Gallery, Projects and General > Project Logs
3d printer - Leapfrog creatr conversion
BillTodd:
Thanks.
It's a real enigma, it is well made but not well finished. Everything that needs to be good is good, but it's like they didn't have the time to add the finishing touches.
The tail stock lock clamp for instance: it is a neat design clamping rather than squeezing a casting, but i had the draw file and polish it to make it look nice.
The little vice's anvil is beautifully carved from the main body, But they didn't remove the shaper marks before hardening.
If it weren't for the allen screws I would think this is 'war finish ' - the cross slide appears to be a hardinge cataract pre 1920 (or perhaps a copy).
I have a few bits to make for it like new clamp bolts for the topslide and a new cross-slide handle.
And I have been wondering about a mechanical variable speed drive as well
vtsteam:
Wow two nice projects! I hadn't seen the spot welder earlier. I have a Harbor Freight type that looks so similar, but obviously not built from scratch, and probably not as high quality for it.
The lathe is really intriguing. I really like the pleasing base shapes of the tailstock and headstock, which re-finishing has brought out. I wonder what the waisted section of the leadscrew is for? I guess it's a carriage release, but is there a reason for the thread continuation after the break?
The vise/anvil is totally unique and gives it great character, but I'd really hesitate to hammer or bend metal on a lathe ways. On the other hand, it's a wonderful unexpected gadget, and really sets this lathe apart so as a complete homemade object it's very cool. :thumbup: :clap: :beer:
BillTodd:
The waist on the leadscrew was for belt clearance, the previous owner had it mounted on an old sewing machine treadle base .
Unfortunately I don't know much about the lathe's history. I know the previous owner got it from Davall's (who made flight data recorders ) when he left the firm . He had several patents in his name related to wire handling mechanisms , but I don't think he had anything to do with the lathe's initial construction.I thought it might be an apprentice project, but it seems to have had too much use to be a long term project (and again one would expect apprentices to finish parts). So, perhaps best guess would be a special project for in-house work when availablity of small lathes was tight.
BillTodd:
I've just found this old pathe news clip fro 1951/2
https://www.britishpathe.com/video/making-coronation-clocks/query/coronations
The clocks are being made at Davall's there is the briefest look at some of the machinery , but no lathe , only the hint that the handle shape of the machine could be similar to the lathe's
vtsteam:
I wonder if in an old Model Engineer there is some reference to adding a vise to a lathe -- possibly by a correspondent via the Postbag. If there is, it could be the builder.
I bought two homemade small model marine high speed twin steam engines close to 20 years ago, at a model engineering show in nearby Windsor Vermont, supposedly built in Baltimore. Aluminum castings, sleeved. When reading through some old Model Engineers, lo and behold I came across a reference and photos of the original builder and his engines of the same type, and yes, in Baltimore.
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