I'm making a CAD model of my Atlas 618 and need some help

[mvagusta]

Right you are. You have discovered one of the challenges in modeling this lathe. The 618 was in production for so long that it had many minor variations in design and configuration such as the one you have pointed out. The 6" lathes in their initial form, sometimes called Mk 1, first appear in catalogs from 1937 and the Mk 2 didn't show up until 1974(?) or so. As far as I know, the last Parts and Instruction manual for the first generation model is 1976, so that is perhaps somewhere between 38 and 40 years that it was available for purchase.

As far as M6-59 and M6-60, they were not present on my lathe, which gives a clue as to how old my lathe is. By looking through the factory drawings I got from Clausing and the Parts and Instruction manuals from various years, I was able to figure out approximately when my lathe was made.

Here are some excerpts from the 1945 parts and Instructions manual:






In 1945 the lathes used the same 20- and 24-tooth gears for the tumbler and the change gear bracket assembly. My lathe is like that. By 1950 this was no longer true. By using clues like that I have been able to determine that my lathe was built after 1945 and before 1950, so 1946 to 1949. My best guess is 1947.

 

[AndrewDouglasBird]

Ah, interesting. I was looking at an Atlas manual from 1950 as well as an early Craftsman manual (same as my lathe). Both have the M6-59/60 part number listed. But then they also aren't listed in 1940, 1962 and 1976 Atlas manuals I have. Seems it's all over the place.

 

[Rickinlexky]

I got a seat of the Solidworks CAD system for Christmas (whooah!) and in the middle of January I started modeling the Atlas 618 lathe (serial number 011120) that a friend gave to me a while back. The lathe is now completely disassembled and the parts are being measured using hand tools like machinist scales, dial calipers, micrometers, and a tape measure. I have been working steadily on it and am getting near the end of phase 1, which is creating the basic model. Phase 2 is checking dimensions, fits, and tolerances. Phase 3 is drawings of selected parts. Phase 4 is solid models of selected parts for 3D printing. Below are some images of the lathe and the model so far. I couldn't find any reference on the site for what size is recommended for direct embedded images, so I hope these are OK. The things I could use some help about are at the end.

View attachment 445032
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I could use some guidance in the following areas:

1. Atlas/Clausing drawings. The only really useful one I have is for the spindle. These will be used to check my guesswork on items that were difficult or impossible to measure with the tools I have available. If anyone has images of any drawing for this lathe that is not already on this website, I would be glad to obtain a copy. Just about any digital format will do.
2. Does Atlas/Clausing still provide digital images of drawings for this lathe? If so, a phone number and contact would be helpful.
3. As long as I have the machine apart, I think I will paint it and I think I want to use a machine paint that can be brushed on. Recommendations as to paint type or application technique or experiences related to this would be welcome. For example, after cleaning a cast iron casting and prepping for paint, which means removing any lubricants such as grease and oil, how can one prevent rust from forming on the unpainted areas while the paint is curing?
4. There are a few parts that I do not have. If you would be willing to send me measurements of any of the following, that would be great.
   1. 9-88 MT2 dead center from the M6-31X spindle assembly
   2. L2-80 MT1 dead center from the M6-5X tailstock assembly
   3. 9-41 toolpost rocker from the M6-39X tool post assembly
5. I have the ability to scale a photo to determine measurements using the CAD system. A photo of one or more of these parts with a reasonably accurate measurement of the part's longest dimension can be used like a crude optical comparator. It works best if the photo is taken from a distance, at least 6 feet and the farther the better, to reduce optical distortion. Example below.

View attachment 445038

Is this fun, or what?

Thanks for any assistance you can give.

Hi! Super project, and really nicely done! I tried to download your STEP file, but when I clicked on the image I got a "you do not have permission to view this page or perform this action" message. Does anybody know what I'm not doing right?

[Also, I noticed that although my lathe is nearly identical to yours (it's a 1953 model 618), the base pieces are slightly different - in particular, the base under my tailstock has only one bolt to the bench top, in the end, rather than two at front and back sides. Maybe I'll try making a CAD model of my version of those parts and upload it once I get the above question sorted out]

 

[WobblyHand]

Hi! Super project, and really nicely done! I tried to download your STEP file, but when I clicked on the image I got a "you do not have permission to view this page or perform this action" message. Does anybody know what I'm not doing right?

[Also, I noticed that although my lathe is nearly identical to yours (it's a 1953 model 618), the base pieces are slightly different - in particular, the base under my tailstock has only one bolt to the bench top, in the end, rather than two at front and back sides. Maybe I'll try making a CAD model of my version of those parts and upload it once I get the above question sorted out]

One needs to be a contributing member to be able to download files from the download area. It's really a small price to pay to support this website and community. At the top of the page there's a link to Donations which explains what levels there are.

 

[Rickinlexky]

Oh! Okay, thanks! I’ll fix that.

 

[mvagusta]

Hi, glad to have a new(ish) member on the forum! As mentioned above, to obtain any of the files in the Downloads area requires a donor membership. You can find out about that here. The lowest donation category is $10/yr and it is a deal.

I believe the rear base you mentioned is a Craftsman version for lathe 101.07301. Atlas calls it a leg. Craftsman went to a 2-hole rear leg just like the Atlas when they started making the 101.21400. I think that was in 1959 or thereabouts. Atlas manufactured the Craftsman lathes, too.

 

[Rickinlexky]

Hi, glad to have a new(ish) member on the forum! As mentioned above, to obtain any of the files in the Downloads area requires a donor membership. You can find out about that here. The lowest donation category is $10/yr and it is a deal.

I believe the rear base you mentioned is a Craftsman version for lathe 101.07301. Atlas calls it a leg. Craftsman went to a 2-hole rear leg just like the Atlas when they started making the 101.21400. I think that was in 1959 or thereabouts. Atlas manufactured the Craftsman lathes, too.

Yes, mine is a 1953 Craftsman.

 

[Rickinlexky]

It came in perfect! Thanks for this, it was a LOT of work to create this model.

 

[mvagusta]

Super! Glad the process worked. This is the first example I've seen of a successful conversion.