Re: Machining / Lathe questions

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "robert & june heidlebaugh by way of Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <rheidlebaugh-at-desertgate-dot-com>

Captain: I have been able to buy usable lathes surplus from small 3 in all
the way up to my 24 in 13 Ft bead lathe big enough to turn a railroad wheel
that cost me $75. Haulage was more than the lathe. Check with schools and
machine shops. Often manufacturers will sell for scrap iron price or let you
just haul them off. A lathe that is worn will have to much play in one
direction so it will be not good for manufacturing work load, but fine for
slow hobby use. your local wrecker will haul one for 2-300 $ for you.
      Robert  H
-- P.S. back drill a "C" clamp to form a cone cup in the screw and base
plate to hold a sphere solid for drilling.


 > From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
 > Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2003 17:10:17 -0700
 > To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
 > Subject: Machining / Lathe questions
 > Resent-From: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
 > Resent-Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2003 18:53:43 -0700
 >
 > Original poster: "Mccauley, Daniel H by way of Terry Fritz
 > <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <daniel.h.mccauley-at-lmco-dot-com>
 >
 >
 > Just a few questions regarding machining . . .
 >
 > 1.  My first question is that I want to drill and tap a large number of 1"
 > steel spheres which I am going to using as
 > corona balls (spark gaps actually).  Anyone have suggestions on how to clamp
 > these spheres properly.  I guess the proper way to do this to ensure proper
 > centering would be to use a lathe (see next question), but precision isn't a
 > hard requirement as they are only going to be used for spark gap balls.  I
 > was thinking maybe taking some material putting perpindicular V-Slots and
 > having the sphere rest in the intersection point.
 >
 > 2.  Secondly, I'm finding that lathe work is becoming a requirement on
 > almost all my new tesla and high voltage projects (as well as others) and
 > I'm finding the very high prices of out-of-house machining to be very
 > restrictive so I think its in my best interest to invest in a lathe and
 > start practicing.  Are there any lathes out there for under $500.00 that
 > would be okay for practicing and would be tabletop sized (not a huge floor
 > mounted lathe)???
 >
 > Any help appreciated.  Thanks.
 >
 > The Captain
 >
 >