Please take a moment to visit my other pages for: Stirling Engine Plans

          and my page for Mini-Mill CNC Conversion Plans

Mini-Lathe CNC Plans
Plans To Retrofit A Sieg Industrial Built Mini-Lathe Model C2 and C3 To CNC
Plans cover conversion of 7 x 10, 7 x 12 and 7 x 14 Mini-lathes
Plans designed by Ron Steele
Mini-Lathe CNC Plans
Plans To Retrofit A Sieg Industrial Built Mini-Lathe Model C2 and C3 To CNC
Plans cover conversion of 7 x 10, 7 x 12 and 7 x 14 Mini-lathes
Plans designed by Ron Steele
Features these plans offer:
1. Well designed motor mounting and motion control
2. Easy to machine components and straight forward instructions for attaching steppers or servos to a 7 x 10, 7 x 12 or 7 x 14 Mini-Lathe. Project completion time about 30 to 40 hours.  Project mechanical hardware and material cost is between $180 and $220.
Mini-Lathes are carried by the following tool distributors:
Cummins model #5278
Harbor Freight model #33684
Grizzly Tool model #G8688
Homier model #03911
Micro-Mark #82710
3. Retained manual function of both the X and Z axis including the carriage power feed allows for greater utility of your lathe and guarantees unsurpassed usefulness over a strictly automated lathe.
4. Plans accommodate either nema 23 or the larger nema 34 motors to drive the lathe axis.
5. Hinged plastic guard for added operator safety.
6. Parts and materials list including sources and part numbers make securing the required  hardware an easy task.  Several sources for PC driven controllers, software and motors are also included in the plans
7. Spindle speed and location sensor option for tying the spindle and automated axis movements together for operations like automated thread cutting.

This page was last updated on: September 8, 2008

The plans cost $49.95 (US Currency)
Kits cost $425.00 (US Currency)


To order the Mini-Lathe CNC conversion Plans or kits
please click the "GO TO ORDER PAGE" button.


                        
A converted Harbor Freight Mini-Lathe
These plans help you to save time and money by providing clear and complete instructions on how to modify a small, readily available lathe into a much more valuable CNC machine.  The plans include everything you need to securely mount two axis drive motors to your Mini-Lathe and the Z axis motion control scheme.  The lathe can still perform as a manual lathe but may also be used as a CNC.  Modifications to the lathe itself are few for the motion control portion of the install.  Three drilled and tapped holes need to be added to the tail end of the lathe.  For the spindle sensor installation two drilled and tapped holes will need to be added to existing parts of the lathe to mount the sensor and sensor flag.  The plans contain 32 color pages of detailed drawings, exploded view assembly drawings, instructions and lots of pictures.  There is even a page that shows how to make a quick and dirty bending break to help form the polycarbonate guard.  The total cost of the hardware to build this CNC retrofit is between $180 to $220.  Time required to fabricate the parts, modify the lathe and assemble the retrofit to the lathe is approximately 30 to 40 hours.  The builder who takes on this project should have at least a basic to medium skill level with operating milling machines and lathes.  All machined parts can be manufactured on a 7 x 10 Mini-Lathe or larger lathe and a Mini-Mill or larger milling machine.

The plans do not include information on how to build a stepper or servo controller but several sources for these items are provided.  Average cost of the electronic, software and motors to drive the lathe will be about $600.  You can do it for less if you are willing to assemble some of it yourself and shop for surplus items. 
Please take a moment to visit my other pages for: Stirling Engine Plans

          and my page for Mini-Mill CNC Conversion Plans

Steele Company, LLC