't made to at least the same tolerances.


    just wondering how much you planned for this and how you achieved the sufficiently accurate coplanar surfaces on which to attach the rails? or am i missing something that reduces how critical keeping it coplanar and parallel is?

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Posts
    357
    When you say "mini mill spindle base" are you talking about the piece that normally slides up and down the column?
    Randy, yes that is correct. Nice cast iron piece.

    Mcgyver,
    Good questions. And I do think it is critical. I spent 500$ on rails and 10 blocks. No sense in that if the machine won't be able to be very accurate. That is why I began with ground stock. Just to make this machine build go smoother and easier. I struggled with the question of bolting the bed box sections in or welding them( the bed is boxed from underneath). I knew welding would cause some distortion but on the other hand there is less chance of anything shifting. I decided to weld in the crossbraces as I am pretty sure bolting them in would have also caused distortion. But since the rails are mounted on .75" risers all I really had to make flat was those 2 risers. The bed surface where the headstock mounts I figured could just be shimmed if needed. So mounted the bed on my mill and cnc flycut the 2 risers very slowly and evenly. This results in the 2 rails surface being as accurate as my mill table.

    Once I had the bed done I mounted the Z axis rails and the headstock. I used my incredible bionic eyeballs to first sight the headstock and 1 rail straight on the bed. I then installed a block on that rail and chucked up a piece of ground and polished rod in the chuck. I mounted a Test indicator on the block and proceeded to align the headstock to the single rail. That honestly took many hours of twiddling, torquing and 1 shim under the headstock of .001". Once I was happy with the results I began to align the other rail to the master. I used a jackscrew between the 2 rails and adjusted the other rail slowly 1 rail mounting bolt at a time. The result was the indicator shows very very little movement coplanar. I have more error in the vertical plane but on a lathe that is a second order error and of little consequence.
    The proof I did a decent job was when I bolted up the 1/2" thick steel plate using 16 bolts to the 4 blocks and there was no binding at all.
    For the cross slide rails I desiged the rails to be 1.5" apart. I did this so I could fit 2 parallel plates between the rails and make it very easy to clamp them straight to one another. The cross slide and base are short 10" and 8" sections. No problems there at all with ground stock.Bolt it up and go.It's flat.
    The rails can tolerate some slight mounting errors. The heavier the preload the less they can tolerate. The specs are online for the Hiwin rails/blocks. My machine is much under the max tolerances for these units.
    This is a little machine though. The Z axis rails are 18" long and the cross slide rails 10.5" long. A larger machine with long rails might be a PITA to setup. But people seem to do it all the time.
    My first impression is wow, no wiggle at all. Very very rigid but they move real easy and smooth. If I tightened up my mill table or lathe carriage to be totally free of any "free" movement, well they won't move at all then.
    Well I'll pickup where I left off in a couple of weeks. I am taking a long needed vacation! :wee:
    Steve

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