microlathe

[Admin]

I found this neat micro lathe today. Could be useful for those robot builders on a budget . . .

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95012

[JonHylands]

They have a micro-mill as well:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=47158

- Jon

[JesseWelling]

this would make my life so much easier. But I think the first tool I'm going to buy is a dremel.
Cheap and very handy for the kind of robots I build because I generaly go with a pre-existing mechanical
base liky lynx or an rc car to toy tank, then I just have to fit everything to the base. I'm no ME....

[Admin]

If you are cheap, but want to invest in something useful for making small/medium sized robots, this is the #1 tool I'd recommend:

http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=82389

(if that link breaks, go to http://www.micromark.com/ and search for 'microlux drill press')

A good pic can be found here http://www.micromark.com/detailimgs/82959d.jpg

Its a table top drill press with X-Y table. I use this guy all the time for like everything. I often put a mill bit into it for an instant mini-mill. It also has an optional digital readout (usually not useful), and optional mini vice to come with it (dont get the vice unless you plan to work on really small parts).

The digital version (which has a better pic of the drill as a whole) can been seen here:
http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=82959
(MICROLUX VARIABLE SPEED DRILL PRESS WITH DIGITAL DEPTHFINDER)

The construction of this drill press isnt the best, but hey, its only $100, and it hasnt broke on me yet!

I also own a dremel, but I rarely use it cause this drill simply out performes it in both safety and precision.

[robot321]

Did someone say budget?    Its like my other name.

[SomeSaba]

I ran out of money a while ago and i needed to drill some "Acurate" holes, so instead of buying a drill press i bought one of these:

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?vertical=TOOL&cat=Power+Tool+Accessories&subcat=Drill+Doctor+%26+Drill+Attachments&pid=00967173000&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

Should i have jsut saved for a drill press instead?

[Brandon121233]

I ran out of money a while ago and i needed to drill some "Acurate" holes, so instead of buying a drill press i bought one of these:

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?vertical=TOOL&cat=Power+Tool+Accessories&subcat=Drill+Doctor+%26+Drill+Attachments&pid=00967173000&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

Should i have jsut saved for a drill press instead?

yeah, if you can afford 100 dollars Ryobi sells a very nice one, 100 times better than that flimsy thing.

and about the mini lathe, it looks pretty sweet, for about the past year I've been torn with getting a mini lathe and mini mill separate, or getting something like a Smithy 3 in 1 machine, for an extra $400-$500 you get a lot more stuff with more power and accuracy, I just haven't bitten the bullet y

[wolfy_9005]

You could always convert an old drill press to use as a lathe, or even as a milling machine. Just get a bigger chuck and do a small modification for the tool post. Could cost consideraly less, but will take a heck load of effort.

[Brandon121233]

Yuo would have to completly rebuild the drill press, beacuse drill presses are made to PRESS and exert force vertically. They are not made to handle lateral torque that a lathe requires.

[wolfy_9005]

A lathe simply spins a piece of metal around, just like a drill press. Just need to add a moving tool post and your set.

[Eco19R]

Speaking of milling machines - has anyone tried converting the micro mark mini mill into a CNC milling machine?