Technology: February 2014 Archives
Pat Delany's open-source designs for human-powered machine tools that can be built with inexpensive scrap for about $200. The Multimachine, built out of an auto engine block, serves as a grinder, mill, lathe, and saw. The 16" swing screw-cutting lathe is made of concrete and scrap steel, using techniques that date back to World War I. A hand-powered drill can be built with scrap wood and parts for $1. A treadle-powered generator uses a car's alternator to turn human power into electricity that can charge batteries and mobile phones. (A commenter suggests "a flywheel on the bottom horizontal shaft, at the opposite end of the shaft to the large driving wheel. Firstly, this would stop the frame from toppling over if the ground was uneven. Secondly, once the mechanism was up to speed, the effort required would be much less than the initial start-up; it would simply be a case of keeping the flywheel up to speed.")
Delany and his open-source designs are featured in the latest issue of Makezine. opensourcemachinetools.org has even more information on these projects and historical do-it-yourself machine building.
MORE: The Open Source Machine site also has how-to articles for building an air compressor, hydraulic press, and screw press, for blacksmithing, and farm shop work from the early 20th century and U. S. Army courses on drafting, welding, machine tools, lathes, milling machines, and band saws.
You can follow Pat Delany on Twitter.
