A Few Words on Robust  Design

Please also see:  Sometimes its the Little Things & Turning Ergonomics

Design is important.  At Robust we practice "The KISS Principle".  You might think that refers to keeping it simple, but for Robust, it also means:

"Keep it Stainless Steel"

We will not charge you extra for a feature you deserve in a premium lathe.  All Robust lathes come standard with thick 304L stainless steel ways.  They will not rust, no matter how wet the wood, or how exotic the wood species. They are ground flat after fabrication for maximum accuracy and smoothness of operation.

American Beauty Spindle Assembly Showing Handwheel (comes standard) with indexing marks

Sliding Headstocks and the Bearings we use : We use heavy duty 6300 series which carry 40% more dynamic load than the 6200 series bearings the competition uses.  Because of this, we are the only lathe manufacturer to warrant the headstock bearings, AND to warrant them for a full seven years.  That's two years longer than any other major lathe manufacturer warrants anything. 

Why a sliding Headstock?  It's not just about ergonomics, although that in itself justifys buying a Robust lathe.  Let's go back to bearings for a moment to help make our point.

Lathes manufactured today typically have larger bearings at the spindle nose than at the outboard end.  Robust lathes are made this way too. Larger bearings cost more money, and you only use them where you need them to carry lots of weight, like at the spindle nose.

This is a problem though, if you are turning outboard with a fixed headstock lathe. In the old days, fixed headstock lathes always had bigger bearings on the OUTBOARD end of the spindle.  In those days, lathe manufacturers knew to place bigger bearings outboard to carry the heavier load incurred when turning big pieces in that location. 

Why is today, then, that manufacturers of fixed head lathes put the big bearings on the inboard end, forcing you to turn your heavy outboard loads on the small outboard bearings?  Seems backwards to us. No wonder they won't warrant their bearings.

Most manufacturers use 6200 series bearings like those pictured on the left, but Robust uses larger 6300 bearings (right) which carry 40% more dynamic load.

Bed Construction: We use 3/8" (9.5mm) thick structural steel tubing on our American Beauty lathes. The bed is a square tube set on the diamond – that lets the chips fall away much better than a round bed. 

Bed extensions are constructed of the same heavy material.  Three 1/2" hardened studs attach the bed extension to the bed.  In addition, instead of having the bed extension hanging out in space, the leg assembly is moved to the end of the bed extension, providing a more stable footing.

Bed construction showing the higher way placement and diamond shaped bed that allows chips to fall away without clogging the banjo or tailstock.

Motor and Drive Selection: We install US-made premium Leeson motors. Headquartered just an hour or so down the road from us in Grafton, Wisconsin, Leeson has stocking dealers and repair centers throughout North America. Their warranty is second to none. Drives are selected to give maximum torque at low speeds.  Only premium industrial grade drives are used, certain to give you years of trouble free service.

Adjustable Spindle Height:  Every Robust lathe comes with telescoping legs allowing you to set the spindle height where it is comfortable to you.  With Robust you avoid propping your investment up on 2x4's if it is too low, or standing on a platform if it is too high.

On the American Beauty, as the legs are extended, the width of the base is also increased, enhancing stability as the lathe is raised. A shelf bracket is incorporated into the assembly so that you can store your tools or add more weight.  

On the Sweet 16 and Liberty, the legs are also adjustable. They use a slotted arrangement and each leg is securely held by three hardened bolts and lock nuts.

Adjust the spindle height by raising or lowering the legs.   Adjustment is made by first supporting the lathe with a jack.  The clamp bolts are then loosened and the leg can be slid in or outto the desired position.  Finish up by retightening the clamp bolts.

Final Words:  Our designs start with a simple step: listening to wood turners.  Whether through one-on-one conversations at turning symposiums, surveys, or by the numerous emails and phone calls we receive, we listen to the people who use (and don't use) our products. 

We know that when you buy from Robust you are not just buying a lathe.  You are making an investment.  Some of you tell us: "This is the last lathe I ever intend to buy".  We take that seriously, and we want you to feel confident about long-term quality.

So choose a lathe you can count on for a lifetime, from a company that backs it up with the longest warranty in the business. Choose from a company that is as passionate about lathe building as you are about woodturning.  Choose Robust.