Mini 4 Jaw Chuck Wood Lathe

making a mini lathe had been an idea in my mind for a long time until i saw someone's. and then i made this by aluminium alloy sections and aluminium plate. but i didn't take too many pictures for all the steps because sometimes i forgot.
this lathe can be extended when you add some module. it can be a table saw, a grinder... and it will help you do many things only if you have ideas.

list of materials:
AL alloy sections length 3060: 650mm*2; 1560: 200mm*2; 3030: 650mm*2 40mm*2 100mm*1
AL plate: 120mm*100mm*10mm*2, 120mm*20mm*10mm*4
motor 220V/250w RPM forget
4 jaw chuck: Φ65mm screw thread M14*1
drill chuck: B16 joint
bearing with base Φ20mm *4
spindle: Φ20mm, one has screw thread M14*1 on the both ends, another has a B16 joint for drill chuck
motor belt: Φ6mm Polyurethane
sliding table 50mm*150mm*30mm
some screws...

Step 1: The Material

fix the rails, after rails are for the electric motor
fixed them on the epoxy plate.

Step 2: Other Parts

some hand working

Step 3: Continue Hand Working

a skill: when you use a hand saw, you can put a mirror on the opposite side, then you will never deviate.

Step 4: The Last Assemble

the drills and files were my grandfather's, they are mine now.
i fixed the dead center of lathe on a slide way.

Comments

[Altino Moura]

Good Job!!!! Great project!!!

[crazypj]

What a great idea with the mirror, in all the years I've been working it's the first time I've ever heard of it
Thanks

[zacker]

lol great idea with putting a mirror on the other side of the cut to watch the saw and make sure it stays on line..

[steelsun]

This skill was copy from a carpenter near my school when i was a child.

[zacker]

well thanks for including it in this.

[hohum]

NICE!!!!!!!!!

Are the AL extrusions 80/20 stock??

[zacker]

Yeah... what's that stuff called? is there a "Common" name for it? Id like to look into getting some. Is it just "Aluminum Extrusion"?

[AJMansfield]

I think its just aluminum T-slot framing, like the stuff listed here: http://www.mcmaster.com/#80-20-compatible-t-slotted-framing/=n1a5s8. Even if its not, you could do the exact same thing with T-slot framing, and then it would be compatible with T-slot stuff.

[zacker]

cool. I did go to the link that steelsun provided to the ebay seller.. lotsa cool stuff.
I am wondering if this stuff would be strong enough to use as a frame for a small, benchtop mill?

[AJMansfield]

It most definitely would be strong enough, assuming you use the proper fastening hardware with it. If it isn't strong enough for a larger one than that, you could just use double-extrusion framing.

[steelsun]

I think the AL extrusions have different standards in different places. They have different spare parts, joints, links, but i think they are similar, so you can choose the kind that you can get easily and cheap.

[hohum]

I was gonna ask about the steady rest,, i see the piece in front on the black hinge, brilliant design

[steelsun]

the knife rest was linked with a hinge, if i don't want to use the knife rest i can turn it down.

[Buick455]

Ok, the only parts I'm still a little unsure about are the spindles, pulleys & chucks. Could you post links to those parts or part numbers? Ty for posting a parts list Steelsun :)

[Carlos Marmo]

GR8 WORK!!!

[jacklongphoto]

What I mean as "large" is not length, but width. They have many sizes available in metric, 20mm up to 45mm.
I get all of my stock there.
http://stores.ebay.com/8020-Inc-Garage-Sale/Extrusions-Metric-T-Slot-/_i.html?_fsub=6479547&_sid=129537225&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

[steelsun]

The extrusion which i use is 30 series

[jacklongphoto]

I get my extrusion materials here :
http://stores.ebay.com/8020-Inc-Garage-Sale?_trksid=p2047675.l2563
I don't get stock as large as shown, but they do have it available.

[steelsun]

You can ask the shop, Maybe they can cut as you want.

[SparkyOR]

Excellent. A little more info on the headstock and tailstock would be good, & of course parts list and sources would be helpful also. You have 90% of a Taig style metal lathe.