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multimachine · Open Source machine tools

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Group Information

  • Members: 7020
  • Category: Crafts
  • Founded: Aug 17, 2004
  • Language: English
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Description

Doing something for the world with machine-tool making techniques from the 1830s to the 1960s.

Your developing world school needs almost-free machine tools?

Your developing world factory needs unavailable spare parts?

You need a complex part that is too expensive to have made?

Need to bootstrap a factory but only have a few bucks?

No problem!

First came the Multimachine, a home-built milling machine that could be used as an all purpose machine tool. It was a 2007 Popular Mechanics DIY project of the year and the centerpiece of Maker Faire Africa in 2009. It could be be built using only automotive scrap and steel bar.

Our latest project comes from a forgotten but prize winning design for a 1915 cannon shell making machine that was made from concrete. It is a general purpose screw cutting metal lathe (the basis of all industrial production) that is built using only concrete mix and scrap.

Alternative methods of construction will be shown including one that needs no outside machining and one that uses no metal fasteners for the concrete form and very few screws, bolts or nuts.

Every technique we use has been proven for over 95 years.

Only a very small amount of welding, regular carpenter's and mechanic's tools and a $10 dial test indicator are needed.

A current "mini" project is the adaptation of an Asian "long tail" boat design for use in Lake Victoria (a lathe builder there needed a way to make a few bucks to buy tools and materials).

NOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THE UPDATED "HOW TO BUILD MANUAL" IS AT http://blog.makezine.com/projects/the-multimachine-150-12-swing-metal-lathemilldrill/ (now 65,000 hits)

NOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BE SURE TO READ the "How to Build a MultiMachine" booklet at the top of the list in the "Files" folder.

See a 75 minute long (but very amateurish!) video of the machine at http://opensourcemachine.org/the-multimachine/multimachine-video

Most Recent Messages

  (View All)
Re: OT but did you ever want a tablet computer?
Android. Both my tablet and my phone...
Posted - Wed May 22, 2013 2:26 am
Pierre Coueffin
darkblood_
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Re: OT but did you ever want a tablet computer?
Zounds dosbox for tablets! Android or ipad? Or both?
Posted - Tue May 21, 2013 6:33 pm
Chris Tofu
rampaginggre...
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Re: OT but did you ever want a tablet computer?
I should also mention that Marvin Klotz' machinist software utilities work under dosbox on my tablet...
Posted - Tue May 21, 2013 4:43 am
Pierre Coueffin
darkblood_
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Re: OT but did you ever want a tablet computer?
I actually use realcalc on my android devices, mostly for the conversion functions.
Posted - Mon May 20, 2013 10:58 pm
Adam Simmons
xyrth
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Re: Newbie asks dumb question about using a small engine as a lathe
Hello all. I am glad I posted here. The engine is a vertical shaft and would need to be mounted on its side on a frame. I never èven considered lubrication
Posted - Mon May 20, 2013 11:00 am
Bungee
gtmcfarland
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Message History

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2013 169 28 115 129 91
2012 112 37 99 139 125 154 85 62 21 161 131 129
2011 341 188 285 107 172 188 124 209 171 179 155 52
2010 115 115 93 90 205 216 370 321 181 157 95 147
2009 511 537 423 344 417 333 326 193 150 303 377 149
2008 236 299 288 362 72 102 144 100 137 113 267 351
2007 128 111 86 114 138 196 174 76 85 94 129 69
2006 141 65 197 81 54 48 42 97 44 277 254 218
2005 1 9 7 71 271 172 209 216 197 114 151 217
2004 1 4 1 2

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