Lathe projects.
Turbo Mini Forums

I have recently got hold of a small lathe that I hope to teach myself to use. I have a good starter set up with most of the basic tools that I should need for the moment. I've been swatting up on basic maching practice and now have the lathe set up ready to go.

I have the plans for some basic starter project but I was wondering if anybody has any starter project ideas.

My Dad is keeping me on the straight and narrow as he has been model engineering for as long as I can remember. He is spending his time in the workshop tuning two stroke model car engines at the moment from 1.5cc to 10cc.

Ron

Stepped shaft between centers (largest dia in the middle) is one of the best starter project... That teaches you a lot more than you realize.

Plumb bob, spark plug, have the scematocs as well somewhere I could send you?

Drives
-Ford S-max Mk2 Ecoboost
-Rover 100 VVC #2 - track project

Searching is all you need on TurboMinis

The first thing I made with my lathe after I converted it to CNC was a dizzy bung. Simple but useful.

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MINI-LATHE-TOOLS...=item51a8acc33d

I'd say a set of swaging tools, they will help with TM disease!

cam bearing tools.

gudgeon pin removal tool.

washer for punning the cv joint in.

piston ring compressor

I don't use lathes but the lad at work do and got them making me a few bits like top tower bolt spacers and some little bits of the steering column

'Washer for putting the cv joint in'

I'd buy one of these if you could do them for less than MS.

Couple of other things I could think of -
-Horseshoe shaped special tool for knocking the main bearing out of the gearbox
-Synchro ball retainer ring for rebuilds
- Seal and bearing drifts

What's this washer for??

Team Racing

Seating the bearings on the CV before fitting the cone washer. The cone washer can 'nip up' before being fully home otherwise.
http://www.minispares.com/product/Classic/...arch/classic/cv washer.aspx|Back to search

With regards to the washer, I've never used one and never had a problem, and others swear by them. Swaging tools is a good shout, you could even make a slide hammer.

Never heard of that, I'll have a look in the book

Team Racing

I've also never needed one. £4.50 for a large washer!
To be fair you'd probably just have those laser cut from suitable thickness plate rather than machine from solid.

I too have just got a small lathe and am thinking of a few projects.

As an apprentice we made some drifts and a centre pop. Need a knerling(sp) tool really though to make a nice job.

http://www.twin-turbo.co.uk
http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/default.asp

A man without a project is like a like a woman without a shopping list.

There is some good ideas there to get me started! Hopefully I will start making some swarf this weekend!

pictures of your progress would be interesting, the last time i used a lathe i nearly lost a finger :(

What the mind can conceive the mini can achieve
MITP 2012 17.01 seconds 1/4 mile against "The Don"
MITP 2013 16.83 seconds 1/4 mile

You know that big turny thing that you put the piece of metal in.... you shouldn't touch that...

the lathe was off, was told to clean the swarf out the bottom.
no ppe / training and 16 at the time.

ended up with some swarf around my finger and pulled hand out, cut 3/4 round index finger
2 operation to put nerves and tendons back together, still not right 20 years on

What the mind can conceive the mini can achieve
MITP 2012 17.01 seconds 1/4 mile against "The Don"
MITP 2013 16.83 seconds 1/4 mile

Ouch!

Ive actually done the same, but no where near as bad, and fortunatly no lasting damage.

wont be doing that again.
just have 20% feeling in finger now but still works fine

Edited by lee.pb on 2nd Nov, 2013.

What the mind can conceive the mini can achieve
MITP 2012 17.01 seconds 1/4 mile against "The Don"
MITP 2013 16.83 seconds 1/4 mile

Making a stepped shaft is the best thing to start with. Do a drawing of multiple steps giving set diameters and lengths for each step and set yourself a tolerance to work to (.02mm is usually the tolerance to work to when training) and if you can work to that then anything else will seem easy.

Centre punches are good for practicing machining shallow angles and getting used to the compound slide.

Die holders and handles are a good exercise, as you'll need to use a boring bar, and practice cutting threads for the handles, even if you're just using a die for the threads. And it's a good tool to have too!

Just think of tools you need, and try to make them, bearing pullers, punches, swagers etc.. Are all usefull and at least you'll get use out of your practice pieces.

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1/4mile in 13.2sec @ 111 terminal on 15psi

Also, practice threading (using the change box) as cutting threads is somethinng that definately takes practice, but is so useful.