- #1
OCR
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Can You Turn a CUBE on a LATHE?
- Thread starter OCR
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Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the feasibility and methods of turning a cube on a lathe, exploring various machining techniques and setups. Participants share insights on the practicality of this task, as well as comparisons to machining other shapes like spheres, with references to videos and personal experiences.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Debate/contested
- Technical explanation
Main Points Raised
- Some participants suggest that turning a cube on a lathe is possible but requires multiple mountings for each face.
- One participant describes using a 4 jaw chuck to hold the cube and face it, while noting that a 3 jaw chuck might also be used depending on the initial shape.
- Another participant mentions the complexity of setting up a cube for accurate angled corners if clamped to the cross slide.
- Several participants reference a video by machiningmomentsbrad as evidence that it is possible to machine a cube on a lathe.
- There are claims that machining a ball on a milling machine is similar to machining a cube, but with more remountings required.
- One participant humorously discusses the absurdity of the topic, questioning the nature of the joke and the definitions involved in machining processes.
- Another participant points out that generating a full sphere on a milling machine requires multiple setups, contrasting it with the potential for a single setup for a tow ball.
- Some participants engage in playful banter regarding the definitions of lathes and mills, suggesting that the distinction may be more about convenience than strict definitions.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express differing views on the practicality and methods of turning a cube on a lathe, with no consensus reached on the best approach or the seriousness of the topic.
Contextual Notes
The discussion includes various assumptions about the capabilities of lathes and milling machines, as well as the definitions of machining processes, which remain unresolved.
- #2
jedishrfu
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I guess this is a late April Fools Day joke.
- #3
Baluncore
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Yes.OCR said:
But it will require mounting six times, once for each face.
1. You can hold the cube in a 4 jaw chuck, then face the end with a tool in the cross slide. Since the centre is not important, depending on what shape you start with, you might hold the work in a 3 jaw chuck.
2. You could clamp the cube to the cross slide, then face it with a cutter held in the chuck. But that would be more difficult to set up for accurate angled corners.
The example shown in the video shows multiple passes of a fly cutter. That suggests it was clamped to the cross slide, but more probably faced in a small milling machine.
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DaveC426913
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Not sure if Baluncore is deadpan riffing on joke, orBaluncore said:
What I saw was: A lathe. With a cube on it. Being turned.
- #5
Baluncore
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Repeatably, again and again.DaveC426913 said:
The example cube that turned up on the lathe was not turned up in the lathe.
How could I miss the opportunity to deliver deadpan, a couple of other obtuse ways it could be done, but in, not on the lathe. Can a lathe have obtuse ways, or is it only me ?
- #6
DaveC426913
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Thought so.Baluncore said:
- #7
wirenut
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Yes, it is possible. See "machining a cube on a lathe" by machiningmomentsbrad on youtube.
- #8
DaveC426913
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Yes, we know.wirenut said:
- #9
sophiecentaur
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It’s not as convenient to produce a ball on a vertical milling machine.
- #10
Baluncore
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But it is very easy to turn a ball on the bed of a vertical milling machine.sophiecentaur said:
A ball or a cube can be produced pretty much anywhere a magician turns up to remove the cover.wirenut said:
- #11
DaveC426913
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Machining a ball on a milling machine is functionally identical to machining a cube on a milling machine, except the number of remountings required is somewhat larger.
- #12
jedishrfu
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Here's a video on making a jig that can move the cutting tool in a circular manner.
- #13
Baluncore
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A tow ball can be made in one setting.DaveC426913 said:
At most, only one remount is needed for a full sphere.
Mount the workpiece in an indexed head, with axis at a slope to the bed, or head tilted.
A single point cutter, offset by slightly less than the ball radius is mounted in the spindle to cut a circle on the ball surface.
While spindle turns cutter, slowly rotate the index head until you have a sphere.
A single point cutter, offset by slightly less than the ball radius is mounted in the spindle to cut a circle on the ball surface.
While spindle turns cutter, slowly rotate the index head until you have a sphere.
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- #14
Baluncore
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Pictures help explain the geometry of generating a sphere in a milling machine.
https://www.ctemag.com/news/articles/generating-spherical-surfaces
https://www.ctemag.com/news/articles/generating-spherical-surfaces
- #15
sophiecentaur
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Some interesting (and typically PF) responses here. 
I hope you all enjoyed that bit of nonsense.
It's largely a matter for definition, imo. If you put a morse 3 taper lathe chuck into the spindle of my toy vertical milling machine (and lay it on its side?), you've got yourself a lathe, afair. It could be argued that the workpiece rotates in a lathe and the cutters rotate in a mill - hence my use of the word "convenient".
I hope you all enjoyed that bit of nonsense.It's largely a matter for definition, imo. If you put a morse 3 taper lathe chuck into the spindle of my toy vertical milling machine (and lay it on its side?), you've got yourself a lathe, afair. It could be argued that the workpiece rotates in a lathe and the cutters rotate in a mill - hence my use of the word "convenient".