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What's your dream lathe?

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woodndesign:

Graduates always demand good prices, but given, if you can and are able to re-build one and as parts are available to upgrade or you can make them, if a cheap, even if ratted or scrap one came up, if compleat and sound casting could make the ideal lathe... Ummm... that maybe is what L.R.E do.

Power to the Hamsters...

David

theblindwoodturner:
lol good point. have you seen the prices for LRE gear? hmmmmmmm reconditioned gear OK fair enough but for that price I'd like some extras.

Perhaps I might advertise for a wanted union graduate for a reasonable price and see what happens. would be nice as a 2nd lathe for teaching purposes.

duncanh:

--- Quote from: theblindwoodturner on June 07, 2011, 07:01:57 PM ---To set things off... Here's my dream lathe.... well it's one of two lol.

1: a custom made version of the DVR XP lathe. As we all know, the DVR lathe is a 16in swing lathe  inboard and 24in between centres. I'd been the proud owner of a DVR which was purchased by a very good friend who is also a woodturner and lover of all things shavings based. It got me thinking.... Why don't teknatool produce a larger specification lathe for professional work and mass production, etc?

So Here's my idea of a custom spec DVR. Take 1 DVR motor and upgrade it to offer upto 3HP or so, a much more flexible speed range. nin speed... 20RPM, max speed.... 3500RPM. Much larger, heavier castings with a 64 point indexing system. a much heavier spindle to support heavier projects. A fixed headstock with outboard at the reverse side of the head. Lets talk specifications...... yes folks the real dirt..... Inboard swing 28in... outboard swing, 48 or 50in.  distance between centres. 5ft standard with option to extend to whatever length you need (keeping the same bed extension method but on a more industrial specification). The tailstock to offer 8in travel on the quill with a 3MT spindle bore. Solid frame as a complete casting to the lathe instead of the original leg stand, why not a full solid iron casting box to the headstock with mounting for outboard turning attachment (same heavy casting as I refer to the main bed with a heavy duty toolrest and rock solid banjo.  Now the tech side.... Sticking to the same inverter technology but on a heavier, more industrial specification, the user interface could benefit from improvements. why not make the main panel larger and more tactile, then a data port for an optional remote switch. not forgetting the EMERGENCY STOP function on a magnetic base which could be placed anywhere on the lathe.. etc...

lew

--- End quote ---

You might be in luck with some of those specs. The Teknatool Facebook page recently said that they'd be announcing some new products at the AAW and another show soon.
I've seen somewhere that they've been working on a 3hp lathe similar to the DVR but with greater swing and a few other improvements - there was a photo and it looked pretty similar. One of the Sorby staff told me that they'd seen a prototype back in the days that Sorby were the distributors, which is several years back now.

I'd hope for: a banjo that doesn't allow the rest to flex when extended out at its max from the bed, same for the outboard turning attachment (I've been using mine today and get fed up having to wedge a length of pipe underneath it to stop the flex), some sort of mechanism to stop the quill unwinding too far, an external thread for the handwheel to screw onto (this would allow me to screw on my own fittings- like couterweight wheels), a spindle thread that was harder and less prone to damage, an indexing system that doesn't have any play in it.

Of course, a remote box with an emergency stop should have been produced years ago and I've been requesting one from them pretty much since I bought the lathe and started sitting at the tailstock end for hollowing. I was told that they had one ready for production at least 5 years ago but I've given up waiting. I've been using one I made myself from a circuit diagram found on one of the online groups and I wouldn't be without it. My latest version has a box with stop, go, up and down plus a socket to daisy chain other boxes - I have an extra stop button with a magnet which I can place down by my foot, on the banjo or where ever I choose. Let me know if you want the diagram and the instructions.

Let's see what they come up with...

Duncan

theblindwoodturner:
sounds very interesting. I'm about to order my new lathe soon as soon as the workshop has finished it's refurb. I'm going for the jet 4224 lathe. can't wait that long for teknatool to roll out a 3HP rig.

lew

kasandrich:
I have a Poolewood DVSL and I am very content with it, if you want a longer bed they can do it for a price.

2MT Tapers, M33x3.5 thread for good supply of chucks.  With outboard turning rig for bigger stuff, but the swing over the bed is 9inches giving up to 18inch diameter over the bed, and up to 38inches between centres (longer beds available if required). and up to 38inches plus outboard capability. The 1.5hp motor copes with most things.

Headstock moves freely to any position on the bed and rotates to any desired angle.

Coupled with a good sturdy adjustable height stand its a very good Lathe.

Biggest thing I moan to myself about is that the banjo does not move freely enough.......and then I remind myself thats my own fault, clean & lube it all with a bit of wax and its fine  ::)

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