The Secret Society of Lathe Trolls

Incredible!

Yes, everybody who presses records is pressing a 3D record. Hell, I could almost argue it 4D, because it might change [degrade] in time. It's 3D because it has width, length, and depth [thickness]. If it was 2D, it would be an impossibly 'thin', a plane that would be invisible if you looked at it ed...

This is a "bucket list" project, and I'm spending money like the proverbial drunken sailor to make it happen. I've been cutting records for more than 60 years and have always wanted to build a lathe from scratch. We'll see if it works. Wow! This is an exciting project. If you feel inclined to, be s...

Hello, Cool question about the pivot point. Seems like you are on your way to designing a nice machine. Looks like the suggestions and literature above have you covered on this question for the most part. Now for the other: Deviating somewhat from the original question, I also have wondered over the...

One channel cross-section of the modular test assembly for feedback cutterhead development Hi James! Your design of the cutterhead as shown in this photo is an excellent example of designing this complex part to meet the necessary limitations of 3-axis CNC milling. If I taught machine design, this ...

Hi Todd! I'm looking forward to hearing updates on the metal working! That looks like a fun box of metal. You might want to go back to the drawing board on your CNC part-planning. I can't imagine how you are planning on cutting those slots among other things, but I will look forward to being surpris...

Hey Bryan! Congratulations on your anniversary :) Your re-coating machine is looking great! Do you have plans for any sort of runoff catching tray to collect the goo that falls over the edge? Particularily important will be keeping goo off of the platter drive belt. I figure you already have plans f...

Either: Polycarbonate [most common for cutting for the price & quality] or PETG [slightly softer/easier on your stylus yet a little more expensive] PETG is a little more responsive to heat, therefore it will soften up more so under the lamp. Perhaps this makes it ideal for embossing rather than cutt...

Hi Grooveguy, My "TwoPennyworth" on this most interesting Project. I used to maintain "High Performance" Axial Flow Ventilation Fans, both in my earlier career in the U.K. Coal Mining Industry, and later as a Major Equipment Hire Specialist to the U.K and European Tunneling Industry. What I can tel...

In other words you can use the calculations found on the following link, just note that the only difference between a belt drive/pulley system and a direct contact roller system is that the direction of rotation is opposing for the two diameters in the latter. http://www.cousesteel.com/AndysPlace/Pu...

You may calculate it if you know the RPM of the motor, which may be listed on the motor or via the motor data sheet. PullyRatio = RPMRoller ÷ RPMPlatter = DiameterPlatter ÷ DiameterRoller Punch in what you have [platter diameter, desired platter speed, and roller speed] and simplify to obtain the di...

You cannot measure bearing play accurately by resting a dial indicator on the platter and pushing against the platter with your hand. This would only work in an ideal world where such metallic structures would exhibit infinite rigidity. Since they don't, apart from bearing play you are also measuri...

Hi Gus, do you think this is contributed mostly by the bearing, or by the platter surface? You can try measuring at the spindle itself to see if this is wobbeling or if it is standing still. Hi Jesus,i have measured the spindle and did not noticed any wobble. But i've noticed a very strange phenome...

A few more CNC updates on their before returning to lathe discussion on this thread. Here is a test cut of aluminium: AlumCNC.JPG Target external dimensions: 2"^2 The finish is really nice, it cuts aluminium smoothly with little trouble. The external dimensions are about 0.002" over sized consistent...

No guesses! Here it is: The notable development in my design is the linear motion guide rails. I was faced with a number of parameters that needed to be fulfilled in order to efficiently build this machine; the rails needed to: -precisely guild linear motion over the span of 30+ inches -require as l...

I've designed the system to run in manual mode, switchable to fully digital control which means that future software updates (and completely new software control environments) can be emailed to users without the need for any hardware retrofitting. At the moment the digital control from Ableton runn...

Jitter*

New lathe cutting locked grooves here. https://instagram.com/p/BJfp8F0B-FM/ Simply opened the ableton session that I had saved for locked grooves with the old lathe, loaded the eq presets for the Smokestack Lightning head, initialised USB communication with the lathe console, tweaked the head drop/...

I apologize if my previous post was received as a speculative, I'm only intending to participate in conversation and hopefully have some of my pondering answered by those who feel inclined to do so. I get the impression that this is safe place to ask questions and think out loud, but I'm learning th...

My system is different to the T560, but I understand why the comparison is made. Perhaps the two systems are comparable as they are the only two lathe overhead systems on the market. Beyond that, there isn't much to compare! Sillitoe's system is quite a large step closer to a professional-style lat...