Yes—you can build a combined metal lathe, drill, and milling machine from concrete, steel, and salvage parts. The Make Projects “Multimachine” is designed for a skilled mechanic using common tools at very low cost. It can deliver useful, reasonably accurate work, but it is an experimental machine rather than a certified precision tool. Its success depends on straight ways, careful alignment, adequate stiffness, and safe guarding.
What the Multimachine is designed to do
The project combines three functions around one concrete machine bed. A spindle, chuck or faceplate, carriage, cross-slide, and tool post provide the lathe function. A drill bit can be held in the lathe spindle or in a milling-drilling vise. Milling requires an additional XY table so the setup has X, Y, and Z movement. The carriage can also be arranged as a milling or boring carriage.
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The design goal is practical utility, not factory-level precision. Pat Delany’s plan describes the objective as “not the best tool, but one that will work with reasonable accuracy” and can be built by a skilled mechanic at the lowest cost. The complete design is in the Make Projects Multimachine plan.
What you need to build one
Primary structural materials
| Part | Suggested material or source | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Bed or frame | Concrete mix with rebar or fiber additive | Provides a heavy, inexpensive base that can be cast around oversized cavities. |
| Ways | Two straight steel round bars or pipes | They establish the carriage’s travel; straightness and parallel alignment directly affect accuracy. |
| Cross-slide | Steel bar and fabricated steel plates | Supports tool movement and must resist cutting forces. |
| Spindle cartridge, carriage, and supports | Angle iron, pipe, plate, and reclaimed steel | Forms the bearing and mounting structure around the spindle and carriage. |
| Adapters, bushings, and bearing housings | Junk pistons or other suitable engine parts | Salvage components can provide thick, machinable sections without buying every part new. |
| Locking and alignment material | Non-shrinking, low-temperature alloy or precision grout | Locks aligned metal parts after the concrete has shrunk and seasoned. |
| Drive and tooling hardware | Spindle, chuck or faceplate, lead screw, tool holder, Morse-taper socket, vise, and an XY table | These determine which operations are possible and how rigidly work is held. |
Check long rods before using them as ways. Place the rods side by side, shine a bright light between them, and rotate them while looking for a changing gap. A dial indicator is essential for checking runout, parallelism, spindle alignment, and cross-slide travel.
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- LATHE ACCESSORIES: Widely used for CJ0618 mini lathe or metal cutting machine, with strong compatibility.
- 18PCS IN 1 SET: Including 18pcs metal gears, with different numbers of teeth and sizes, with strong practicability.
- MULTIPLE TYPES: Equipped with 2pcs duplex gears and a moter belt pulley to meet more processing needs.
Build sequence
Make a full mock-up first. Confirm the source and dimensions of every fastener, bearing, chuck, tool, and salvage component before casting the heavy final assembly. The plan’s order minimizes the risk of embedding parts that later prove incompatible.
- Build the wooden form. Lay out the bed, cavities, mounting points, and access for reinforcement and later grouting.
- Cast the concrete bed. Add rebar or fiber reinforcement, leave oversized cavities where metal components will be installed, and allow the concrete to shrink and season before final alignment.
- Install the ways. Set the two straight round bars or pipes, check their height and parallelism with a dial indicator, and lock them with non-shrinking grout or the specified low-temperature alloy.
- Build the carriage and cross-slide. Fit the carriage to the ways, add the steel cross-slide, and verify smooth travel without twist or binding.
- Align and grout the spindle cartridge. Mount the spindle, bearings or bushings, and chuck interface. Check the spindle axis against the ways before permanently locking the cartridge.
- Fit the tailstock. Install the Morse-taper socket and align its center with the spindle. The tailstock must travel on the same reference geometry as the carriage.
- Add the lead screw and smaller mechanisms. Fit the feed system, tool holder, clamps, and adjustment hardware only after the major axes move freely and remain aligned.
- Add drilling and milling hardware. Mount a milling-drilling vise or a second XY table, then check that the table is square to the spindle and can be secured against cutting loads.
How each machine function works
Turning
For turning, secure the work in the chuck or on a faceplate, support long work with the tailstock when appropriate, and move the cutting tool with the carriage and cross-slide. The tool post must be rigid and set at the spindle centerline. The published prototype demonstrates why the frame and supports deserve as much attention as the spindle: a flexible support can turn an otherwise working spindle into a chatter-prone machine.
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- Patent Pending: Our innovative tool and package design are currently under patent application. Unauthorized copying or imitation will face legal action. We will take all necessary measures to protect our rights against any infringement
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- Elevate Your Machining: Unlock precision with our 21pcs Indexable Lathe Turning Tool Set. Featuring 7 holders and 14 inserts, this set ensures smooth, high-precision cutting for professionals and DIY enthusiasts alike. Achieve flawless results every time
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Drilling
Drill bits can be held in the lathe spindle, typically through Morse-taper tooling, or the work can be clamped in a milling-drilling vise. A vise and an XY table make it easier to position holes without moving the work between operations. The spindle, quill or tailstock alignment, and workholding must all resist the thrust generated by the drill.
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Milling
Milling needs three controlled directions. The first XY table supplies two axes; adding a second XY table or configuring the carriage supplies the remaining axis. Secure the work in a vise, use a suitable cutter and holder, and keep the table and supports as short and rigid as the design allows. The Open Source Ecology prototype had not yet milled when reported because its builders lacked mill bits and bit holders.
Rank #3
- Seven Holders, Four Machining Jobs — External turning, chamfering, grooving and parting, 60° threading on both the outside and the inside, plus boring are covered by seven indexable holders: SCLCR1010H06, SDJCR1010H07, SDNCN1010H07, SER1010H11, SNR0010K11, MGEHR1010-2, and S10K-SCLCR06.
- Sized for Small and Bench Lathes — A 10mm square shank is the practical middle ground between 8mm micro tooling and heavier 12mm bars. It suits 7x10 to 8x14 bench lathes and metric quick-change tool posts, and keeps cutting forces light for hobby-scale workpieces.
- External and Internal Threading in One Box — A matched 60° pair handles both sides of threading jobs: SER for external threads, SNR for internal threads. Internal threading bars are the piece most kits at this price leave out, so repair and one-off work stays in-house.
- 10mm Shank for Metric Tool Posts — The 10mm (0.394") square shank is built for 10mm tool posts and metric quick-change holders, including most QC posts with interchangeable shims. It is not a drop-in for a standard 3/8" (0.375") English opening, so verify your post size before ordering. Boring bars additionally need a workpiece bore large enough for bar plus insert.
- Fourteen CVD-Coated Inserts = Two per Holder — Worn edge becomes a quick index or swap instead of a reorder, and a matching wrench ships with every holder so the swap needs no extra tools. The CVD-applied titanium-nitride (TiN) coating adds a wear-resistant layer over the carbide body. Positive-rake geometry targets the metals a home shop actually cuts — 6061 aluminum, 360 brass, 12L14, and low-ca
Alignment, accuracy, and the concrete bed
Concrete is economical and heavy, but it is not automatically a precision reference. The bed must be allowed to shrink and season before the ways and spindle are fixed in place. Oversized cavities give you room to adjust the steel components; non-shrinking grout then preserves the final position.
- Use a dial indicator to check spindle runout, way parallelism, carriage travel, and tailstock alignment.
- Reference every major component from the ways rather than from an irregular concrete surface.
- Check alignment again after tightening clamps and after grouting; tightening can move a part that was correct when loose.
- Keep tool overhang, unsupported table travel, and bearing clearance as small as practical.
The plan presents a 300 mm swing workbench lathe as a target example and discusses a larger shop-size design with 300 mm between centers, 450 mm swing, and at least 1,000 lb weight. These are design examples, not guaranteed specifications for every build. No certified tolerance, spindle-speed range, safety certification, or universal dimensional accuracy is established for an individual homemade machine.
Rank #4
- 【18PCS Complete Gear Assortment】 The set contains 18 pieces of metal gears with diverse tooth counts and sizes. It covers a wide range of lathe machining demands, providing sufficient and flexible gear options. Perfectly suitable for DIY hobbyists, amateur workers and professional machining enthusiasts.
- 【Expanded Machining Compatibility】 This upgraded kit comes with 2 duplex gears and 1 motor belt pulley. The additional accessories greatly expand your lathe’s processing functions, allowing you to handle more complex machining projects and greatly improve your working flexibility and efficiency.
- 【High-Precision Milling Process】 Adopting professional fine milling and fine polishing technology, each gear features smooth surface, precise tooth spacing and stable operation. It effectively avoids machining errors and inaccurate cutting, ensuring consistent stability during every lathe adjustment and processing task.
- 【Perfect Lathe Compatibility】 Professionally engineered as replacement accessories, this gear set fits perfectly with CJ0618 mini lathes and most standard metal cutting machines. It can seamlessly match your existing equipment, easy to install and replace, ideal for daily lathe maintenance and upgrade.
- 【Premium Gray Iron Material】 This lathe gear kit is precisely crafted from high-quality gray iron material. It features outstanding rust-proof, wear performance, delivering excellent hardness and toughness. The sturdy construction ensures long-lasting service life and stable working performance for long-term machining use.
What the documented prototype actually achieved
| Evidence | Reported result | What it means for a builder |
|---|---|---|
| Open Source Ecology report, January 26, 2010 | About $800 for lathe, mill, and drill functions; approximately 600 lb assembled weight; 5,000-inch-pound hydraulic motor; 12-inch chuck; XY table. | Shows the scale of one open-source build, but its cost and configuration are not a price or specification for every version. |
| Drilling test | “We are able to drill 1" holes, without any predrilling!” | One-inch drilling was demonstrated on that prototype under its reported setup; it is not a guarantee for a lighter or less rigid build. |
| Turning test | The welding table vibrated and produced “uncontrollable chatter.” | Stiffness and support design can limit turning even when drilling works. |
| Milling test | Milling had not yet been performed because mill bits and bit holders were unavailable. | The mechanical layout supports milling, but the report does not establish finished milling accuracy or performance. |
Read the full Open Source Ecology Multimachine report for the stated test setup and results.
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Practical upgrades after the first build
The design is deliberately repairable. The plan states that every part can be replaced as it wears or as improvements are needed. Possible upgrades include:
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- 1. Premium Material & Precision Machining Crafted from high-quality 45# steel with precision CNC machining, these metal feed gears deliver exceptional durability, wear resistance, and long service life. The smooth tooth profile ensures stable meshing, reduces noise, and guarantees reliable power transmission for your lathe operations
- 2. Complete 9-Piece Set for Versatility This all-inclusive kit includes 9 gears with tooth counts: T60×2, T50×2, T45×1, T40×2, T35×1, T30×1. It provides a wide range of feed rate and thread pitch options, making it ideal for both metric and imperial threading tasks on your mini lathe
- . Perfect Fit for CJ0618 Lathes Exclusively designed for CJ0618 series mini metal lathes, these gears feature a standard module M1, 7mm thickness, and bore diameters of 12mm/13mm with a 4mm keyway. They install directly onto your lathe's gear train without modifications, ensuring a seamless fit
- 4. Enhanced Machining Performance By replacing your old or worn plastic gears with these robust metal alternatives, you'll experience improved torque transmission, reduced backlash, and more precise cuts. This upgrade is essential for achieving professional-grade results in your turning projects
- 5. Easy Installation & Wide Application The gears come ready to install, with clear dimensional specifications (as shown in the product images). Whether you're a hobbyist or a professional, this gear kit is perfect for threading, turning, and other precision machining tasks, significantly expanding the capabilities of your CJ0618 lathe
- Replace all-thread lead screws with Acme screws for smoother, more durable feeds.
- Replace plain bushings with ball or roller bearings where the structure and alignment justify them.
- Add a compound slide for angled turning.
- Add steady rests and follow rests for long or flexible work.
- Add change gears or a CNC arrangement for threading and automated feeds.
- Improve the base, welding table, or support blocks when vibration appears during cutting.
Upgrade one source of error at a time and recheck the machine with the dial indicator after each change. A more expensive spindle or motor cannot compensate for ways that are not straight or a support that flexes.
Safety requirements for an improvised machine
The published plans do not constitute a complete safety standard or risk assessment. Treat the machine as heavy rotating equipment assembled from components whose strength and condition you must verify.
- Guard the chuck, belts, couplings, exposed lead screw, and rotating work; never rely on loose clothing or improvised covers.
- Provide a clearly reachable emergency stop and isolate power before changing tooling, clearing chips, or making adjustments.
- Use a chuck key with a spring-return or captive arrangement where possible, and remove it before starting the spindle.
- Clamp work, vises, tables, and tool holders securely. Do not hand-hold work during drilling or milling.
- Inspect reclaimed pistons, pipes, welds, concrete, and fasteners for cracks, porosity, distortion, and unknown heat treatment.
- Start with conservative speed and shallow cuts, stop immediately if vibration or tool movement begins, and keep bystanders outside the rotating-work zone.
- Wear eye and hearing protection appropriate to the operation, and control concrete dust, welding fumes, and sharp chips.
Is this the right project for you?
This approach makes sense when you have fabrication skills, access to welding and concrete work, salvage material, and time to align and tune the machine. It is a poor choice if you need guaranteed tolerances, documented guarding, rapid setup, or dependable production. A small commercial combination machine normally offers known interfaces and replacement parts; the concrete Multimachine trades that certainty for repairability, local materials, and a potentially very low cash outlay.
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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →For comparison, the Fonly design from the 2mm Scale Association is aimed at 2 mm-scale model work and was designed around Minicraft tools, with possible adaptation to Dremel equipment. That is a fundamentally different work envelope from the concrete Multimachine, so compare swing, rigidity, accuracy, fabrication requirements, conversion time, replacement parts, and tooling cost rather than comparing names alone.
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