From Blog
Venkatesh, the lathe artist
In a 120-square-foot workshop by the canal, a lathe operator turns my crudest drawings into working parts. As much artist as worksmith.
Published
by Adarsh Gopal
It’s a crude cement floor in a 120 square foot building by the canal in the middle of OMR. 70 percent of the floor area is occupied by these hulking machines that can shred and shape the hardest of metals into the most intricate shapes. But the machines can’t work without Venkatesh. A lathe-operator is as much artist as worksmith.
This is one of the eight venues where my crudest of drawings are converted into working parts for whatever we are assembling. I am neither a trained designer or engineer. But I get a kick out of solving problems. What if a client wants to load a squat but are unable to use a traditional implement such a barbell, dumbbell or t-bell? It’s a simple question. But it sparked an idea. The idea was a gadget that could shrink or magnify loads based on levers. Without giving away too much, you can squat, hinge, push or pull in many planes without your hands being in contact with the weight. You can use your hands if you choose to.
The different parts of the upcoming gadget are strewn across the floor of the lathe right now. It’s very early days. But I am excited to see how it comes together.