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Building a miniature universal lathe

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wotsit15/11/2011 20:10:30
188 forum posts
1 photos
Hi, ViKARLL, sorry this posting is late, but it may be an alternative - I have a copy of the following book:
 
Kleindrehmaschine im Eigenbau (Build your own lathe) by Juergen Eichardt.
published by Verlag fuer Technik und Handwerk.
ISBN number is 3-88180-752-7
Bestell-nummer (order number) is 310 2152 (price about 4 years ago was 16 Euro)
The publishers address is: Postfach 22 74, D-76492 Baden-Baden Germany.
 
The book contains full instructions and drawings for building a complete small lathe, with many variations and accessories from stock materials (no castings). It is written in German, but the drawings are comprehensible, and nowadays Google Translate does a reasonably good job of translating.
 
The company publishes books in a range called Maschinen fuer Modellbau Fachbuch, dealing with other aspects of small machines I have not built the lathe described in the book - I was interested in modifying the lathe I owned, and wanted to gather ideas, but the standard of the machine in the book seems quite impressive. I guess a letter to the above address might get you more recent info on price, availability etc. I don't know if you speak German, but if not, don't let this deter you - it is still understandable.
 
Just Googled the book - site is below - still available at 16 Euro.

Edited By wotsit on 15/11/2011 20:12:01

Edited By wotsit on 15/11/2011 20:16:23

Billy Mills15/11/2011 21:03:52
377 forum posts
Yes I was mentioning the Concrete lathe however the "Open Source Hardware" project does not need to use cement, it could be epoxy-stone or steel. People tend to think of Lathes as being built of cast iron sections with machined ways however you can build whatever you want however you want at whatever size you want it.
 
John's epoxy-stone grinder gets enormous stiffness from clever design without the problems and cost of iron castings. Many manufacturers of precision tools are leaving cast iron for stone or composite structures. A home made lathe could follow their lead.
 
There are a few other home built machines on Tony's site, the Stepperhead lathe is now in the Lathe manufacturer's section.
 
Billy.
ViKARLL16/11/2011 07:33:01
13 forum posts
Thanks wotsit for the link.
 
The cover picture looks impressive, but I have no proficiency in German, so shall wait for the ME articles as first choice. Yes, Google translate does a wonderful job but I could not spot an ebook on this title?
 
BTW, I was mentally debating whether to have two flat rails for the ways or to have one broad flat rail. Both this German design and Gingery deploy a single flat rail. From a homeshop builder's perspective, guess it is due to the simplicity of alignment and ease of construction. Is it?
 
I felt the two-rail arrangement gives better grip when locking the tail-stock etc.,
 
Regards,
 

Edited By ViKARLL on 16/11/2011 07:33:50

wotsit16/11/2011 16:46:11
188 forum posts
1 photos
Hi, ViKARLL,
The German book discusses the pros and cons of different designs (for example, eight different headstock designs are discussed and drawn) - the picture on the front cover is a bit misleading, because he covers single and dual cylindrical rods, single and double square bars, bars set on edge (with an edge uppermost), flat plates and the virtues of prismatic ways - it is a very good source of info if you want to design and build a lathe for specific purposes.
 
I understand your problem with German, especially when applied to a technical subject like this. I suppose I'm lucky - it does open up access to whole 'second' range of alternatives. I have posted once or twice on the availability and cost of materials ordered from Germany, as opposed to UK.
 
This site might be some interest - see the second section on the list about lathes. Its all old stuff, but very interesting nonetheless, because much of the stuff was built from what was available.

 This guy has a very detailed site with pictures showing his lathe build
 

Edited By wotsit on 16/11/2011 16:53:04

Edited By wotsit on 16/11/2011 16:57:23

ViKARLL17/11/2011 07:17:38
13 forum posts
Hi wotsit,
 
Your description about the book is very tempting indeed !!
 
It's regretful there aren't a single DIY text in English (sorry for my ignorance if there is) which gives such a verity of design options in one book !!
 
Yes, these are two of the sites that have caught my interest a lot. Could you also point me to your posts on the material comparison you have mentioned above?
 
Thanks & regards,
 
 
wotsit17/11/2011 20:58:02
188 forum posts
1 photos
Hi, ViKARlLL
 
I'm a bit confused - I didn't write anything about material comparison - did you mean one of the other guys discussing Epoxy, etc?
 
 
Stub Mandrel17/11/2011 21:04:01
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4318 forum posts
291 photos
1 articles
Sorry if this is off-topic, but when I was a teenager in the mid 70s I recall reading a series in Model Boats or the then equivalent of RCM&E a fascinating series called 'Building a Dead Centre Lathe'. I can probably trace an interest in model engineering back to that - my Dad who was fiercely against metal mangling was less enthusiastic (the old rotter now has a Unimat).
 
Neil
ViKARLL18/11/2011 02:09:46
13 forum posts
Hi wotsit,
 
Sorry for being vague, I was referring to your comment;
"I have posted once or twice on the availability and cost of materials ordered from Germany, as opposed to UK"
 
Regards,
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