Mobile base on lathe

Re: Mobile base on lathe

Clem Wixted

>David,

I bought a used 3520A last week and it came with a industrial duty Jet mobile base. It is in their catalog. It handles the load real well. However, I would have liked it to have 4 swivel casters to make it more manuverable. It rides and sits on the wheels in use. The swivel casters are mounted outside of the frame and take up more room than the fixed casters.

The Vega type bases move on the wheels but sit on the floor in using the lathe. You need a handle to move the tool so you need some space to opeate it. I think this type is more stable for top heavy tools such as a drill press.

Clem

Re: Mobile base on lathe

Barry Irby

>I don't have a mobile base on my lathe, but I do on some other tools. Actually my previous lathe was pretty mobile. If I had an unbalance blank on it I just followed it around the shop until I got it balanced. So I don't want this one to move.

I would think you would want to keep it low and wide to lower and spread the center of gravity. also I would suggest you figure out some sort of cam action feet you can put on all four corners to lift it slightly off the wheels and make it more solid. Those feet should have some heavy tough rubber pads and should be as far out on the corners as is practical. If you can't make them cam for easy operation, they could screw down, but they need to be really sturdy. There is a lot of vibration with unbalanced blanks. Or you could make a set of feet that you pout on after you move the lathe. Lift it with a lever, put the feet in place and set it down.

Re: Mobile base on lathe

Mike Schwing from Md.

>I'm having a difficult time imagining any mobile base adding to the stability of a lathe, or even keeping it the same as without. Stability is CONCERN NUMBER ONE with me regarding my lathe. I don't want it wiggling, vibrating, running across the room, anything.

Leveling that baby and keeping it in place is a job that I don't want to repeat. Every time you move that lathe on your mobile base the leveling (ensuring all 4 feet are touching the ground evenly) process will have to be repeated (a PITA on many floors). Even a few wood chips under the feet or wheels can have an effect on stability.

I would suggest if you are dead set on it, maybe think about a temporary solution? For example, build a cradle with wheels that can be put under a temporarily jacked up end of the lathe, then a travel jack on the other end? That way you can move it around pretty easily without making the base a permanent part of the lathe. Some leveling will still be needed for optimum stability, but without the rest of the mechanical stuff in the picture.

Your other tools aren't as sensitive to placement as is the lathe, and they make good candidates for mobile bases. My cabinet saw is on a mobile base. It is OK, but not near as good as when it is on the floor. My bandsaw lives just fine with a mobile base. I would not accept my lathe's performance on anything other than the hard floor.

Re: Mobile base on lathe

Fred in NC

>I agree with Mike. I have planned on a couple cradles, each with 4 casters that I can use to move heavier machines. I don't plan on moving my lathe very often.

The only lathe that I put on wheels is my Jet Mini, but I only turn very light pieces on it. The cabinet is heavy, and I don't have to lock the wheels most of the time.

I would not want a lathe jumping around when turning a heavy log. Unsafe to say the least!

Re: Mobile base on lathe

Scott C

>I�m in the process of building a base for my new 1442 right now (my first lathe). I have a simple rule for machinery in my shop � If I can lift it, it must have wheels. The base is a cradle design that raises the lathe about 1�, about the same as the supplied feet. It�s constructed mainly from 4x4x1/4 angle stock with 3/8 angle stock for the caster mounting wings. The casters are mounted off the sides to widen the stance of the lathe. The lathe feet will be bolted to the base. The center of the base forms a 4� deep tray that will be poured with concrete after the lathe is bolted down and everything is leveled. The steel weighs 110 pounds, the concrete should be about 240. The total weight of the base should be around 350, about the same as the lathe. At 700 pounds I think this arrangement should be stable. All four casters are fully locking. I expect the base to be very rigid after the concrete sets and I accept the fact that I�ll have to roll it around to find the sweet spot on the floor each time I move it. I�ll report on it in a few months if anyone is interested. (I�ll have to let the lathe sit in one place for at least a month, doing nothing other than small spindles, until the concrete fully sets.)

---Scott.

Re: Mobile base on lathe

Brian McKearney

>Since my lathe arrived, I haven't had a need to move it. But, when I bought it, I made sure to get the wheel kit just in case. I have a Oneway 1640, and their wheel kit consists of a set of wheels and a pry bar. Each wheel has a set of fingers that fit into matching holes in the leg of my lathe, and to install, I lift one end of the lathe with the pry bar and install a wheel - one at a time. Once the wheels are installed, I can easily move the lathe around. Once the lathe is in it's new location, you follow the same process to remove the wheels.

Perhaps a similar "mobile kit" would be a better option than a mobile base, so that the lathe could be moved easily when necessary and it would sit firmly on the floor when in use.

--- Brian

Hey! Scott

Clem Wixted

>Is the lathe going to be set into the concrete when it is set?

If so won't you have a H E A V Y weight if you ever need to move it, or when you sell it to get your next lathe? :-)

Or, you are going to bolt the lathe after the concrete sets?

I have some 3 X 3 X 1/4 steel and thought of making a stand from this for an older 12X36 lathe.

Lets see some picture when you get it done. Good luck.

Clem

Clem

Re: Hey! Scott

Scott C

>The lathe will not be entombed in the concrete, it sits in pockets next to the casters. The picture should make it all clear. I�m waiting on 3 more casters and a shot with a sand blaster before I can finish it (literally).

Scott, that is "sweet!"

Clem Wixted

>

Re: Mobile base on lathe

echo8287

>Scott C thats an interesting design with the concrete idea. Is that some rebar running across the middle? The ones I build are similiar,low slung ,1" off the floor and very stable. If my daughter didn't have my digital camera I'd post a picture. The casters I've been using are leveling(they will lower with a small wheel) but kinda expensive. Louie over on Woodnet had some on his aluminum TS mobile base. They are rated for 1400lb on all 4. I wish I could see someone else using there 3520 lathe, because I don't want the base to be in the way. I am 6 feet tall,I wonder how tall the 3520 should be off the floor for somebody that tall?

Casters=http://www.mjvail.com/carrymaster.htm

Re: Mobile base on lathe

Scott C

>Wow, those are some impressive casters. I'm using the ones that Woodcraft sells, rated at 300# each. They've worked out well for my big buffer/flap sander at a total weight of about 500#. Yes, that's rebar in there. I fugure that the natural movement of the iron will be to bow out from the weight, the rebar is there to prevent that. Either way, it can't hurt and it was just laying around rusting anyway.