I hope if put this post in the right place – it seems the most appropriate forum to me.

I need a replacement component made for an old small (12"&nbsp lathe. It's a new mandrel with a different nose thread). So it's a small component but includes a small section of screw cutting and internal morse taper, which I am unable to do with the facilities (and expertise) I have.

I'm looking for some advice on whether there is an "accepted" (or recommended) way of finding out if it's the sort of thing someone would be prepared to help with. Or, indeed whether it's a job that's too big (in complexity rather than size terms!) to expect help with.

I'm also going to do a bit of googling to see if I come up with any suitable commercial services that aren't prohibitively expensive but thought it would be worth asking here as well.

Andy

Edited By Andy_H on 13/09/2023 16:33:13

Ah, I entirely see your point and of course the unintentional ambiguity in my post. Apologies.

So, the lathe (a Flexispeed) is 12" between centres. The part I want to replace (the mandrel) is about 5" long and would be produced from 0.75" diameter steel.

I would, of course, expect to produce a proper drawing. But I think another point I perhaps failed to explain in my original posting was I am not ready with all the precise details yet (I am working on that) but was instead simply trying to gague whether this is it's the sort of thing that would be deemed acceptable to seek help with or, to be put it bluntly, be looked upon as a damned cheek!

Andy

Yes I do.

In fact I have always referred to it as a spindle but having seen it referred to in several other posts as a mandrel used it here.

Your question got my curiosity working though wondering how the two terms differ which led me to this definition:

a usually tapered or cylindrical axle, spindle, or arbor inserted into a hole in a piece of work to support it during machining

So my take on this is that, although a mandrel can be a spindle, the distinction is that it's something used with a workpiece, whereas I was referring to the machine not a workpiece – so should have used the term spindle!

Andy

A good suggestion thanks.

I've already made the enquiry today and already have an answer. Although both are 0.5" it is not a suitable replacement. Although at the price I'm rather relieved it's not an option!

Andy

Hi David – perhaps not a big job providing you have the machine to produce it on

The Cowell's spindle is now £195 +VAT. Wow!

On your last point – I don't actually have a Cowell's lathe…. that only came into the thread as a suggested possible replacement for the Flexispeed part.

Andy

The reason for replacement is just to change the nose thread so as to make it possible to but replacement chuchs.

Andy