A lathe with indexing that won't break the bank?

[coreymsnow]

Hi folks,

I'm doing some homework on getting a watchmaker's lathe, and it's clear I have a lot to learn. But I know one goal: I want to be able to fabricate wheels, which would require an indexing capability.

I know how to use large lathes- like, giant metal lathes- but my experience is a few decades old now (but you never forget the smell of the metal cutting oil).

So I'm looking to learn anew, and have a goal to get to a point where I can fabricate some basic watch parts. I also have no specific timeframe and want to do this right, so I'll be patient and learn what I need to before spending the money.

I know I'm not going to get anything for a pittance, but I'm also not really able to put together the scratch for a $5-$10k lathe. What's out there for a hobbyist that can either handle some fabrication out of the box or can be relatively easily made to do so?

Thanks!

 

[caseback]

This thread might be interesting for you:

 

[nevenbekriev]

As the question is about indexing, see this video.

The quality is bad, but You can see how my setup for wheel cutting works and how the indexing is done. The index disk is just printed on paper.

Otherwise, as it is seen, I use minilathe for the purpose of watchmaking and I find it more convinient than regular watchmakers lathe

Edited 18 hours ago by nevenbekriev

[Dell]

My suggestion would be as you are in USA to take a look at Sherline because they are in USA & still in business & you can not only buy the lathe but also a milling attachment & a manual or computer controlled indexer either separately or as a complete kit.

I don’t have Sherline or have anything to do with Sherline but a lot of people doing watch & or clocks use them to do some very nice work , have a look at Jerry Kieffer on NAWCC.

https://www.google.com/search?q=mb.nawcc.org+Jerry+Kieffer&rlz=1C9BKJA_enGB1138GB1138&oq=mb.nawcc.org+Jerry+Kieffer&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigAdIBCTI4NjI2ajBqN6gCE7ACAeIDBBgBIF_xBf8MHBWZkt3l&hl=en-GB&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8
Dell

[JohnR725]

13 hours ago, coreymsnow said:

watchmaker's lathe, and it's clear I have a lot to learn. But I know one goal: I want to be able to fabricate wheels, which would require an indexing capability.

Often times the belief is when you're making small parts you Need a small lathe like a watchmaker's lathe to make small parts. But for gear cutting its oftentimes better to have something bigger. Then realistically you might end up with several things not just one machine for everything.

13 hours ago, coreymsnow said:

can be relatively easily made to do so

Depends upon your machining skills and the equipment you have. This is where having a slightly bigger equipment allows you to make all kinds of things where if you have a tiny equipment you can not really make bigger stuff it's very awkward. Then indexing is all kinds of ways to do indexing a very popular way is with the stepping motor a worm gear like at the link below

https://www.ebay.com/itm/191714031261

What's interesting with something like this is you can micro step at end up with basically a infinite quantity of indexing. But you still have to build some things.

For instance here's an interesting YouTube channel and an interesting video. His watchmaker's lathe is a little bigger than what I'm typically used to for watchmakers lathe. As a rather interesting cross slide and notice he makes just about everything. Then he gets the indexing something purchased surplus but it's basically just a worm gear stepping motor his has way more hands-on control but it does the exact same thing as the one up above. Then if you read the description of the video is in a shop of creative people to build all kinds of nifty things like the stepper motor controller etc.

 

 

 

[LittleWatchShop]

I own too many WW lathes, as well as two sherline lathes and a sherline mill with a cnc indexing rotary table. The majority of my experience is using the WW lathes to make staffs, screws, and stems.

Recently, I have been experimenting making a pinion on the mill using the indexing table. It works. So, if you want to cut wheels, get the Sherline mill and indexing table...imho

[coreymsnow]

Thank you all for the tips and insights. I'm looking carefully at the Sherline lathes with a milling attachment. I need to figure out exactly what I'd need to get in terms of the base lathe and attachments to be able to fabricate basic parts and learn how to fabricate some of the less basic ones- like a cannon pinion.

Thank you again.

[LittleWatchShop]

I will post some pictures later

[nevenbekriev]

3 hours ago, coreymsnow said:

...how to fabricate some of the less basic ones- like a cannon pinion...

Yes, this is not a basic part.

Here are some pictures of making one

 

[LittleWatchShop]

56 minutes ago, nevenbekriev said:

Yes, this is not a basic part.

Here are some pictures of making one

 

Indeed. I would not attempt one.

Here is my messy Sherline setup