
SECTION 5: Operations
Overview
This Copy Attachment will produce any number of duplicate spindles from one master profile or template. The advantages provided by this accessory for your wood lathe are readily appar- ent, in terms of consistency and labor savings.
While the Copy Attachment provides a substan- tial aid in recreating spindle profiles, keep in mind that it is designed primarily for rough spindle shaping. Its capacity for detail is limited by the cutter and stylus. Final detailed turning will be best accommodated with the use of
To minimize the need for extensive hand work, we recommend you create profiles with graceful tapers and beads whenever possible.
Important Points
Because
The following are some other important points to consider when using your Copy Attachment:
•To reduce whip and vibration of relatively narrow copy spindles, we recommend oper- ating the longitudinal handwheel with your left hand and backing up the spinning work- piece with your right. DO NOT attempt to grip the workpiece too tightly while it is turn- ing.
•If the cut you are producing is too rough, try increasing the rotation speed of your lathe (not to exceed the maximum recommended speed for the size of material you are turn- ing) and take a lighter cut. See your lathe’s instruction manual for recommended speeds.
•As with any other surfacing operation, we recommend taking multiple passes, rather than trying to remove too much wood all at once. This is much safer and will also result in improved cutting results.
•When making copies, always move the sty- lus so it follows the template or master pro- file “downhill”. Trying to move the stylus “uphill” along the template will cause the sty- lus and cutter to dig into the template and workpiece. See Figure 12 for recommended direction of cuts.
•To avoid unnecessary waste of expensive premium materials, we strongly recommend you turn a test piece before attempting dupli- cation on your finish material. Make adjust- ments as required.
•You can save time during duplication by removing the corners from all of the spindles you plan on creating before activating the Copy Attachment. You will need to make the cuts with a lathe chisel on your tool rest, prior to installing the Copy Attachment.
G2891 Lathe Copy Attachment |