Concrete Lathe?

[strantor]

I ran across an idea on the internet to build a lathe out of concrete. There doesn't seem to be any honest pictures of such a thing, only CAD renderings. That's one nail in the coffin IMO. Anybody heard of such a thing, or think it would be feasible?

The problem of the concrete contracting as it sets is addressed; they say to leave extra space and shim everything into tolerance.

 

[jumps4]

in world war one and 2 there was a metal shortage and no where near enough lathes they needed to produce shells for the big guns so they built
the bed and headstock out of concrete. i have seen pics of them i'll see if i can find them again. they are now making machine bases for milling centers and lathes out of a type of concrete and epoxy resins also.
steve

 

[jumps4]

here is one pic and thread about it
https://www.engineeringforchange.or...r_i_technology_meets_21st_century_design.html
steve

 

[strantor]

So it has been done successfully...

(gears are turning)

 

[DMS]

There is a thread on CNCZone that has been going for a while about Epoxy Granite (also called polymer concrete). It is basically concrete, but uses epoxy instead of portland cement as a binder. I have to warn you, it's up to about 390 pages now, so you better set some time aside, maybe take a couple weeks off work just so you can get through it

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/epoxy_granite/30155-epoxy-granite_machine_bases_polymer_concrete.html