After a wonderful reunion with old Navy squadron buddies and unpacking, I did get a little work done on the lathe duplicator.

The front trim router bracket needed to finished so it would fit around the router housing protrusions.

This is in the reverse position. the "cut outs" face in the opposite direction.

Next the brackets needed to be attached to the movable mounting plate. The brackets were set in place and holes marked on the plate. Then the holes were drilled and 1/4 x 20 T-nuts installed.

I used some 1/4 x 20 all thread to make the long bolts needed to attach everything together. The nuts will be replaced with shop made handles when I can get back to the lathe and do some turning.

The next step was to finish up fastening the duplicator to the lathe bed. This involved aligning the axes of the duplicator with the  that of the lathe. The vertical axis was designed into the rails and duplicator bed. Bringing the top of the duplicator bed flush with the lathe bed was all that was required.  The parallel axis needed to be set by adjusting the duplicator end mounting position and tightening the bolts.

Using a square, I rolled the "sled" along the length of the lathe ad adjusted the position of the duplicator until everything was parallel. Then securely tightened the end mounting bolts.

At this point, I realized this was going to become a tedious process if the duplicator was removed and replaced often.. After some thought, I came up with an alignment key system. A piece of hardwood cut to precisely fit between the ways of the lathe and the attached to the end mounting brackets.

Shown here, glued in place. It still needs a few screws. One of these alignment keys are one each end of the duplicator.

As "Norm" would say- "we're gaining on it now!"

The final major assembly is the arm that follows the profile of the part to be duplicated. I really wanted the "follower point" to be aligned with the router cutting tool center. I felt this would make setups easier. What I have so far is what Microsoft calls "V 1.0". Sold to the public and use them as the testers. My biggest concern right now is whether or not the arm assembly will flex/shift during operation. I also realized that Poplar dowels and Oak dowels are not the same diameter- regardless of what the UPC code label says.

The follower arms need to have hardware. I am still trying to determine the best method to interface between the arm and the actual profile of the pattern piece. The young man who made the original used various sized bearings. I'm not sure that will provide enough detail for some of the things I turn. Any suggestions for this assembly/area will be greatly appreciated!

I think I'm going to add fold down legs to the front of the duplicator. This will ensure the assembly doesn't droop during operation.

Hopefully, I'll have this finished by next Wednesday.

Safe Turning!

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time Traveler and Purveyor of the Universe's Finest Custom Rolling Pins!

I'm not a "turner" but this is interesting how you're making this.

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Harry Brink
Bulldog Woodworking
Montana

I am following along very intently.

This is purely thinking while typing and that is dangerous. Is there a way to put something like a drill chuck on the part that will follow the patter, then you could change out the point to something like a flat blade or something more blunt depending on what you are turning.

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com
“Don’t make something unless it is both necessary and useful; but if it is both necessary and useful, don’t hesitate to make it beautiful.†Shaker Saying

I like that idea, John! Thanks!!

John Moody said:

I am following along very intently.

This is purely thinking while typing and that is dangerous. Is there a way to put something like a drill chuck on the part that will follow the patter, then you could change out the point to something like a flat blade or something more blunt depending on what you are turning.

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com
“Don’t make something unless it is both necessary and useful; but if it is both necessary and useful, don’t hesitate to make it beautiful.†Shaker Saying

Wow, I am just glad it made enough sense to understand it.

 

 

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John Moody

Site Administrator

http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

 

Just returned from my semi-regular walk- where I do a lot of thinking. I thought about maybe getting a little chuck from a Dremel Tool and mounting it on the end. I'll have to check the max opening of the chuck.

John Moody said:

Wow, I am just glad it made enough sense to understand it.

 

 

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John Moody

Site Administrator

http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

 

Yea, that might be even better. A really small chuck like that.

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John Moody

Site Administratorhttp://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

“Don’t make something unless it is both necessary and useful; but if it is both necessary and useful, don’t hesitate to make it beautiful.†Shaker Saying