MultiMachine

The MultiMachine is an accurate all-purpose machine tool that can be used as a metal or wood lathe, end mill, horizontal mill, drill press, wood or metal saw or sander, surface grinder and sheet metal "spinner". It can be built by a mechanic using just common hand tools. For machine construction, electricity can be replaced with "elbow grease" and all the necessary material can come from discarded vehicle parts and steel bar.

Quick build order

1. Use pipe, hacksaw and drill bits plus found wood to make a Cole drill
2. Cole Drill lets you put holes in metal
3. Putting holes in metal plus other wood gives you the ability to build a 'bootstrap' wood lathe or a temporary lathe
4. Use the wood lathe to make parts for making a metal working lathe, knowing that the wood will wear out quickly, but at least you can run it long enough to get to the metal lathe
5. Use the metal lathe to do the machining you have to do to get an MM running
6. Experience total happiness and joy

Two block lathe

If you have do some grinding of the surface where lathe ways are to be sit, some special leveling of these must be done since the two blocks have not the exact same height.So, you must have a long very straight surface to face them and then do all necessary alignment and fix them together.Of course this can be done by reversing the two blocks and face them on a surface like a long surface machined marble or something like that.
When all this will be done, then you can reverse them , shim and level the two block to the final lathe base and fix them permanently. I insist to this, since even a small step of 0.1mm between the two blocks, can provocate a disaster after a little time with vibrations during normal lathe work.

Tools needed

This list is not complete - but should be seen as a start. Some tools might be exchanged for others.

• Layout tools
  • tape measure
  • a cheap (digital) caliper
  • square 12in one
  • scribe
  • center punch
  • hammer

• Wrenches
  • A set of combination wrenches
  • A set of socket wrenches
  • Allen wrenches
• Tap holders(tap wrench)
• Taps to fit what size bolts are in you machine
• Something to drill holes
  • A drill press is best
  • A hand drill (at least with a 3/8 drill size)
  • Some drills for the size of the holes you need to drill.

• a small drilling vise
• a couple of light hammers
• a lot of various sized screws
• a couple of good stable bases more that 60 cm height
• a large piece of granite
• some pieces of square wood 50X50mm 40-60 cm long
• an arc welding machine and related welding rods, and welding mask
• some rope 2-3 meters long
• a lot of VD40
• 2-3 liters of diesel to clean the blocks
• some metallic spatulas
• some chisels , files, scarpers
• a mini 7X10 lathe is of big help
• some metal scarp
• a couple of leather glove
• an angle grinder
• eyes protective glasses

Direction of turning (spindle)

When you build your machine the shaft must turn in direction to keep the chuck tight against the shoulder on the spindle. If the machine has a normal right hand thread on the spindle,when you look at it it should be turning conterclockwise.
This is lookin at it on the chuck mounting end.

A machine with a threaded shaft the chuck is the same as a nut on a bolt.
If you turn a bolt in a nut the wrong direction it loosen instead of tighteing up.

Tip when buying a spinde

From a safety perspective a cam lock chuck can spin in either direction without problems and if you need to purchase a chuck they are pretty much equal in cost to a direct mounting threaded chuck.

External links

• The main discussion(s)/documentation around this concept is at a yahoo group