Build Info
I first read about this great plan on the Vectric Forum, see this post for complete instructions. jseiler's plan uses this stepper with gear reduction, priced at $16.95 and this aluminum lathe, priced at $55.99.
I decided I could do this with my left over 2 foot Power Stick, which I never use.
I used a piece of 3/4" plywood with an appropriate hole cut in it to mount a tray made of scrap tin, suspended down far enough that it just cleared the bed of the Buddy, giving me the most swing. The length was constrained to 2 feet because of the Powerstick, but I could make one 4 feet long for my 4 foot PowerStick.
I didn't use the bed of the lathe, I used 2 pieces of 2' long t-track, and a plate to act as a t-nut (the plate shown below wasn't used, only used one for the tailstock). I did use the head and tailstock from the lathe to slide the tailstock. I also made a coupler, between the motor and the live center. No pictures, it is just a rod with the appropriate size holes in each end, and set screws to lock the shafts.
Following is a movie and pictures, with models for the bracket and indexer mount. Click on any image to see full size.
Movie of rounding a blank:
Overall view, stepper and bracket, dead center
Spoilboard that holds indexer
Making bracket, bracket sides from design
Special t-nut plate for use with lathe
