I am considering building a full scale coehorn mortar. I dont have the money to purchase a barrel and I want the challenge. The barrel will be machined from solid. If Im going to spend the time and money on a big project I might as well make something that is worthwhile.
The first problem is building a steady rest big enough. I plan on taking a thick steel plate milling the center out and fitting it with some fingers with ball bearings on the ends. It would work the same as a regular steady rest just bigger. I think it should work fine as long as I can build it rigid enough.
The other problem is getting the correct bore profile. I dont have access to a CNC lathe or it would be easy. I was thinking something that works the same as key cutter. It would have something that clamps to the lathe ways that would hold a template and there would be a follower on the carriage. I have seen similar setups on duplicating lathes for wood. I cant see why it wouldnt work for a metal lathe.
Any ideas and input would be great.
The first problem is building a steady rest big enough. I plan on taking a thick steel plate milling the center out and fitting it with some fingers with ball bearings on the ends. It would work the same as a regular steady rest just bigger. I think it should work fine as long as I can build it rigid enough.
The other problem is getting the correct bore profile. I dont have access to a CNC lathe or it would be easy. I was thinking something that works the same as key cutter. It would have something that clamps to the lathe ways that would hold a template and there would be a follower on the carriage. I have seen similar setups on duplicating lathes for wood. I cant see why it wouldnt work for a metal lathe.
Any ideas and input would be great.