Backnife CNC Lathe

[Gary Campbell]

Guys...
Here are a few shots and a quick video of the first programmed cuts on my latest home project. It's a CNC add-on for a wood turning lathe. I think the pics and video will give a fairly good idea of its capabilities.

I have some work to do with chip guards and macros etc., but I just had to cut something to see if it worked! Last pic is an experimental mini computer that should end up inside the control box.

File shown was designed and toolpathed using VCPro 8. RPM as on screen, feed 30ipm, .125 (radius .25 diameter) cut per pass with the 10mm tool and .030 with the detail tool. Enjoy!

http://youtu.be/126hNJ9CEi0

[Bruce Page]

That's pretty frickin' cool! Are the spindle RPM's also controlled by software?

[Gary Campbell]

Bruce...
Yes, direction also.

[sgodding]

That's great progress since I saw it last! The spindle you turned looks really nice, and gives a good feeling for the level of detail that's possible.

[Gary Campbell]

Thanks Steve, its been fun. I need to get a feel for feeds and speeds, as I have zero turning experience.

[rcrawford]

That is pretty cool Gary! That's definitely the way to go for a nice finish on turned products.

It would be nice to also have the option of adding in machine processes.

Even if you didn't have a servo motor for the lathe spindle, most lathes have a manual indexer using pins so you could lock the spindle at one of 72 positions, machine that side, then rotate manually and lock again and machine.

You've made me thing about bolting my lathe in place of my recoil and adding knives to the side of my spindle mount!

[neal_meyers_jr]

Awesome as always. When can I use it?

[Gary Campbell]

Neal...
You know you can! I hear your bride needs new deck ballusters

Russell...
As long as I made you think, I am happy

[Nat Wheatley]

Simply awesome, always enjoy seeing what you're working on.

[Gary Campbell]

Nat...
Thanks man, GCMF

Russell....
"You've made me thing about bolting my lathe in place of my recoil and adding knives to the side of my spindle mount!"

You may want to save your energy, forces required for this type of turning make an overhead gantry design not the best solution. (The reason for this project) Of course, in a low cutting load application.... never mind, you know I am all about seeing how big a roostertail I can get off a bit!!

[CosmosK]

Nice work Gary! Any pointers for us who'd like to make one too? Did you get plans for that somewhere or cook it all up from scratch?

[Gary Campbell]

Cosmos....
A good friend dropped the idea in my head. I had some experience with the backnife portion of my SideWinder project, the rest just popped out.

Advise: A 3" blank rotating at 2000 rpm gives a surface feed rate of 18,850 ipm. Prepare for it!

[Art Mann]

What a terrific project. Any chance it could make its way into the Camaster product line?

[Gary Campbell]

Art...
Sorry I missed this post. No, I doubt that CAMaster will be in the lathe business.

[CosmosK]

Where did you get the control? I don't see that control on WinCNC's website. Is that a new product of theirs?