Winner Homemade Lathe Build Log

[Andre]

Ah. Well, you may think about buying one, although I really don't know if they make t-slot cutters or woodruff key cutters that small, or that are cheap.

Marco - you're welcome. The guy that runs that site has a lot of neat stuff on it, all kinds of neat little 'chining projects.

That's the thing....they are not made that small that I know of. And if they did, my mill spindle is too loose for cutters that small. I can flex the spindle (quill up and locked) .005" side to side. It needs a bearing replacement bad! That means I'm also limited on speeds....anything over 750RPM and I'm afraid it's going to take off into space.

 

[12bolts]

It's between 1/8" and 3/16

youve certainly displayed the ability for machining. What about a collet adaptor to fit your end mill and a collet holder you have to use the tool you have. A simple split sleeve should suffice

Cheers Phil

 

[Don B]

That was the one I was following during the build. I just need to find a way to cut the t slot. I have no endmills I'm willing to carve up. I did make one from a dowel pin that had a T head on it, but after I ground it I found out I didn't have a collet for it! It's between 1/8" and 3/16"....

I still have it, and hope to get around to finish it soon.

Looking real good Andre.......!)

For your T slot cutter you might consider the tip (drill portion) of a center drill, or a broken drill that still has a little flute left on it, you could shape the undercut portion of the cutter by running it in the mill with a dremel type tool in the vise.:thinking:

 

[Ulma Doctor]

excellent thread,
Great work!!!!

 

[Andre]

youve certainly displayed the ability for machining. What about a collet adaptor to fit your end mill and a collet holder you have to use the tool you have. A simple split sleeve should suffice

Cheers Phil

My mill taper is #7 Brown and Sharpe. I will make a 1/2" to cutter shank sleeve with a locking screw for it. Just a correction, the cutter shank is between 1/8" and 3/16. Not the cutting part diameter. I will get ans post a picture tomorrow.

 

[Andre]

First of all, thank you all for your support and kind words. it's really keeping me going on this project. Thank you ))

Okay, not too many pictures tonight but an update none the less.
I got the graver rest (like a toolrest on a wood lathe) almost done and it will be ready to test tomorrow. It's too late tonight to write a lot about what I did but here are some pictures I took today.


Drilling holes...



Slitting....




Drawing VS Part.


Part assembled. I cheated and used an off the shelf knob. Sue me!



Making the graver rest...



Milling the angle with a countersink.



This little graver rest took 2-3 hours to make and it's not done yet. This is after silver soldering and semi-cleanup.



I will get more pictures tomorrow, after the graver rest is complete and the whole thing together.

After I finish the graver rest, make a drawbar, make some collets and bore the spindle taper, I will make a box stand/carry case then lastly finish the cross slide for smaller work. I did fit the male and female parts of the slide I made earlier, just didn't show it.

 

[Don B]

The rest looks great Andre.... Very nice work.......!)

I got the graver rest (like a toolrest on a wood lathe) almost done and it will be ready to test tomorrow.

View attachment 79868

 

[Andre]

The rest looks great Andre.... Very nice work.......!)

Thank you!

 

[Andre]

Alright everybody, getting near the end here. Everything went well today and even got it running with a sewing machine motor.

This is yesterdays progress, I did drill and tap for the graver rest lock screw this morning though.
Made an oopsie move, too. Went to drill for the lock screw and was over the wrong hole in the part, so I'll have it welded up (by the same guy who gave me my mill) and I'm sure he will have a kick out of this. Make a nice little lathe and center drill the wrong spot!



The oops moment is not shown here. Pictures are arriving very slow because I have a bad wifi here, and emailing them to myself is taking forever. I will finish the update tonight.

Literally the second it took to post whats above the pictures came in. LOL

Here is my oops. Some people say this is a machinist's signature.....So yes, I guessed I signed this one LOL



Here is it with a micrometer for size reference. The bed is 6" long.



And here is the graver rest body all chamfered.



And the test, just facing the end of the spindle here. Will bore and cut the taper for collets later.

Went to a friends shop, he does some small production runs. I showed this lathe to him and he seemed to be impressed.
He also gave me 4' of 3/8" steel rod to make collets for the lathe and 3.5' of 3/4" 6061 alu to make a base. Very nice guy!

That's it for today.

 

[Pat of TN]

That's looking good, Andre. Really good.