CHAPTER ONE

1.      INTRODUCTION

In recent times, the demand for interior decorations and cylindrical objects has been on the increase from the furniture and boundary industries. With it, comes the choice of various designs and models. In order to meet up with the increasing demand of the industries led to the design of a good number of machines that can be used by the craftsman to create different wood designs, amongst which is the wood lather machine.

1.1     OBJECTIVES

Apart from putting into practical the theoretical knowledge acquired from the class room, the main objectives of the project are:

a)       To use available local materials in fabrication.

b)      To achieve a reduction in the cost of production of the machine.

c)       To reduce the labour cost and time spent on using hand tools for wood dressing.

d)      To create awareness for, and encouragement of indigenous technology.

e)       Increase productivity and creativity.

The vital need for the fabrication of a wood lathe is significant in the much delay and time as well as energy wasted in using simple hand took to carry out operations moreover, the cost of importation of a lather machine, is too high for average user.

Similar to the use of other machine tools, the wood lathes machine will help to reduce cost, save labour time and consequently increase the rate of production and craftsman’s skill. It is also important to explore the design of machines to improve on the ones already in existence.

By the early middle age the lathe is still driven by a cord, the new lathe used the tension of a bent tree branch or cut pole to provide a stronger and more convenient way of furring coordinated with the pole was a treadle, which pulled down on the cord wrapped around the work itself, or on a spindle attached to the work. The treadle regulates the speed at which the piece turned. This arrangement displeased with the need for an assistant. The troublesome feature of the early lathers that the pole and treadle system did not address was the need for continuous motion. 

The search for a lather that would turn in only one direction probably ended in the fifteenth century, when the lathers powered by cranked flywheels and giant wheels powered by hand foot horse, and even water were invented, Leonardo a Vinci was one of the many inventors who designed the early continuous drive lather. However, today, wood lather machined are powered by an electric motor which provide the continuous motion needed.

Although, wood lathe machines are made from metal steel, iron etc.