Hello All,
I'm a mechanical engineer by trade, but I run a low key side business with my CNC router. I wanted to add a lathe to my CNC router but they were crazy expensive, so I decided to build my own. I took a Rikon midi-lathe and adapted a stepper motor to it and integrated with my CNC. It works quite well and I made it where I could switch belts and use the Rikon's original motor. This all happened 5-6 years ago. My sons wanted to start making pens a couple of years ago, so we bought a cheap 3 piece lathe tool set. We made several pens and then I started making a few small bowls. I'm limited to about a 9 inch diameter on the Rikon due to how I mounted it on my CNC.
After a few of the small bowls, I started getting hooked on bowl turning. I finally found a used Powermatic 3520A a few months ago. Wow, what a difference from the Rikon. I've got into some 18" diameter bowls now. I've been only rough turning so far. I have several rough bowls almost dry, so I'm looking forward to finally doing some finish turning on some bigger bowls.
I joined a local turning club and found a great mentor that lives in the next town over. I've learned a lot and still have a lot to learn. Oh yea, I've also spent a small fortune so far!
I'm a mechanical engineer by trade, but I run a low key side business with my CNC router. I wanted to add a lathe to my CNC router but they were crazy expensive, so I decided to build my own. I took a Rikon midi-lathe and adapted a stepper motor to it and integrated with my CNC. It works quite well and I made it where I could switch belts and use the Rikon's original motor. This all happened 5-6 years ago. My sons wanted to start making pens a couple of years ago, so we bought a cheap 3 piece lathe tool set. We made several pens and then I started making a few small bowls. I'm limited to about a 9 inch diameter on the Rikon due to how I mounted it on my CNC.
After a few of the small bowls, I started getting hooked on bowl turning. I finally found a used Powermatic 3520A a few months ago. Wow, what a difference from the Rikon. I've got into some 18" diameter bowls now. I've been only rough turning so far. I have several rough bowls almost dry, so I'm looking forward to finally doing some finish turning on some bigger bowls.
I joined a local turning club and found a great mentor that lives in the next town over. I've learned a lot and still have a lot to learn. Oh yea, I've also spent a small fortune so far!
