CNC Slant Bed Lathe

• John Koenen
• David Walus
• Kelsey Tschetter
• Thomas Quinlan
• Demetrios Avgerinos

CNC lathes are growing in popularity, especially within the maker community. These machines have the capability of cutting a workpiece into specialized parts by programming cutting tool paths into the lathe’s computer which could not be done through manual operation. Lathes are known to craft anything from crankshafts to baseball bats. The traditional lathe has a flat bed lying under the workpiece, which has a tendency to collect debris. This design incorporates a slanted bed of 60 degrees allowing most of the debris to fall down to the bottom of the enclosure for easier collection, as well as, preventing buildup on the cutting path or around the cutting tool. The frame of the slant bed lathe takes a triangular design composed of aluminum because it is both cost effective and a strong material when compared to other metals. This frame serves as the mounting point for the actuators of each axis. A separate steel frame is used for increased rigidity acting as the mounting point for the chuck, spindle, and spindle motor. The focus of this CNC Slant Bed Lathe pertains to precision work on small scale projects. Its design is focused on being small yet functional with an enclosure footprint of 24” x 36”, making the design a good fit for any desktop.