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- Feb 17, 2013
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- 4,407
OK, here's a wild hair that might get you started on the design of a "skyhook," and doesn't require attachment to the rafters or walls of your garage. It's based on the photo of your lathe at http://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/liang-dei-ld-1216gh-picked-it-up-yesterday.49920/#post-421502
Get a steel plate, about ¼" or ⅜" thick and about 2 feet square, plus another about 1 foot square. Detach the lathe from the base. Slip the plates between the chip pan and the base. Drill as required for the lathe mounting bolts. The 2x2 plate should stick out an inch or two behind and to the left of the chip pan. Weld a pipe vertically to the plate at the rear left corner. Weld diagonal braces from the front left and rear right corners (Caution - be sure the side brace doesn't interfere with access to the end of the headstock!) The pipe will become the upright pivot post for your skyhook. Re-attach the lathe to the base.
Of course, this assumes you have access to a welder and that you can temporarily detach your lathe from the base and lift it. The rest of the design for the skyhook would be up to you, but it seems to me that the position and mounting of the base is your biggest issue right now. I'd be very hesitant about bolting anything to the carriage or to the tailstock that might involve off-center loads.. Even 20kg can produce quite a lever arm if you're a foot or so off center. And damage to the carriage would pretty well kill the lathe!
Just my two pence worth. Hope it inspires you toward a solution!
Get a steel plate, about ¼" or ⅜" thick and about 2 feet square, plus another about 1 foot square. Detach the lathe from the base. Slip the plates between the chip pan and the base. Drill as required for the lathe mounting bolts. The 2x2 plate should stick out an inch or two behind and to the left of the chip pan. Weld a pipe vertically to the plate at the rear left corner. Weld diagonal braces from the front left and rear right corners (Caution - be sure the side brace doesn't interfere with access to the end of the headstock!) The pipe will become the upright pivot post for your skyhook. Re-attach the lathe to the base.
Of course, this assumes you have access to a welder and that you can temporarily detach your lathe from the base and lift it. The rest of the design for the skyhook would be up to you, but it seems to me that the position and mounting of the base is your biggest issue right now. I'd be very hesitant about bolting anything to the carriage or to the tailstock that might involve off-center loads.. Even 20kg can produce quite a lever arm if you're a foot or so off center. And damage to the carriage would pretty well kill the lathe!
Just my two pence worth. Hope it inspires you toward a solution!