[UPDATE] LATHE FLOATING MOTOR MOUNT

thingiverse

[UPDATE] I've turned a few pieces of wood and have learned a lot. First and foremost, centering is everything. I put a piece of wood on the lathe and with a combination of the speed being too high and the piece being off balance, the motor pulsed too hard and broke the left mount (closest to the spindle). Not to mention breaking the tool rest - totally another story. Anyway, I found that the mount, under IDEAL circumstances, was fine. However, under NORMAL circumstances or worse yet, MY circumstances, it was just too flimsy. The new design is beefed up in all ways and I've put this one through more than the previous and it's just laughed off whatever I threw at it. Taller sides to keep any motor bounce in check. Thicker foot and larger screw holes to help keep everything tight to the table. Angled reinforcements to support the mount well. Slightly higher density. NOTE: It's possible to just use the beefy mount on the spindle side as there are much less stresses on right side, it's really just used to keep the mount from spinning. ----ORIGINAL---- I was lucky enough to get a hand-me-down late 50's era Craftsman lathe from my father. It had EVERYTHING except the mounts to hold the motor. DOH! Five minutes or less to design and a handful on the printer and I was in business. The way the motor works, there is almost no back pressure on the mounts, they're really just there to keep the motor from going anywhere on its own. A couple of screws into the bench top and I was all set. So, "If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire....." No, wait, if you have an old lathe and need motor mounts, just download these. So much cheaper than trying to hire the A-Team - but arguably much less cool! "Let's stay safe out there..."