Lathe

A lathe, comprising:

• a bed having a hollow interior portion;
• a first leg attached to the bed;
• a first foot atached to the first leg;
• a second leg attached to the bed;
• a second foot attached to the second leg;
• and
• a first pair of caster wheel assemblies attached to the first foot and a second pair of caster wheel assemblies attached to the second foot, wherein the first pair of caster wheel assemblies includes a first pair of caster wheels attached to a first pair of sleeves fittable over the first foot and wherein the second pair of caster assembly includes a second pair of caster wheels attached to a second pair of sleeves fittable over the second foot, and wherein each wheel of the first pair of caster wheel assembly is fixedly attached to one of the first caster wheel assemblies, such that each wheel of the first pair of caster wheel assembly can rotate but cannot pivot relative to the first foot and wherein each wheel of the second pair of caster wheel assemblies is pivotably attached to one of the second caster wheel assemblies, such that each wheel each wheel of the second pair of caster wheel assemblies can rotate and pivot relative to the second foot.

A lathe, comprising:

• a bed having a hollow interior portion;
• first leg attached to the bed;
• a first foot atached to the first leg;
• a second leg attached to the bed;
• a second foot attached to the second leg;
• and
• a first pair of caster wheel assemblies attached to the first foot and a second pair of caster wheel assemblies attached to the second foot, wherein the first pair of caster wheel assemblies includes a first pair of caster wheels attached to a first pair of sleeves fittable over the first foot and wherein the second pair of caster assembly includes a second pair of caster wheels attached to a second pair of sleeves fittable over the second foot, and wherein each caster wheel of the first pair of caster wheel assemblies is selectively pivotable between a lowered position wherein the first caster wheel can rotate on a surface and a raised position above a lower surface of the first foot, and wherein each caster wheel of the second pair of caster wheel assemblies is selectively pivotable between a lowered position wherein the second caster wheel can rotate on a surface and a raised position above a lower surface of the second foot.

A machine tool, comprising:

• a tool-supporting bed;
• a first hollow leg attached to the tool-supporting bed;
• a second hollow leg attached to the tool-supporting bed;
• a first foot attached to the first hollow leg;
• and
• a second foot attached to the second hollow leg, wherein the first foot has a first hollow first foot inner portion in which a first stability enhancing bar is insertable and wherein the second foot has a hollow second foot inner portion in which a second stability enhancing bar is insertable;
• wherein each stability enhancing bar being formed of a single unitary structure, wherein each stability enhancing bar is of a greater length than each respective hollow inner foot portion and is inserted into the respective hollow foot inner portion such that portions of each stability enhancing bar extend beyond each end of the inner foot portion.

A machine tool, comprising:

• a tool-supporting bed;
• a first hollow leg attached to the tool-supporting bed;
• a second hollow leg attached to the tool-supporting bed;
• a first foot attached to the first hollow leg;
• a second foot attached to the second hollow leg;
• and
• a first pair of caster wheel assemblies attached to the first foot and a second pair of caster wheel assemblies attached to the second foot, wherein the first pair of caster wheel assemblies includes a first pair of caster wheels attached to a first pair of sleeves fittable over the first foot and wherein the second pair of caster assembly includes a second pair of caster wheels attached to a second pair of sleeves fittable over the second foot, and wherein each wheel of the first pair of caster wheel assembly is fixedly attached to one of the first caster wheel assemblies, such that each wheel of the first pair of caster wheel assembly can rotate but cannot pivot relative to the first foot and wherein each wheel of the second pair of caster wheel assemblies is pivotably attached to one of the second caster wheel assemblies, such that each wheel each wheel of the second pair of caster wheel assemblies can rotate and pivot relative to the second foot.

A machine tool, comprising:

• a tool-supporting bed;
• a first hollow leg attached to the tool-supporting bed;
• a second hollow leg attached to the tool-supporting bed;
• a first foot attached to the first hollow leg;
• a second foot attached to the second hollow leg;
• and
• a first pair of caster wheel assemblies attached to the first foot and a second pair of caster wheel assemblies attached to the second foot, wherein the first pair of caster wheel assemblies includes a first pair of caster wheels attached to a first pair of sleeves fittable over the first foot and wherein the second pair of caster assembly includes a second pair of caster wheels attached to a second pair of sleeves fittable over the second foot, and wherein each caster wheel of the first pair of caster wheel assemblies is selectively pivotable between a lowered position wherein the first caster wheel can rotate on a surface and a raised position above a lower surface of the first foot, and wherein each caster wheel of the second pair of caster wheel assemblies is selectively pivotable between a lowered position wherein the second caster wheel can rotate on a surface and a raised position above a lower surface of the second foot.

A machine tool, comprising:

• a tool-supporting bed;
• a first leg attached to the tool-supporting bed;
• a second leg attached to the tool-supporting bed;
• and
• a hollow first foot attached to the first leg and having two open ends;
• a first stabilizer removably received in the hollow first foot and protruding from each of the two open ends thereof;
• a hollow second foot attached to the second leg and having two open ends;
• and
• a second stabilizer removably received in the hollow second foot and protruding from each of the two open ends thereof.

A lathe, comprising:

• a bed supporting a headstock, a tailstock and a tool rest, the bed comprising:
• first and second tubular bed members, each bed member adapted to receive an optional weight enhancing bar;
• at least one spacer attached to and between the first and second tubular bed members;
• and
• a first plate attached to a top surface of the first bed member and a second plate attached to a top surface of the second bed member, the second plate being coplanar with the first plate;
• and
• a support assembly removably attached to the bed, the support assembly comprising:
• first and second tubular legs, each leg adapted to receive a weight enhancing ballast material;
• a first tubular foot attached to the first leg and adapted to receive a first weight enhancing bar and a second tubular foot attached to the second leg and adapted to receive a second weight enhancing bar;
• and
• first and second pairs of gussets, wherein each gusset of each of the first and second pair has a first side attached to one leg and a second side attached to and supporting the bed.

A support assembly for a lathe having a bed, the support assembly removably attached to the bed, the support assembly comprising:

• first tubular leg having a first top surface and a second tubular leg having a second a top surface, each leg adapted to receive a weight enhancing ballast material;
• a first tubular foot attached to the first leg and receiving a first weight enhancing bar and a second tubular foot attached to the second leg and receiving a second weight enhancing bar;
• first and second pairs of gussets, wherein each gusset of each of the first and second pair has a first side attached to one leg and a second side attachable to the bed;
• and
• first and second top plates removably attachable to the first and second top surfaces of the first and second legs.

A method of supporting the bed of a lathe, the method comprising:

• attaching the bed to at least one hollow leg;
• attaching at least one hollow foot to at least one hollow leg;
• and
• inserting a stabilizing bar into the hollow foot.