lathe wanted

[Guest]

Hi everyone. This is my first visit and I need help/advice and from what I read you seem to be a helpful and knowledgable lot which is why I joined of course (let's hope a little sycophancy goes a long way!!!). I am a very experienced wood turner and make chess sets for a living. Up until now they have been in wood but I have just designed a very simple metal set, so I need a metalworking lathe capable of producing them. Bearing in mind a single set has 34 pieces (two queens for each side in case you are wondering), even a run of a hundred sets comes to a lot of pieces. The maximum diameter I need to turn is going to be about 20mm, the maximum piece height about 30mm. Material - mainly aluminium.

Can anyone help with what kind of machine I should be looking for to do this kind of work.

My thanks in advance.

[Guest]

Firstly a warm welcome to the forum. there are one or two of use here with a bit of lathe experience so plenty of help on hand should you require it.

Have a look through the "Engineering and Tooling" section of the "Modelling" forum where you will find a few usefull bits and bobs regarding lathes.

Have a look in particular at this link:

http://www.scale-models.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3974

Where you will find this very subject discussed.

How about some pictures of your chess sets? What metals are you going to use for the new sets? I can't remember seeing a metal set before, should be quite interesting.

[Guest]

thanks for your advice. I'm not surprised you haven't seen metal sets but there are some out there. My problem is that I am doing something which no-one else has done before. I'm waiting for the patent to come through at the moment. When I have a set to show you I would be pleased to post a photo.

[Guest]

You didn't say where you are so obviously the best suppliers of machinery will be quite dependant on your location.

[Guest]

Hi Chess and welcome.

What do you plan for the make of the Horses?

George

[Guest]

Hi Bunkerbarge, I'm in the UK (I would tell you I'm in the county of Shropshire but since not even most Brits know where that is it probably wouldn't help).

GeorgePapa, I've got a rather neat little solution to the horses, though they were rather tricky. They are based on the designs I have already done for other sets (see my website at www.thechessworkshop.com and you will get sone idea of how the trick is to be achieved.)

thank you both for your responses.

[Guest]

If you are in the UK I would definately suggest that you go along to one of the model engineering exhibitions that do the rounds, my favourite being Harrogate but unfortunately that is in May.

There are others though with a big one coming up on the 7th to the 9th September at Ascot Racecourse. There you will get the chance to see a great number of model machinery at the same time and under one roof. You can compare to your hearts content and probably get yourself a good deal into the bargain as they all want to justify thier overheads for the show and you get the chance to barter!

Failing that there are also Model Engineering Magazines, all of which carry adverts for the big suppliers, but you can't beat going and having a play with the machines on a stand.

[Guest]

If you are making these chess sets for a living - i'd suggest a computer controlled lathe. Otherwise you'll be winding handles all day...

Something like this on Ebay:

Item No. 170133672018

Or the cnc conversions made by Syil

Item No. 320144108850

Failing that add a Digital Readout to a conventional manual lathe so you can use Human Powered Numeric Control.

At the School I work we used to use an old Boxford TCL160 Benchtop CNC Lathe, the kids used to make chess pieces on that from Brass and Aluminium with quite pleasing results.

I'm sure a lot of the members on these forums know where Shropshire is - being the birthplace of the industrial revolution. We have a lot of engineers and live steam fans on here! It's a great place!

[Guest]

thank you both. I shall certainly go to harrogate irrespective of whether I have bought a lathe by then but I find the problem with manufacturers is that they try to sell you what they want to sell rather than what fits your needs best. The first place I went started showing me lathes at $30,000 upwards, which I would find hard to justify.

Glad someone knows where shropshire is alan. I certainly take your point about cnc machines and this would probably be my favourite. However, as I understand it, they only really come into their own if the rod feed is also automatic otherwise you stand and watch while it does its thing then have to put another piece in so although there is less handle turning, it is still very labour intensive. Having said that, I charge less for my labour than the commercial turners I have been to do so cnc may still be the way to go.

thank you for your ebay references, I shall go and check them out immediately.

[Guest]

Hello thechessworkshop

There is a model engineering show at Warwick:

Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition

12 - 16 October

http://www.meridienneexhibitions.co.uk/html/midlands_model_engineering_exh.html

if thats of any use

Regards Tony

[Guest]

I hate talented people too tony. I have to work too damn hard just to keep up lol.

[Guest]

Hi,

You are not much more than an hour away from Chester UK, if you just call in they are very helpful and not pushy. Ask for details about the lathes you are interested in and they will print you out a manual. You don't need to be going to the shows for a bargain, they will usually haggle while you are there if you want to place an order.

The salesman to talk to is Paul Griffiths, very helpful young man.

http://www.chesteruk.net/store/lathes.htm

John

[Guest]

great information bogstandard, my thanks to you.