Max Power
Established Member
How would I go about achieving this effect on a 4” diameter cylindrical piece 
Routing a diamond pattern
- Thread starter Max Power
- Start date
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I'd draw them on first then follow with a carving chisel. Or maybe work it with a riffler file.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/14461131...UNcj+wVosrGA1UQ/ZVmDZvceHGjc|tkp:BFBMqv2ivvph
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/14461131...UNcj+wVosrGA1UQ/ZVmDZvceHGjc|tkp:BFBMqv2ivvph
The picture you show is a spherical piece. You are asking about a cylindrical piece.
Break the problem up smaller.
If you wanted a single groove on a cylinder, that is a screw thread albeit a very coarse one. To make that (in metal), you connect the longitudinal movement of the tool to the rotational movement via a leadscrew and gearing.
If you want more than one groove, that is known as a multi-start thread. Let us say you want two grooves. Cut one as normal, return to the starting position and rotate the work 180 degrees without changing the tool's longitudinal position. Cut the second groove.
A long time ago, Trend made a 'router lathe'. Find pictures, instructions and YT videos of that and you will see the concept.
Doing the same on a spherical surface is similar in concept, but instead of longitudinal movement of the tool, it rotates about a fixed axis. Thus the 'leadscrew' would be a worm and wheel.
Edit:
http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=20180
https://www.routerforums.com/attachments/craftsman-router-lathe-manual-pdf.27121/ (this is the Trend one, even though the URL implies otherwise).
http://www.lignolathe.com/en/ornamental_sphere_turner/index.htm
Break the problem up smaller.
If you wanted a single groove on a cylinder, that is a screw thread albeit a very coarse one. To make that (in metal), you connect the longitudinal movement of the tool to the rotational movement via a leadscrew and gearing.
If you want more than one groove, that is known as a multi-start thread. Let us say you want two grooves. Cut one as normal, return to the starting position and rotate the work 180 degrees without changing the tool's longitudinal position. Cut the second groove.
A long time ago, Trend made a 'router lathe'. Find pictures, instructions and YT videos of that and you will see the concept.
Doing the same on a spherical surface is similar in concept, but instead of longitudinal movement of the tool, it rotates about a fixed axis. Thus the 'leadscrew' would be a worm and wheel.
Edit:
http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=20180
https://www.routerforums.com/attachments/craftsman-router-lathe-manual-pdf.27121/ (this is the Trend one, even though the URL implies otherwise).
http://www.lignolathe.com/en/ornamental_sphere_turner/index.htm
Last edited:
Inspector
Nyuck, Nyuck, Nyuck!
I have the Craftsman machine you shown in the above post. Haven't used it but the deal was too good to pass up. Lathe and an old Craftsman router and most of the bits for $50 (about ÂŁ30). They were made and sold in the UK by Trend I think. You might be able to find one with a bit of digging.
Pete
Pete
