Looking for custom made cnc for turning stave drum shells

[thomas prusak]

Hello, I am looking for an individual or company that can make a cnc mill for turning the inside and outside of stave drum shells. We’re currently using our flat bed cnc with spiral cutter head but are limited in shell height due to the gantry height. We are making complete drum sets and need to be able to turn 8” x 6” deep up to bass drum shells that are 16” deep x 24” dia.
Can someone recommended an individual or a company that is capable of making this machine? It technically only needs to be 3 axis. Thank you

[Kevin Jenness]

Contact Gary Campbell through this site. If he can't make what you want he will be able to point you in the right direction.

[David Buchhauser]

Contact Gary Campbell through this site. If he can't make what you want he will be able to point you in the right direction.

I agree - Gary has a reputation for creating specialized one-off machines.
David

[thomas prusak]

Thank you Kevin and David!

[richard newman]

Wondering if a patternmakers or modified metal lathe might be a better solution? Something with a big swing and short bed. Turning wood, doesn't have to be very massive. Maybe headstock and toolpost on risers to get swing. The turning would go so fast you might not even need cnc, unless you're into serious production.

This relevant to me as I make OEM banjo rims, using a big Oliver manual patternmakers lathe (24" swing, 96" cc) to turn them. Works great, but takes up a lot of space. Looking like I will be moving soon to a smaller shop, need a much shorter machine, but one that is as easy to work with as the Oliver.

[Richard Coers]

Have you planned out a budget? Custom machines will be really pricey!

[David Buchhauser]

If he has been in touch with Gary Campbell, then I would expect he has a pretty good idea of the pricing for a custom "turn key" build.
David

[Maurice Mcmurry]

I am trying to get educated on CNC. It may be beyond my ability. I wonder if an analogue duplicating lathe could work for drum shells? It might be several thousands of dollars less expensive?
I like drums, Do you have any images?

[Jim Becker]

Maurice, it might be able to be made to work, but for a production operation like the OP has, it would likely be cumbersome.

[Maurice Mcmurry]

It seems like a 1 axis problem?

[Bill George]

It seems like a 1 axis problem?

It might be worthwhile to look into just modifying the Z if thats all it needs.

[thomas prusak]

Thanks to everyone for your comments and suggestions. We’ve teamed up with Gary on this one and we think we have an excellent solution. Thanks again.

[Ron Selzer]

Thomas, Please post pictures or video once you get it worked out. Wondered how you were coming along with the drum making
Thanks again for the tour of your shop when I was there to pick up the sander
Ron

[David Buchhauser]

Thanks to everyone for your comments and suggestions. We’ve teamed up with Gary on this one and we think we have an excellent solution. Thanks again.

Thomas - I will be looking forward to seeing what you and Gary come up with. And some photos of course.
Thanks,
David

[Jim Becker]

Yes, I agree. Once your custom machine is "in the wild", please come back with a thread that gives us the fifty cent tour!

[thomas prusak]

Thank you all for the feedback. We have a solution in the works !