Vulcan Techtree

A proposed tech tree starting from a few relatively simple parts.

Big

• 3D printer
• Circular saw
• Drill
• BLDC motor and driver
• good soldering iron (TS-80, TS-100)

Small

• drill bits
• taps
• large metal square
• multimeter

Consumable

• plywood
• screws
• wood glue
• sand paper
• threaded rod
• nuts
• washers

Stage 1

• Straight edge for circular saw
• guide for drill

Stage 2

• Convert circular saw to table saw
• convert drill to mock-press

Later

• Modify circular saw to use BLDC
• Modify drill to use BLDC
• ACME die
• Mill press (with thrust bearings)
• Produce Bearings
• Lathe

With an acme die and some heat treating I can take soft iron/steel, cut a threaded rod, then harden it. Keeping it straight will be a challenge. With acme threaded rod it will be possible to build a good mill press.

Spindle Assembly

Used for both lathe and mill, though with CNC we may just end up using the mill as a lathe.

The assembly needs high quality bearings that can take both radial and axial thrust. We can bootstrap and start with low quality bearings, possibly 3D printed then machine our own and replace them.

Dependence

• lathe w/ 3|4 jaw → simple collets

Think about what would be needed for a CNC lath to churn out bearing parts. Stock feed, captive cutoffs and of course CNC.