Hot Rods Lathe

Don’t over think it , most any motor oil oil will work. Most important is to keep it clean. A cover would help. An oil can always set near my lathe. For cutting hard metal a cutting oil is nice, but don’t use it on the ways a such.. to expensive.







Bones

 

https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/general-archive/lubracating-south-bend-lathe-80804/

BTW, Mobil's Vactra #2 is the premium way lube. All our Bridgeports had it in the Bijur lube system, as well as the lathes. Best for preventing stick-slip condition.

 

Here's a good source for tooling etc
https://www.kbctools.com/

 

Lathes at auction, Tacoma Washington.
https://cyberauctions.com/ItemShow.php?id=532305&aid=995&srid=0&npg=1&maxrecord=40&order=lot

https://cyberauctions.com/ItemShow.php?id=532304&aid=995&srid=0&npg=1&maxrecord=40&order=lot

 

That pin is called the bull gear lock pin.

 

Mid size hobby lathe.

 

Is that still in operation or something you pulled up on the net?

 

I got it some time ago.
Here is the URL:
800px-Cockatoo_Island_Giant_Lathe_HDR_8034521631.jpg

 

Here is the text that went with that pic.

The world’s biggest lathes fashion the world’s largest shafts to spin the world’s largest propellers on the world’s largest ships. And if you’re in need of a lathe, the world’s largest lathe just happens to be for sale.

As we have noted, the world’s ships are getting larger and larger. Take the “Emma Maersk” cargo ship built by the Danish Odense Steel Shipyard: it is 1,302 ft (397 m) long, 183 ft (56 m) wide, 98 feet (30 m) in depth, has a gross tonnage of 1,070,974 tons and moves at a speed of 26 kn. As you can imagine, the engine and propeller needed to move the ship are huge; but what about the lathe needed to fashion the propeller shaft?

How Big Can a Lathe Get
The theoretical limit of a lathe is only limited by the Earth’s curve; a flat line of about 3.1 miles (5 km), after which point the lathe would be unable to do its job: making symmetrical changes to a rotating object.

All lathes are the same in that they rotate a workpiece made of wood, metal, glass or other material on its axis of rotation for the purpose of cutting, sanding, knurling, facing, deforming or turning it.

There are three types of lathes: engine, turret and special purpose. It is the special purpose category we are after and specifically rotary lathes. For example, one of the longest horizontal waves in the world is used for machining direct driven propeller shafts for very large ships. The lathe is 118 ft (36m) long, making it the second largest of its kind in the world.

It’s been reported Waldrich Siegen of South Africa built the largest lathe in 1973 at 126 feet (38m), weighing 485.6 tons, the same weight as a jumbo jet aircraft, and capable of handling a workpiece up to 330 tons. Some specs:

• swing over bed – 16 ft (4.87m)
• max turning diameter – 3000 mm
• boring diameter range – 350-1800 mm
• max workpiece length – 13,000 to 10,000 mm
• spindle speed 60 to 2400 rpm
• speed adjustment range : 60 ~ 2400 rpm
• faceplate speed (1st.step / 2nd. Step) : 1~41 / 4.2~169 rpm
• nominal speed (1st.step / 2nd. Step) : 10.3 / 42.2 rpm
• torque at the faceplate : 130000 N

Shin Nippon Koki (SNK)
According to Shin Nippon Koki (SNK) of Japan, they have developed the largest rotor lathe in the world capable of handling a workpiece of 400 tons or 70 tons more than the Waldrich Siegen lathe.

• max turning diameter – 3,400 mm
• max work length – 20,000 mm

 

Here is a miniture hobby lathe compared to the previous pic . I did a set of wheels on this one.
Just behind and out of sight is another lathe twice this big that they use for turning the steam engine drive wheels.

 

That's one of the ones up at Elbe isn't it?

 

Yup.
Did you work there?

 

Nope, got the delux tour because the couple we were with knew somebody... They had quite a collection of vintage machine tools.

 

Yup. I worked there part time for 10 years. Helped restore several engines. Did all the radio work and track inspection also.

 

Some of the track was scary.... Somebody told me it's now closed because of that, but that may just be a rumor.

 

The track they ran on was always safe and legal. The Feds always watch that. A lot of the old track and sidings was red tagged. The actual main line track structure work was done by Tacoma Rail, the owner of the right of way.
They are closed because of a corporate decision. They are owned by American Heiritage Railways now. They own Durango and the one in Virginia. Someone will buy it sooner or later. Too many assets to let sit idle.

 

Dang, I don't think I'd want to be around when its turning 2400 rpms.............

 

WOW! I'm not the only one handicapped by one of those Craftsman lathes. I don't feel so bad anymore...