Building a lathe

[Trevor R Payne]

I am about to begin construction of a lathe. I have been collecting info and components for about a year.

I have some good quality 1 1/2 inch steel for the head spindle which will also have a MT2 in the treaded end. Seemingly the most common thread in OZ is M30 x 3.5.

My questions are:
1) What length of thread should be turned?
2) What distance from the end of the spindle to the flange (threaded + unthreaded portion)?

Your advise is appreciated in advance.

[Glen Bridger]

Hi Trevor,
my advice is go to a machinery place and have a REAL good look at some lathes. Don't forget to take a pen, paper and of course a measuring stick of some sort.
The other thing is to look at what types of chucks, faceplates and drives/centres you want to use in the headstock and tailstock and maybe buy them first.
Remember, its no point re-inventing the wheel.There is heaps of well engineered
machinery around so study them and apply their clever ideas into your design.