My New Laser for Hollowing Rig

[Ed Morgano]

I've had the parts for about a week and finally got them installed today. Here are some pictures. It seems to work very smoothly when I move the arm. I haven't actually used it yet so I don't know how much vibration I will have when I start cutting. I'll let you know.

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[Rick Markham]

That's super cool Ed!

[Tim Thiebaut]

Without a doubt you have the coolest lathe on SMC! All of these add-ons you keep making push it that much farther into the coolest ranking.

[David DeCristoforo]

Well Ed, I am very relieved to see that you did not attempt to make your boring bar out of wood! That steel looks almost out of place surrounded by all that wood!

[Ed Morgano]

Well Ed, I am very relieved to see that you did not attempt to make your boring bar out of wood! That steel looks almost out of place surrounded by all that wood!

David,
If I could have figured out a way, it would have been wood.....I'm just not that smart.

[Baxter Smith]

Congrats on getting it up and (almost) running. I will be interested to hear how it works out.

[David E Keller]

That's cool, Ed! I would think some kind of corner brace would help stiffen the laser a bit. It may not be necessary... Just thinkin' out loud.

[Steve Kubien]

Ok, somehow it seems like cheating or sacrilege or something to put a laser on a wooden hollowing rig, to be used on a wooden lathe. :) Still pretty cool though!

[Josh Bowman]

Ed, that looks great! Not only are you saving yourself some money you look like you having fun. Also your skills really make the equipment look professionally made. You'll really enjoy the laser. I set my laser just beyond the cutting edge (which has to be changed as I hollow different angles) to the thickness I want the piece. When the laser dot falls off the piece, I know I've got the right thickness.

[Bill Bulloch]

Looks great...I feel sure it will work. You give a new meaning to the term "Wood Shop". Who would have ever thunk a wood lathe would holdup to the stress.

[John Keeton]

Ed, you will have to give us an update after using it. I would think the wood will absorb the vibration quite well. Neat setup!!

[Steve Schlumpf]

Looking forward to hearing how well ti works for you! I agree with David's suggestion of using a corner brace to help stead the laser - if needed.

[Ed Morgano]

I just finished my first hollow form using the laser. It worked great. I managed to hollow it out with about a 1/16" wall without cutting through. All and all I'm very pleased with the way it worked. It has a little up and down vibration but the laser doesn't move on the piece.
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