I admit it... I had never heard of Turner's Cube. I guess in today's world of CNC machining, the idea of one is obsolete, but that doesn't make it any less cool...
To read the rest of this blog entry from The Garage Journal, click here.
- Thread starter Ryan
- Start date
I admit it... I had never heard of Turner's Cube. I guess in today's world of CNC machining, the idea of one is obsolete, but that doesn't make it any less cool...
To read the rest of this blog entry from The Garage Journal, click here.
bazzateer
Well-known member
Re: Turner\'s Cube
Now that's just nasty! Imagine being given that to do?! I'll have to ask my Dad if he ever had to make one back in the day.
Now that's just nasty! Imagine being given that to do?! I'll have to ask my Dad if he ever had to make one back in the day.
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
Re: Turner\'s Cube
I have a couple of them I made last year. They're setting in the house on a couple of shelves. Everyone that sees them wonder what they are and thing they're cool. I have a formula wrote down somewhere that I can post up. The reason they're called Turner Cubes is that they were something to be made in an apprenticeship programs for Toolmakers. Most are made in a lathe with a 4 jaw chuck. Today, with CNC equipment you can make them fairly quick in a mill or lathe. There are different variations if you do a Google search for "Turners Cube" images. Some are made from cubes of Clear Lexan or other polycarbonate. Some guys have made them where they use a dovetail cutter to undercut the bores and the final bore will drop out a square that is loose but won't come out. Others have made them on a CNC mill where it would leave a round ball in the middle that wouldn't come out. If anyone (machinist) have signed up to the CNC Cookbook, it has a calculator that you can put figures in to make any size Turners Cube with 4 squares in it.
And yes, they are pretty darned cool!!!
Oh,...Ryan, the idea isn't obsolete. Today it seems like there are more and more making them and gaining back in popularity. They're used more in decoration now than as a lathe training project.
I have a couple of them I made last year. They're setting in the house on a couple of shelves. Everyone that sees them wonder what they are and thing they're cool. I have a formula wrote down somewhere that I can post up. The reason they're called Turner Cubes is that they were something to be made in an apprenticeship programs for Toolmakers. Most are made in a lathe with a 4 jaw chuck. Today, with CNC equipment you can make them fairly quick in a mill or lathe. There are different variations if you do a Google search for "Turners Cube" images. Some are made from cubes of Clear Lexan or other polycarbonate. Some guys have made them where they use a dovetail cutter to undercut the bores and the final bore will drop out a square that is loose but won't come out. Others have made them on a CNC mill where it would leave a round ball in the middle that wouldn't come out. If anyone (machinist) have signed up to the CNC Cookbook, it has a calculator that you can put figures in to make any size Turners Cube with 4 squares in it.
And yes, they are pretty darned cool!!!
Oh,...Ryan, the idea isn't obsolete. Today it seems like there are more and more making them and gaining back in popularity. They're used more in decoration now than as a lathe training project.
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metaleltr
Well-known member
Re: Turner\'s Cube
That is one of the sophomore year projects for the machine trades class at my school. I'm pretty sure they do it on the milling machine.
That is one of the sophomore year projects for the machine trades class at my school. I'm pretty sure they do it on the milling machine.
justanengineer
Well-known member
Re: Turner\'s Cube
Did it on a manual lathe at the end of our first semester machine operations course. Its nothing fancy or complicated really, just a form tool.
Did it on a manual lathe at the end of our first semester machine operations course. Its nothing fancy or complicated really, just a form tool.
uniballer
Well-known member
Re: Turner\'s Cube
Couple years ago when I took machine shop, I had to make something like that by hand. Tough!!! No cnc! Class changed in past 10 or 15 years.
Couple years ago when I took machine shop, I had to make something like that by hand. Tough!!! No cnc! Class changed in past 10 or 15 years.
Rolleiflex
Active member
Re: Turner\'s Cube
I haven't seen one of those in years! Again as others have said something from my days in Machinist school.
I haven't seen one of those in years! Again as others have said something from my days in Machinist school.
383 240z
Well-known member
Re: Turner\'s Cube
Odd, I just posted about one of those a few days ago. I've made them on my manual machines. Keith
Odd, I just posted about one of those a few days ago. I've made them on my manual machines. Keith
Steevo
Well-known member
Re: Turner\'s Cube
I am going to have to read up on how to make one of those.
That would be great on my desk at work.
I am going to have to read up on how to make one of those.
That would be great on my desk at work.
kazlx
Well-known member
Re: Turner\'s Cube
I'm with Steevo. I need to make one. I have looked at them for a while...
I'm with Steevo. I need to make one. I have looked at them for a while...
BobWarfield
Member
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2009
- Messages
- 10
Re: Turner\'s Cube
Nothing obsolete about them at all--they're very cool. If you want to be more modern, just use CNC to make them:
http://www.cnccookbook.com/CCTurnersCube.html
They can be made on either mills or lathes. They make nice gifts too.
BTW,with CNC, you don't have to make round holes. Experiment with other shapes, they come out looking great.
Cheers,
BW
www.cnccookbook.com
Nothing obsolete about them at all--they're very cool. If you want to be more modern, just use CNC to make them:
http://www.cnccookbook.com/CCTurnersCube.html
They can be made on either mills or lathes. They make nice gifts too.
BTW,with CNC, you don't have to make round holes. Experiment with other shapes, they come out looking great.
Cheers,
BW
www.cnccookbook.com
Alchymist
Well-known member
Re: Turner\'s Cube
Popular woodworker's job also. Quick and dirty:
Popular woodworker's job also. Quick and dirty:
PA-Buckeye
Well-known member
Re: Turner\'s Cube
I took an introduction to machining course at the vo-tech last year for kicks and giggles (but mostly just so I could jump on a real full-sized Bridgeport for some personal projects I wanted to make) and the instructor had everyone get right into milling or lathe work. This was the second milling project he had them do.
I took an introduction to machining course at the vo-tech last year for kicks and giggles (but mostly just so I could jump on a real full-sized Bridgeport for some personal projects I wanted to make) and the instructor had everyone get right into milling or lathe work. This was the second milling project he had them do.
flht1997
Well-known member
Re: Turner\'s Cube
My second year high school metals students make a turners cube for a mill project. the first year students make a compressed air engine for a lathe/mill project.
My second year high school metals students make a turners cube for a mill project. the first year students make a compressed air engine for a lathe/mill project.
pst496
Well-known member
Re: Turner\'s Cube
I really want one of these
I really want one of these
bazzateer
Well-known member
bazzateer
Well-known member
Re: Turner\'s Cube
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/A-Midcent...14?pt=UK_art_Sculpture_GL&hash=item4d07569abe
How about bronze?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/A-Midcent...14?pt=UK_art_Sculpture_GL&hash=item4d07569abe
Monkey Milk
Well-known member
That thing is awesome, I always like puzzles.
Dustin Echoes
Well-known member
I'd be willing to pay for an aluminum one, if anybody here could make it...
neel2008
Well-known member
I wish I would have made one of these in my machine trades class....My favorite thing I made was a simple compressed air motor.....then I made a new ultra light weight low resistance cylinder head and bored out and counter sunk the ports and that little guy was FLYING.....teacher came out of his office like wtf is that noise.....then i showed him and he shook his head and went back in his office....kinda wore out the hole in the brass connecting rod with it. lol Then I started working on a sterling engine but never finished it....I should have made a couple of these, maybe also one with the ball in the middle.....oh the things I would make if I had access to a decent mill and lathe again....
I'd like one also, no vo-tech available for me. Still working on a lathe purchase.
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
If some are interested, I can get some stock and make a few up, or as soon as I find my print that I have from it, plus the formula, I'll post it up. I'll go in the house in a short and get one of mine, snap a pic, and put of some dimensions.
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
I am interested assuming its not going to cost the weight of gold .
Iron-Iceberg
Well-known member
Made one with my nephew today. Good project.
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I think that's just gravity. The cubes are supposed to be free to rattle around.
In the touristy areas of China you can find similar pieces that are often hand-carved out of jade (or fake jade), often more spherical shaped.
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
I see that now. I went to the page Ryan showed and there was a larger picture. What threw me was Ryan's pic is sideways, but it all makes sense now and I'll be alright.:tard:
I didn't undercut mine to make them loose. The next ones I may do that.
metaldad
Well-known member
Never seen one before.
Very cool.
Very cool.
Scrap Iron
New member
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2009
- Messages
- 3
I built one in my machine shop class nothing that resembled a c-n-c in sight. Ahhh the good times. Just a dying bread of real operators due to the all mighty computers.
ZRX61
Well-known member
I carved one years ago from a block of wood, no idea where it went.
I don't know whether it was intentional or not, but the one Ryan posted is somewhat off center.
Here is one of two that I made a while back.
I believe gravity is to blame.