Harbor Freight 8x12 lathe converted to CNC

Check out my new site http://www.cnccreation.com as I will be posting stuff weekly on my ventures into cnc'ing. I will also show how I converted my machines.

This is another test piece, I only had a stub of metal to play with so I created this stubby chess piece. Sorry about the shavings spinning on the chuck but I got tired of stopping MACH 3 and trying it get it to resume the program at the same spot. I accually had to start the whole program over everytime. I better learn this or I might go back to EMC because of that and I also had less problems with my g-code and the amount of editing I had to do.

I also had to shorten the tool because of the vibration I was getting, it was real loud and the finish sucked before I changed the tool location.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• CNC
• lathe
• harbor
• freight
• lathemaster
• 8x12
• 8x14
• stepper
• motor

[CnCCreation]

You guys are right. Generally, stuff should be turned toward the chuck. That is where you can take big cuts since the pressure is on the holder. Cutting it this way can be done if light feeds are taken and that is the reason why I am going slow.

With CNC this is safer because of the accuracy of a computer. I would not recommend doing this manually as you can dig too far in and allow the tool to grab the work thus flying out or stalling the motor.

Thanks for your inputs.

[HapFletcher]

lathe converted to CNC..? How do you do that?....I was looking at the Harbor Freight 8x12 lathe today but how can you make it CNC?..I'd like to see that video

[CnCCreation]

@HapFletcher The HF 8x12 is a great lathe that towers over the 7" ones.

This is the same machine as the Lathemaster 8x14 one. Get a 20% off coupon in a lowrider/import mag and buy for a bargain. I bought it on sale and used the coupon for a super deal.

What I did was buy a stepper motor kit and made my own brackets. You need a mill to make a lot of the things if you plan on doing it yourself.

Check out my new website for info on converting.

I have added it to the description.

[AutosportLabs]

Hi, Great video! We also have the 8x12 lathe, and want to convert to CNC I checked the link for your site and it was dead.

Do you have the info posted elsewhere? We'd really like to see details of how you did the conversion. You can email at:

brent (@@) autosportlabs (dot) com

[JohnGrimsmo]

Mr Ballistic has a really good point, I always turn stuff towards the chuck and that's what I see on 99% of lathe vids on here too. Head towards the chuck, crank up the RPM's and feed faster, that looks like 2-3 inches per minute, I turn aluminum at 10-20 ipm on a slightly bigger Grizzly 10x20 1hp lathe, always at my max 2400rpm unless the workpiece is bigger than 3". Looks great though! Have fun with the machine, Mach3 will grow on you.

[russtuff]

you can buy inserts that will turn your shavings into chips.

cool video.

[MrBallistic31]

just to let you know thats a quick way to get your teeth knocked out. It is allways wise to machine into the chuck you have a good chance of pulling that stock right out of the chuck and smashing your face in. safety first lol