I think I may be going a bit crazy here but I've got a few project ideas for 2015.
I'm thinking of getting a 3d printer, looking into CNC converting the chester 20v mill also.
But I've just had an idea for the lathe I'd like to run past you guys. Please tell me if I'm just plain crazy, or if im onto a good idea.
I have a Boxford CSB lathe, circa 1963. It had a 1HP 240v single phase motor and reverse. It is metric and can cut threads and change feeds with changewheels, it will also cut imperial threads with a compound gear which I can get but don't have currently.
Currently I use the lathe as a plain turning lathe, it's set with changewheels to give a fine power feed and I tend not to cut threads on it as its too fiddly.
My idea? Driving the lathe with a large stepper motor and changing the changewheels out for a stepper to drive the leadscrew which I could change out for a suitable ballscrew, adding a stepper for power cross feed and making the lathe a sort of cnc hybrid.
Screw threads and feeds would be programmable but it would also be possible to use the lathe conventionally.
Am I mad or is this possible?
Possibly something like this....
http://plsntcov.8m.com/CNClathe/CNClathe1.html