Pattern maker lathe

[WarnerConstCo.]

This a Friedrich Zimmermann pattern maker lathe.

Made in Germany and not very many made it here to the US.

Have to make a 20 hour round trip on Sunday/Monday to pick it up.

It will swing 40" and fit 60" BC.

I believe it is rated for 19xx pounds BC and just under 900 on the face plate.

 

[travisj]

For those who want to turn rain barrels instead of bowls or railroad ties vs pencils?

That thing is impressive.  I have seen some big lathes, but nothing like that.  In all seriousness, what kind of production would it have been used for?

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Pattern making.

I have to go to Minneapolis to get the dang thing.

 

[travisj]

It's been a little chilly here lately.  At least you will be here during a "heat wave" (should be 30F on Sunday).  Hopefully for your sake, you make it out before the snow comes Monday.

 

[Klemm]

has to be a good piece of equipment - was made just down the road a few miles from FESTOOL

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

has to be a good piece of equipment - was made just down the road a few miles from FESTOOL

From what I have been told, they were the top pattern maker lathe's made. 

Information here in the US is very limited, not many made it here and most do not come up for sale.

 

[RussellS]

The "problem" with  your very impressive lathe is it does not really have any function for 99.9999999999999999999% of woodworkers.  As the tool holder on the ways shows, it is designed to stick a small scraper tip into a block of steel and mill it down to precise dimensions that can then be used to make molds for other things.  Its called a lathe, but its not a woodworking lathe.  Kind of like a ball peen hammer is a hammer, but its not used by carpenters.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Sorry, it is a pattern maker lathe made for turning wood patterns.

Zimmermann made about 4 different machines for the pattern industry.

It is for very precise work, in wood.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

It's a little fast for a metal lathe, plus it's kinda hard to fasten a hunk of steel to those face plates.

 

[Jak147]

Please pardon my ignorance. I still don't fully understand the purpose of this

 

[leakyroof]

Please pardon my ignorance. I still don't fully understand the purpose of this

 

[greg mann]

In the foundry industry many patterns for making sand molds were made from wood. The wooden pattern would, in simple terms, look like the casting it was designed to help make. Compact the sand in two halves around a pattern, pull the halves apart and take the pattern out. Put the halves back together and pour metal in where the pattern was. That's an insanely simple description of a process that is anything but simple. A patternmaker's lathe was used for mostly round patterns or segments of patterns that benefitted from being turned as opposed to milled.

Not sure what Darcy has in mind but it's a cool machine and looks to be in great shape.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

To make a part out of a poured metal, cast uron, aluminum,  brass, bronze, etc.
the piece first needed to be made out of wood. They needed to also account for casting shrinkage.

Pattern was used to pound the sand mould so the material could be poured.

I have a wooden fire hydrant pattern sitting in my house.

Most foundries had pattern shops.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

The replies in a row. Lol.

This thing would be a kick but lathe for bowls and other large scale turnings.

It can handle 2k pounds between centers.

1000 on a face plate.

 

[leakyroof]

The "problem" with  your very impressive lathe is it does not really have any function for 99.9999999999999999999% of woodworkers.  As the tool holder on the ways shows, it is designed to stick a small scraper tip into a block of steel and mill it down to precise dimensions that can then be used to make molds for other things.  Its called a lathe, but its not a woodworking lathe.  Kind of like a ball peen hammer is a hammer, but its not used by carpenters.

  It's big lathe alright.... [scared], but the big Powermatic isn't that small either as compared to a MIDI lathe or bench top lathe. It's all relative to your needs.
I can pull out an old Fine Woodworking book about a guy turning huge work up in the Northeast, and his biggest problem was getting stock large enough to make it worth his while for what he was commonly turning.
I agree that the tool rest resembles more Metal Turning than common hand held wood lathes from ages past, but it was probably strictly designed to work with Carbide cutting bits so it has to be beefy even if you're only cutting wood with it. One can always modifiy the lathe as needed since you already have lots to work with.  Can't wait to see what Darcy or other owners do with it.... [popcorn] [popcorn] [popcorn]

 

[Jak147]

Thanks for the clarification, sounds like a very specialist trade if there ever there was one!
I'm sure it wouldn't take much to make a banjo and tool rest to use it with standard turning tools, especially considering the workshop that it will reside in.
Can't wait to see more

 

[Cheese]

Just to add to what Darcy & Greg have already said, the wood pattern that is produced has to be an exact replica of what the finished product will look like. The only difference is that it will be slightly larger to compensate for metal shrinkage. The shrinkage is usually linear in nature and that's the reason why a shrink rule works (old time method) and Starrett still sells them in various shrink rates depending upon the material that is being cast.
However, differential shrinkage can occur, but that's usually caused by part design. For critical features or areas, if after several parts are cast and measured and if differential shrinkage is an issue, it's a simple matter to rework the wooden pattern and then pour again. A very inexpensive manufacturing modification.

Two questions Darcy, are you still going to be using that huge old pattern lathe you exhumed about a year ago or is this the replacement for it?

Any pictures of the hydrant pattern...it sounds cool. [thumbs up]

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

If you wanted to just use a standard banjo, post and lathe tools, get a regular  lathe.

These are pretty easy to use, accurate and safe as well.

There are all sorts of things a person can adapt or do with that cross slide and compound.

My other lathe will swing 24" but is over 9 feet between centers.

This is only 60" BC. Not quite a porch column lathe.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Inside, cleaned, lubed, wired and running.

More pictures and a video soon. 

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Got it unloaded and inside.  Took some more pictures.

The mounting system for the face plates is unique.

I also found another manual, wiring schematics, and a factory checklist.

Unfortunately, I can't link to those photos right now.

Maybe this will suffice.