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Thread: concrete lathes ?
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8th Sep 2013, 10:25 AM #1Golden Member
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concrete lathes ?
Whilst googling to learn about basic home made lathes I came across the concept of Yeomans Lathes - where the body is made of concrete.
example here ......... The Concrete Lathe Project - IT Clips
This was a method used to make cheap lathes to make munitions during WW1, the method is quite well documented on the internet.
It seemed a relatively simple concept, that might be useful to hobbyists, but the internet is not full of people saying "Hey look at what I made out of concrete"
So that tells me that its not as simple as it looks.
Or is the reason that nowadays lathes have become far less expensive so very few people can be bothered making their own lathes ?
ie people can usually find a 2nd hand Hercus, Myford, Boxton, Advance etc or a brand new Chinese import that meets their requirements and price range.
I found a plan for a concrete bodied milling machine as well Yahoo! Groups and again there are few posts boasting of a successful build
This chap Romig contributed various designs to Popular mechanics
I guess times have moved on as well, whereas 70 years ago lots of back yard hobbyists might make a Romig lathe or milling machine nowadays the same person would be hooking up a PC to a home made CNC machine. Why muck about with ideas from 50 - 100 years ago when we have different materials and technologies today ?
My initial interest was fuelled by the relatively easy process of making a home made wood lathe, after a few months of cruising the internet and reading on various forums it seems to me that an equally successful home made metal lathe is a far more difficult task.
Any thoughts ?
Bill
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8th Sep 2013, 03:20 PM #2
They use epoxy granite these day.....
vapourforge.com
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8th Sep 2013, 04:52 PM #3Golden Member
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epoxy granite systems
Thanks Rusel,
Huge thread here
Epoxy-Granite machine bases (was Polymer concrete frame?)
Index to "Epoxy-Granite machine bases" thread
will wade through it.
Still havent found many people who have actually made the Yeomans lathe using either concrete or epoxy.
Do you know of any ?
Bill (tripped over and hurt my back yesterday and spending a quiet day recovering and cruising the internet)
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8th Sep 2013, 05:13 PM #4Golden Member
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terrific thread here
and this looks good as well
New technology in Model Engineers Workshop | Model Engineer
If its obvious that I am hopelessly behind current thinking would somebody please post some good websites about this stuff and save me rediscovering whats already known ?
If David Gingery was alive today would he be using this stuff for some of his castings ?
Bill
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9th Sep 2013, 09:48 AM #5Most Valued Member
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It's an interesting concept.
I read about the large concrete lathes used to make munitions quite a while ago.
Concrete does actually flex, and I wonder how a given volume of concrete V cast iron compare in torsional rigidity ?
Anyone ?
RobThe worst that can happen is you will fail.
But at least you tried.
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9th Sep 2013, 08:46 PM #6Intermediate Member
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Anca
My Mate made the moulds for the ANCA CNC Grinders
ANCA - FastGrind
Watch the vid
The reason i believe was the thermal changes in the machine where more tightly controlled then a steel frame made in Bayswater vic Too
Bruce