The standard hole saw arbors are very poor, in that they do not hold the hole saw securely, and so make accurate hole placement nearly impossible. I have a project in mind that requires that I drill reasonably precision holes in cast iron with a hole saw so I made up this little arbor. Much better!
I am taking Rapid Design and Manufacture (MET3332) this summer. For the second assignment we had to design some device that had multiple moving components, could be printed without requiring any assembly or finishing, and used a maximum of 1in^3 of material.
I decided to print something with gears to test their functionality, so I designed this little spiral bevel gear speed trippler. You can find the files and more information here: https://grabcad.com/library/epicyclic-bevel-gear-reducer-1 While the chucks that came with the G0602 were quite decent the chuck keys were very roughly finished and did not fit well so the first thing I did with the lathe was make new ones. They are a joy to use and behold!
ENCO had a fantastic sale on the Phase II tool posts, so I ordered an AXA wedge type tool with 5 tool holders for less than a no-name piston type post.
But what is the use of a tool post without a lathe for it to go on? Also if I was going to get a new lathe over the break I would need to order it soon so I would have time to get it set up before spring classes started. So, a G0602 is on it's way. Estimated delivery is the 21st! Since 2012 I have had a Harbor Freight 7x10 Mini Lathe, and while it has served me very well I frequently find myself pushing its limits to the extreme. I really long for a lathe capable of turning 6in aluminum castings and threading without resorting to hand cranking the spindle. Before I got the 7x10 I had been looking at the G4000, attracted by small size, partial threading gearbox and power cross feed. Also, my uncle had a G4000, and it seemed about the right size and reasonably well put together. In retrospect I am glad I did not go with the G4000. At .75in the spindle bore is the same as the 7x10, and the machine is small enough that it is difficult to fit standard accessories like a QCTP. If I had bought a G4000 I would likely be in the same situation I am in now but, but would have spent a lot more. After much reading online and some deliberation I decided that the slightly more expensive, but much bigger, G0602 would be the best lathe for my needs. With a shipping weight of 620lbs (according to UPS Freight), the G0602 is nearly twice as heavy as the G4000 (293lbs), but is still compact enough for my small shop. And did I mention the 1in spindle bore!
The G0602 also has in its favor many happy owners and a number of well documented mods and improvements online and in various publications. |
AuthorKurt Jacobson is a senior studying mechanical and nuclear engineering at Southern Polytechnic State University in Atlanta Georgia. Archives
June 2016
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