On Jun 20, 1:58*am, Searcher7 wrote:
On Jun 19, 6:41 pm, "DoN. Nichols" wrote:
On 2010-06-19, Searcher7 wrote:
On Jun 18, 5:44 pm, "DoN. Nichols" wrote:
On 2010-06-18, Searcher7 wrote:
...
* * * * Note, BTW, that the smaller the diameter of the workpiece, the
more likely that what sticks out the other end of the spindle will bend
and start to whip.

* * * * The higher the spindle speed, the more likely this is to happen,
too.

* * * * But -- you can do a nice job of constraining the workpiece with
some PVC pipe running from just past the outboard end of the spindle to
the free end of the workpiece which is not too much larger than the
workpiece. *I have two tubes to handle this. *One is a 1-1/2" PVC pipe
which fits in a cradle near the far end and is held down by bungee
cords. *The other is a similar one, except that it has caps on both ends
which were bored on the lathe to be a precise fit on the OD of a much
smaller PVC pipe with that smaller PVC pipe glued into the caps. *This
is used for things as small as 3/16" brass rod.

* * * * When it is spinning, the tip tries to move outward, and the
farther it gets from the center line, the more force. *The PVC pipe
keeps it from getting far enough to be a problem.

* * * * So -- remember to leave room to the left of the spindle for the
long workpieces -- and provisions for supporting a tube to control the
whipping. *If it ever *does* get to whipping, it can be very dangerous.
Also *-- make sure that the lathe is firmly bolted down.

Ok. I read that three times. I think I'll have to wait for the
video. :-)

This is a commercial unit:
http://www.tornos.ch/pd/bl-sbf216-mc.jpg

The lathe is under the curved clear covers. The blue and white machine
constrains the spinning rod and also stores and feeds new ones in as
they are used up. The simpler version DoN described, clearly, could be
a length of pipe on sawhorses.

It would be on the other side of a manual lathe like ours, but I
didn't find a good picture of that.

jsw