Wood is one of the materials that can be easily processed. Moreover, no complicated tools are needed for work, a simple set is enough. And things that come out from under the chisel will amaze with their beauty and functionality. On lathes, you can make any product that has the shape of rotation - these are balusters for stairs, and handles for various inventory, and even kitchen utensils. In the article we will try to tell you in as much detail as possible about how to make a mini wood lathe with your own hands.
Purpose of the machine
The main purpose of the device is the manufacture of wood products, in which the shape is either cylindrical or close to it. Using the machine, you will be able to make a beautiful staircase for the porch of a country house. After all, with the help of an ax and a planer, it is unlikely that all the work will be done. And herea do-it-yourself mini wood lathe will easily cope with the task.
If you fill your hand, you can significantly save on various decor elements. You can even launch your own start-up - make and sell products. Handmade wood products are highly valued on the market. Whether you need to acquire such a tool is, of course, up to you. If you plan to make just a couple of wood handles, then it is wiser to purchase them, since the cost is not very high. But if there is a desire to develop and produce more serious designs, then it is better to get a machine tool.
How does the machine work and what does it consist of?
The machine works on a very simple principle. The workpiece in the form of a cylinder is placed and fixed along the axis of rotation. With the help of a special mechanism, the workpiece is set in motion. In order to give the workpiece the desired shape, cutters or files are simply brought to it.
Main structural elements:
- The bed with the components attached to it.
- Electric drive.
- Front and tailstock.
- Handler.
To work on the machine was as comfortable as possible, it is necessary to use devices to adjust the speed of rotation of the electric motor. If we are talking about professional machines, then they use a full-fledged gearbox. In the simplest case, this is a belt drive with several pulleys having different diameters. But it's much more efficient to useelectronic speed controller or frequency converter.
How to make a bed?
The bed is the frame itself, on which all components of the machine are mounted. The quality of the entire unit depends on how reliable it is. Therefore, in the manufacture it is best to use a corner of steel. It is allowed to use shaped pipes (only rectangular sections, as they have higher bending resistance).
First, you need to outline all the dimensions of the future machine. This indicator will depend on the purpose for which it is planned to use the woodworking machine. On average, the size should be about 80 cm - this is enough to make any decorations for the house on your own. Cut blanks for the bed with a grinder or a hacksaw.
Lay two profile pipes at a distance of 5 cm. Please note that they must lie flat. Using clamps, fix the longitudinal elements of the frame - there will be three in total. You install two of them at the edges, while the third must be placed about 20 cm from the left edge. This element will serve as a support for the headstock. These are approximate data, they may differ, directly depend on the model of the electric motor and pulleys.
Now you connect all the elements of the bed with a high-quality and reliable seam. Immediately you need to decide on what you will use a mini-turning machine for wood. It is easy to make all the elements with your own hands. You can install the structure both on the table andmounted separately on the floor. If you choose the second option, you will have to make legs. As a material, you can use a wooden beam, a metal corner or a professional pipe. Or you can use an old workbench or a reliable table.
Which engine to use?
The main part of the drive is an electric motor. Its main parameter is power. For home use, any asynchronous motor with a power of 1.2 to 2 kW is suitable. But pay attention to which network the motor is connected to. If to single-phase, then there will be no problems. But if it is three-phase, then you will have to use capacitors to shift the voltage. And this will reduce engine power. Therefore, it is recommended to purchase an inexpensive frequency converter.
If you want to make a small desktop mini-turning machine for wood with your own hands, then a motor from a washing machine will suffice. Of course, he is unlikely to be able to work with large workpieces, but it is not a problem to make small items on it.
Drive: belt or direct?
In order to set the workpiece in motion, you can use one of the common methods. The simplest is straight. The workpiece is mounted directly on the motor shaft. But this type of drive has a number of disadvantages. Firstly, it is the inability to adjust the rotation speed (however, this minus disappears if you use regulators or an inverter). Secondly, the load on the electric motor is quite significant. howno matter how you center the workpiece, there will definitely be a strong vibration.
In order to protect the electric motor from breakdowns, it is best to make a belt drive. By the way, if there is a desire, then you can replace it with a chain. Such a mini wood lathe for the home can work in a variety of modes. That's just it will have to be lubricated from time to time. The electric motor with such a drive scheme should be located away from the axis of rotation of the workpiece.
If you use several pulleys with different diameters, you will be able to adjust the rotation speed without third-party devices. If you plan to make a mini metal lathe with your own hands, it is recommended to use belts with three or more streams (for example, from car generators).
Front and tailstocks
The workpiece must be located between two devices called headstocks - front (leading) and rear (fixed). The headstock is a P-shaped metal structure. A shaft and pulleys are mounted on bearings between the side faces. The body is preferably made of thick steel. The whole structure is securely connected with bolts.
The tailstock is needed to support the workpiece so that it can rotate freely. Therefore, the workpiece must be lubricated from time to time at the point of contact with the headstock. The cost of finished elements for industrial machines is not very high, soyou can buy it on the market. But if it is not possible to do this, then you can use a cartridge from a powerful drill. Install a metal pin with a pointed end into it. Both stocks are mounted on the frame, their axes of rotation must match perfectly. This is the basic requirement for a homemade mini wood lathe.
Handmaid
Hand rest is the part of the machine that the tool will rest on when working. This detail can be done in different ways. The main thing is that it will be convenient for you to use the machine afterwards. The simplest handcuff is a simple corner fixed on the base. Moreover, the upper edge should be opposite the axis of rotation of the attendants.
Electric drill construction
You can make a mini lathe from a drill with your own hands. You probably have at least one electric drill. This tool is universal. It is not difficult to make a simple lathe out of it. True, we will have to make a reliable frame. And the drill will simultaneously perform the functions of a drive and a headstock. The main thing is to securely fasten the body of the drill to the bed.
The simplest design is a board or thick plywood, on which an emphasis with a latch and a tailstock are installed. As you can see, making a mini lathe with your own hands is not such a difficult task. But with the help of such equipment, you can not only decorate your home, but also earn pretty decent money.
