Popular Mechanics Plans - Plans For Micro Lathe.pdf

RAFTSMEN, modelmakers and others lengths of angle iron. These can be filed
C who need a small metal-turning lathe on the inner surfaces so that the slide block,
can make one almost entirely from scrap Fig. 7, will travel true to within about. 001
material available in junk or auto-wreck- in. For finishing them smooth, a piece of
ing yards. A chuck may have to be pur- fine emery cloth wrapped around a file or
chased, but many turning jobs can be done block is rubbed over the ways as in Fig. 2.
between centers or on an improvised face- One of the end blocks is drilled for a lead
plate. The lathe shown here has a swing screw as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. This should
of 41/2 in. A larger one, of course, can be not be done, however, until the carriage
made by changing the proportions. and slide block are positioned on the lathe,
In. making the ways, Fig. 1, select straight to assure locating the lead screw at the
LEAD SCREW ANGLE-IRON WAYS
END BLOCK
TAPPED
ANGLE-
ASSEMBLY OF BED WAYS
IRON FEET
proper height. The screw is secured by
collars and rotated by a gear wheel taken
from a discarded hand drill. Or, almost any
small crank or a wheel fitted with a knob
will do. To allow maximum travel of the
carriage, the screw should not be cut to
length until all other working parts are in
place and ready for use.
The carriage is shown in Figs. 8 and 10.