lathe or indexer

[jeff]

Hey all.. I've been cutting 2D with ply for about 3-4 years.. I am interested in cutting simple profiles for table legs ranging from 12-32 inches in length.. maybe 4 up to 12 inches in diameter.. No detailed turnings. would it be best to set up a lathe on the shopbot table, or go in for the shopbot indexer? I've read some posts in the forum, but just wanted to ask again.. maybe more of yall have dove in to this arena.. thanks for any advice!

[steve_g]

Jeff...

Not sure what you want to accomplish.

A spinning lathe can only be used to do round turnings, but can do it with simple 2D software.

An indexer can be used to hold material to do 1, 2, or even 4 sided carvings or with the appropriate software can do non-symmetrical 3D shapes. It can also do the "spinning lathe" tricks with the latest control software.

If we have a better Idea of what you want to do you might get a better answer... However keep in mind that any money you spend on a spinning lathe is lost if in the future you decide an indexer is what you want.

SG

[myxpykalix]

Jeff,
You could set up a lathe probably cheaper but you will, like steve says only get symetrical profile turnings. I absolutely guarantee that you will either be asked to, or want to do more detailed turnings in the long run. So why limit yourself?
If you go back to the very beginning of the indexer section and go thru the first several pages you will see guys who have made indexer setups for their bots for between $200.00-$500.00 and higher so my advice is go for a full indexer setup regardless of whether its a cobbled together system or one from shopbot.
In the long run you will thank me......:D

[Brady Watson]

You could also just buy the legs, and save thousands of dollars and countless frustrated hours...:D

-B

[jeff]

Thanks guys.. I am really wanting symmetrical round turnings..like spindles, etc.. But you guys are right in that in the future, I may want more detailed turnings.. who knows.. I have been buying the legs, but for turnaround costs.. I have to start cutting back my costs.. Plus it's difficult to find profiles exactly the way you want them and offer something unique! Just trying to keep costs low for the summer months and not go in head first if I could get away with a lathe and convert it once I am needing indexing capabilities...