Making plans to build a concrete bowl lathe - opinions welcome.
My original intention was to have a friend help me fabricate a bowl lathe using some scrap steel he/we have laying around. I posted here a request for a spindle to use for the project. I got a lot of helpful responses and one of them mentioned using concrete as a base material...As it turns out I have extensive experience with precast concrete. It is an awesome building material.
That got me thinking and I sketched up my thoughts on paper.. I calculated the weight at almost 1000# with the motor and steel bed.
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t...4_edited-1.jpg
I plan on using a three horse three phase motor with variable speed control.
I still have not finalised the design of the headstock configuration, I wont until I have the spindle, pulley and motor in hand.
I planed on fabricating steel ways out of 3" or 4" square steel stock that will adjust vertically by bolting to some uni-strut embedded vertically into the concrete. The motor will also hang from embedded uni-strut.
I think if it is planned well with the uni-strut strategically located I would have a multitude of options for mounting up various fabricated tool rests.
What to consider??? I think the building of the concrete formwork will be a fun project in itself.
Any input is welcome.
I'm glad I found this site, there seems to be some real helpful, friendly and talented people her.. I think I'll hang around for a while.
Thanks in advance,
Mark
I have a line on a Vicmarc 300 spindle
From a member here.
Like this:
http://www.vicmarc.com/img/lathes/016-vl100-spindle.jpg
How to embed bearing race holders into the head will be a challenge. As will the pulley and drive belt. If the belt is to be between the bearings it will make it more practical to use steel for the headstock. We will see...and I love pics;)
Thanks for all the replies
Some good thing to consider posted here... and I will.:)
The drawing is rough but I did consider being able to stand close to the work. I actually have reliefs in the base as a sort of toe space so I could get right up to it with my knees touching the body of the lathe. I will likely make it wider than the 20" shown also.
As for leveling it, I will just use grout under the 'feet'. It wont ever move once I get it in place.
As for the bearing holders in the headstock, I will look into using the round tubing. I'm sketching up some details of the headstock that will accommodate the pulleys between the bearings. Two pieces of 1' x 4" steel box tubing with holes drilled in and round stock welded in place to receive the bearing races. The critical part will be making sure they are absolutely parallel.
Thanks again, i will keep you all posted.