It was Lucien I. Yoeman that patented this back during WW1, not WW2, for shell turning. http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/13335163/1942903983/name/MM++lathe+How+to+Build21a.pdf has a picture of the lathe and team that built it. I found his patents on patents.google.com some time ago. Good but not overly enlightening reading.
No reason not to use this technique to build just about any machinery that could use a very stable base (lathe, mill, laser cutter, plasma cutter, etc) The cement is great because it doesn't take rocket science to get a stable base that hold together. A friend sells chemical additives for putting in concrete to change it's properties but for most projects a simple 1,2,3 mix or sacked concrete mix works well. To make the concrete stronger, use less water, rather than more. My suggestion is to build one (or more) as an experiment. Most of what is needed doesn't need steel reinforcing, but putting it is doesn't hurt. A local manufacturer makes steps for fire stairs, he puts in bolts and leaves the threads exposed about an inch. He uses stainless steel to ensure they don't rust. So if you want to cast in some attachments for long term use, stainless is a good option. If it is just for use for a 'few years' galvanized or cement covered is OK. ... Just my thoughts. ><> ... Jack Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart... Colossians 3:23 On Sun, Nov 13, 2011 at 8:46 PM, Chris Reynolds <c_reynolds2...@yahoo.com> wrote: > I belong to that group, there is some interesting information there. I was > under the impression that during WWII using concrete in casting large machine > parts was used because of lack of raw materials, and fairly common. I've > always thought it would be fun to experiment with this technique, not only > for a lathe but for a mill as well. > > > Chris > > >> There is a yahoo group re-developing making a lathe from concrete. >> They are baseing their stuff on a guy that made lathes for turning >> large projectiles for the Navy. He had a couple of patents. >> Basically he had a jig to hold his metal pieces that define the >> critical dimensions. He poured the lathe, waited a couple of days, >> un-did the forms. installed the jig and some metal pieces, then >> poured a low temp metal alloy he developed (formula is lost) that >> didn't shrink or expand when cooled to hold the metal pieces in place >> in the concrete. >> >> Anyway, email me directly if you want to get the link to the group (I >> just don't have it at hand or I would put it here). >> >> ... Jack > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > RSA(R) Conference 2012 > Save $700 by Nov 18 > Register now > http://p.sf.net/sfu/rsa-sfdev2dev1 > _______________________________________________ > Emc-users mailing list > Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ RSA(R) Conference 2012 Save $700 by Nov 18 Register now http://p.sf.net/sfu/rsa-sfdev2dev1 _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
