A lathe is needed for the manufacture and processing of metal parts. Professional equipment is quite expensive, so in order to save money, you can make a homemade metal lathe with your own hands. This can be done in several ways, and drawings of such a product are easily found on the Internet. You can use improvised materials for production, but the size of the machine can be any.
A professional lathe is expensive, so it makes sense to make such a device yourself
Components of a mini metal lathe with your own hands
Any homemade lathe consists of the following elements:
- drive is the main part of the mechanism, which is responsible for its power. Selecting a drive with the required power is one of the most difficult tasks. In small do-it-yourself metal lathes, you can use a drive from a regular washing machine or drill. Typically, the power of this element starts from 200 W, and the number of revolutions per minute starts from 1500;
- bed - a supporting frame of the structure, which can be made of wooden blocks or steel angles. The frame must be characterized by high strength, otherwise the entire structure may fall apart from vibrations during operation;
Projection and main components of a metal lathe
- tailstock - made of a steel plate and a steel angle welded to it. The plate rests against the guides of the bed, and the main purpose of the tailstock of a do-it-yourself lathe is to fix the metal part during processing;
- headstock - a part similar to the tailstock, but mounted on a movable frame;
- master and slave centers;
- caliper - a thrust mechanism for the working part.
Torque from the engine to the working part of the machine can be transmitted in several ways. Some people prefer to directly install the working part on the motor shaft - this saves space and allows you to save on spare parts. If this option is not possible, torque can be transmitted using friction, belt or chain transmission. Each of these options has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Belt drive for an electric motor is the cheapest and is characterized by a fairly high level of reliability. To make it, you can use a belt for an electric motor, removed from any other mechanism. The disadvantage of a belt drive is that over time the belt can wear out and will have to be changed more often the more intensely you work with the machine.
The design of the headstock and tailstock of a lathe. Front headstock (left): 1 - V-belt; 2 — two-stage pulley; 3 - spindle; 4 — ball bearing. Tailstock (right): 1 - body; 2 - center; 3, 6 — handles; 4 - quill; 5, 12, 14 — screws; 7 - flywheel; 8 - traction; 9, 10 — levers; 13 - nut
A chain drive is more expensive and takes up more space, but it will also last much longer than a belt drive. Friction transmission has intermediate characteristics between belt and chain.
Do-it-yourself lathe support: drawings, how to make it from scrap materials
The caliper is one of the most important parts of a homemade lathe - the quality of the future part, as well as the amount of time and effort you will spend on its manufacture, depends on it. This part is located on a special slide, which moves along guides located on the frame. The caliper can move in three directions:
- longitudinal - the working part of the machine moves along the workpiece. Longitudinal movement is used to turn threads into a part or to remove a layer of material from the surface of a metal workpiece;
DIY metal lathe
- transverse - movement perpendicular to the axis of the workpiece. Used for turning recesses and holes;
- inclined - movement at different angles to grind recesses on the surface of the workpiece.
When making a lathe support with your own hands, it is worth considering the fact that this part is subject to wear as a result of vibrations that occur during operation. Because of them, the fasteners become loose, play occurs, and all this affects the quality of the manufactured part. In order to avoid such problems, the caliper must be regularly adjusted and adjusted.
Adjustment of a homemade support for a lathe with your own hands is carried out according to gaps, play and seals. Adjusting the gaps is necessary when the screw responsible for moving the part in the longitudinal and transverse planes has worn out. As a result of friction, the caliper begins to loosen under load, which significantly reduces the accuracy of the part. Gaps can be eliminated by inserting wedges between the guides and the carriage. The play of the part is eliminated using a fixing screw.
If the oil seals in your machine are worn out, they should be thoroughly washed and soaked in fresh machine oil. In case of critical wear, it is better to completely replace the oil seals with new ones.
Caliper structure: 1 — caliper carriage; 2 — lead screw; 3 — transverse caliper slide; 4 — rotating part of the caliper; 5 — guides of the rotating part; 6 — tool holder; 7 — screw for securing the tool holder; 8 — screws for fastening the incisors; 9 — handle for turning the tool holder; 10 - nuts; 11 — upper part of the caliper; 12 — transverse guides of the carriage; 13 — handle for moving the upper part of the caliper; 14 — handle for moving the cross slide; 15 — handle for turning on the feed of the caliper from the lead screw; 16 — handwheel for longitudinal movement of the caliper; 17 - apron
Basic operating parameters
In order to make the right choice and purchase a truly functional turning unit for home use, which will allow you to successfully solve even the most complex tasks, it is necessary, first of all, to determine the most optimal parameters for this class of equipment.
The supply voltage plays a big role, and it is best to pay attention to those devices that do not operate from a three-phase network. You should also pay attention to the power and type of engine installed.
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In order to work at home, a machine whose power is within one kilowatt is suitable.
The dimensions and weight of the equipment matter, and for home use you should not purchase a device that is too heavy and bulky, since in this case you will additionally have to mount a desktop underneath it.
It is worth paying attention to the maximum diameter of the parts being processed, since this largely determines what exactly can be done independently.
Additional devices that increase the functionality of the lathe and also expand its capabilities are also important.
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When choosing a lathe for home purposes, most people first of all pay attention to its cost. Meanwhile, the determining factors in this case should be the capabilities of the equipment and its reliability.
So, a home craftsman should be able to use this unit to cut threads with a wide variety of thread pitch parameters.
In addition, it should be possible to independently switch the direction of movement of the cutter, and it is better if the machine is equipped with a special lever for these purposes.
Experts recommend choosing devices that are equipped with automatic movement of the caliper, including in the longitudinal plane.
It is highly desirable that the machine be equipped with a gradient scale on all handles and levers that are responsible for adjustment.
This will increase the accuracy of all operations. You should also inquire about the material from which the main components of the unit are made.
Homemade metal lathe with your own hands: assembly procedure
The mechanism is assembled in the following order:
- The machine frame is assembled from metal beams and channels. If you are going to work with large parts, then the materials for assembling the frame must be used to withstand a large load. For example, if you plan to work with metal workpieces longer than 50 mm, the thickness of the materials for the frame should start from 3 mm for corners and from 30 mm for rods.
- Longitudinal shafts with guides are installed on the channels. Shafts can be welded or bolted.
- The headstock is being made. To make the headstock of a lathe with your own hands, a hydraulic cylinder with a wall thickness of 6 mm is used. Two bearings must be pressed into the cylinder.
- The shaft is being laid. For this purpose, bearings with a large internal diameter are used.
- Lubricating fluid is poured into the hydraulic cylinder.
- The pulley and caliper with guides are installed.
- The electric drive is being installed.
In addition, from the do-it-yourself drawings of a metal lathe, it can be seen that to increase the stability of the cutting mechanism, a tool rest is made, and a thin strip of metal is fixed to the lower part of the structure. The latter serves to protect the working part of the machine from deformation during operation.
Construction of a homemade lathe for metal processing: 1, 7 - channels; 2 — running pipe; 3 - tailstock; 4 — tray for collecting chips; 5 — caliper; 6 — lead screw; 8 - electric motor; 9 - fixed headstock; 10 — lamp in a protective cap-reflector; 11 — mesh screen to protect the turner from chips; 12 — support
Main characteristics
A small metal lathe, designed for use in a garage or home, is a smaller functional copy of professional equipment that is installed in large enterprises, for example the 1d95 unit.
Its dimensions and geometric characteristics are significantly inferior to large machines, but at the same time the functionality and operating potential are at a high level.
Of course, a home turning unit for metal work has some limitations in its operation, for example, the ability to process only small workpieces, but for domestic purposes it is an indispensable thing.
With the help of this universal device, the home craftsman has the opportunity to perform a huge number of different operations independently.
You can also find a turning milling machine with small dimensions for use at home, but such a unit will cost much more.
The design of a turning unit intended for use at home has its own nuances, which are somewhat different from professional equipment, which includes the 1d95 unit.
Despite this, you can work on it in almost any conditions and perform relevant tasks of varying complexity.
A lathe for metal work will allow the home craftsman to easily turn a workpiece to the required size.
In addition, it will allow, if necessary, to cut threads, both external and internal. With the help of this universal device, it will be possible to independently grind a cone in accordance with the drawing with great accuracy.
The owner of a home turning unit will be able to carry out all these operations independently at any convenient time.
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Of course, before you go to the store and make a purchase, you need to not only imagine exactly what tasks you have to solve, but also have a good knowledge of the structure of the unit.
Selecting an electric motor for the machine
The most important part of a homemade metal lathe, a video of the making of which can be easily found on the Internet, is the electric motor. It is with its help that the movement of the working part of the machine is carried out. Accordingly, the power of the entire structure depends on the power of this mechanism. It is selected depending on the size of the metal workpieces you plan to work with.
If you plan to work on a machine with small parts, a motor with a power of up to 1 kW is quite suitable for this. It can be removed from an old sewing machine or any other similar electrical appliance. To work with large spare parts you will need a motor with a power of 1.5-2 kW.
When assembling a homemade metal lathe according to ready-made drawings, keep in mind that all electrical parts of the structure must be reliably insulated. If you do not have the necessary experience working with electrical equipment, it is better to seek help with connection from a specialist. This way you will be confident in the safety of operation and the reliability of the design.
An asynchronous motor is the best option for a homemade lathe
Making a lathe from a drill with your own hands
If you want to save on spare parts and greatly simplify the task of assembling a homemade lathe, you can use a regular electric drill as a drive. This design solution has a number of advantages:
Of course, there are also negative aspects to using a drill lathe. How can processing of large parts be possible using this tool? This is practically impossible, since the drill has a relatively low torque and a high number of revolutions. Of course, you can increase these parameters if you still install a belt drive and use it to transmit torque from the drill to the spindle, but this will greatly complicate the design, the main advantage of which is simplicity and compactness.
Diagram of the device of a homemade lathe based on a drill: 1 - fastening to a table or workbench; 2 — front support; 3 — support for the workpiece; 4 - rear support
Making a homemade tabletop metal lathe based on a drill makes sense in cases where you do not need to carry out large-scale work, and only need to turn small parts.
To make a metal lathe based on an electric drill, you will need the same parts as for a conventional design, with the exception of the electric motor and headstock. The role of the latter is also played by a drill. Given the compact design, a regular table or workbench can be used as a bed, on which all components of the machine will be fixed. The drill itself is secured to the structure using a clamp and clamp.
Using a homemade lathe, you can not only turn parts, but also apply paint to a rotating workpiece, wind wire on a transformer, make spiral notches on the surface of the part, and perform many other actions. In addition, if you assemble a copier attachment for the machine, you can use it to quickly and effortlessly produce small identical parts.
Drawing of the front support, inside which the drill is fixed
Scheme of operation of the desktop unit
Currently, a large number of companies from around the world are engaged in the production of turning equipment for home use.
In this case, you should pay attention to the Corvette lathe, which is ideal for personal use. It has great functionality and has high performance potential.
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The unit has a compact size, and in addition, it is equipped with the ability to independently regulate the speed of all types of operations.
Using this device, you can simultaneously perform several types of sections, including shaped and cylindrical. Also, Corvette brand equipment makes it possible to perform complex types of trimming, as well as many other operations.
The technical capabilities of the machine can include thread cutting, as well as carry out the necessary processing of workpieces that have a large cross-section, but in this case you will have to use additional devices.
The Corvette device is produced by a Chinese manufacturer and has various configurations.
The turning unit must be installed on a stable and durable surface, and the table height should be selected as convenient as possible for work.
At home, immediately before starting operation, all fasteners should be removed from the device and the working elements should be strengthened. The Corvette equipment is also fully adjusted and connected to the main power source.
During operation of the Corvette unit, you should keep it completely clean and regularly blow out the main components with compressed air.
In addition, all moving parts of the Corvette lathe must be kept lubricated, for which you can use ordinary machine oil.
If any part becomes deformed, it must be replaced as quickly as possible. The principle of operation on the Corvette unit is no different from the principle of operation on any other similar device.
It should be noted that there is no need to have professional qualifications to operate a Corvette lathe. The work scheme will become clear to anyone who wants to master the basics of working with the machine in a short period of time.
Safety precautions when working with a homemade lathe
When working with the structure, certain safety precautions must be observed. So, after assembling the machine, you need to check its functionality. The spindle should rotate easily and without hesitation, with the front and rear centers aligned on a common axis. The center of symmetry of the rotating part must coincide with the axis of its rotation.
Any video of a do-it-yourself lathe shows that after installing the electric motor, it is covered with a special casing. The latter serves not only to protect the machine operator, but also to protect the motor itself from dust, metal particles and dirt. For a machine made on the basis of an electric drill, such a casing is not needed.
An example of a metal lathe, assembled by yourself
You should also adhere to the following safety rules:
