Rotary table style lathe compound?

I think it is a fun idea that would also serve to replace ball-turning attachments in addition to your idea of adjusting compound angle. If there is enough room, might be worth trying.
 
Hi Jon,

I have pondered it too. I have a few crude sketches somewhere.
I wanted to make a ball and cove turning tool, and such an arrangement came to mind.

@Charles Spencer great implementation....Thanks for sharing it!

-brino
 
Wreck™Wreck said:
One may employ 1960 methods to achieve 2017 goals, why would anyone do such a thing?
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Wreck™Wreck said:
What advantage would be gained by adding a component that is not needed?
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For me, as a hobbyist, "why would I do it?", the answer is "Cost!". I cannot justify the spend on CNC for a one-off part or project.

What advantage would be gained? I could see a few reasons to want such a device:
-to be able to cut balls and coves
-to be add indexing capabilities for anyone milling or cross-drilling in the lathe

I guess that you're coming at it from the "Did any manufacturer ever supply one?" angle.....and your probably right! CNC can do arc'ed tool paths more directly than this add-on. So it makes no sense for commercial machine shops.

-brino
 
brino said:
I guess that you're coming at it from the "Did any manufacturer ever supply one?" angle.....and your probably right! CNC can do arc'ed tool paths more directly than this add-on. So it makes no sense for commercial machine shops.

-brino
Click to expand...

Exactly, if NC had not come about it would probably be a fairly common feature on some lathes at this time.
 
So we need a cross slide rotary table to keep the height down and retain compound ability. Problem is I only can find large ones.
If someone made a 4" it might be right size.
Many cross slide in two directions...handy on the mill not needed for the lathe tool we are thinking of.
This one cross slides one direction and tilts...interesting...now if it was in a 4" version.
https://www.mscdirect.com/product/d...KrRtJ__cat:machining+tables_b_97959252904_c_S
 
The Sherline rotary table is 4" diameter and a hair under 2" tall. A nice piece of kit for its size, and very precise. For a larger lathe, it might be workable. There are 4 mini T-slots at 90˚ and a centered threaded hole for mounting options, so you'd have to fab your own tool posts... and I can't say how much force the table could handle in perpendicular torsion (i.e.: down-force on a mounted tool)

FYI: if you feel like experimenting with it, Sherline has monthly 15% specials on products, and the rotary tables are often in the mix.
 
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