building lathes

[james mcgrew]

i have a desire to build a lathe where can i find headstock parts shafts and bearings,

jim mcgrew

[Paul Atkins]

What size are you thinking of? How mutch swing and length?

[Rich Souchek]

James,
The headstock is nothing but two bearings and a shaft, with some sheaves for belt power. One usually does not buy the parts already to go, but buys the components and geta a machine shop to make the neccessaru lands, threads, morese tapers, etc.
The tailstock is doe the ame way.
the compnents can be bought anywere, but Grainger, McGee, and Wholesale Tools come to my mind withyour question, in particularly the last company.
Any size or type of lathe in particular?
Rich S.

[james mcgrew]

i have cnc lathes and generally butcher lathes to do this now i am looking to set a stepper motor on a 5-1 gearbox and go direct to shaft that acceptd the morse taper, i may have have this shaft/ bearing made.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giYiUTpm_LE

jim

[Nick Hoffman]

I am building one at this point, I am just getting the electronics togather at this point and possibly the pulleys if the supplier can find what i need for a price i can handle rt now.
Electronics:

VFD:

Fuji FRN003G11S-2UX This is a 3HP de-rated to use with single phase. "I had a cheap VFD from factorymation it was defective but half the price"

motor:

WEG AC MOTOR, 2HP, ~3, 1800RPM, 145TC FRAME, 208-230/460V, THREE-PHASE - TEFC (IP55), ROLLED STEEL FRAME, NEMA PREMIUM EFFICIENCY, C-FLANGE, 1.25 SERVICE FACTOR, NORMAL STOCK,

1.5" spindle
dbl row angle contact ball bearings, think they are the same used in a honda civic front end, they get inset to a 3/4" walled pipe which is welded into the headstock assembly.
8"x8"x3/8" square tube structural steel for bed, go look at thous robust lathes.

You could always contact Oneway and see if you could purchase just the parts you need.

[Mark Burge]

James: I have been watching Ebay under a search for "lathe headstock" It comes up with a lot of pieces and some full headstock assemblies. Lot of variety as to cost and specifics. I haven't found anything I am willing to pay too much for, but you never know.

[james mcgrew]

there is some really cool software coming for this and i am looking to build a universal retrofit.

jim

[James Boster]

I built my own several years back. I had a local machinst to make the spindle for mine. It is a 1" shaft threaded 8tpi. Runs in two 1" flange bearings. Headstock is 6" square heavy wall tubing and the bed or ways are x-heavy 6" channel iron.

<a href="http://s107.photobucket.com/albums/m...lttools005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...lttools005.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I also built a third pedestal and a 4' extension to allow for 8' between centers. If i had it to do over I would have made the spindle 1 1/2" instead of 1". No problems with it currently but would have made that part beefier. I am actually getting ready to replace the 3/4hp motor (that i had at the time) that is on it with a 1 1/2 hp 3 phase with a vfd. and possibly purchase a Vega duplicator for it. Anyone have and experience with the Vega duplicators?

[Robert Parrish]

I built my own years ago from plans in one of the woodworker magazines, Wood or Fine Woodworking I'm not sure which. I used it for several years until I moved and sold it. I will look for the plans if you are interested.

[james mcgrew]

yes i would and will search as well thanks
jim

[curtis rosche]

search for the thread that i had awhile back, i drew up some 3d plans, also look up Mark Normans lathe thread.

[james mcgrew]

thanks

jim

[James Boster]

The plans for a wooden wood lathe are in and early issue of WOOD magazine. That is where I got my ideas from and the dimensions for my spindles.

[Gary Conklin]

You can buy a spindle from Powermatic cut at 1-1/4"x 8 plus a #2 MT


http://www.powermatic.com/Parts.aspx?part=3520B-204

[Roger Corder]

I found this on ebay when I was thinking on building a lathe. the only draw back is no morse taper.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ornamental-wood-...item53da28bc1b