I've seen the frankenlever thing but I mean making a lever group from scratch.

A manual lever group could easily be machined... the costs would be the metal and the machining which isn't all that expensive due to the fact this isn't high precision machine work.

A spring lever is far more complex but that could be stage 2.

I've seen much more complex projects accomplished on various other forums by members alone.

Why aren't you DIYing a lever group? I'm not because the fun/effort ratio hasn't risen high enough on my list. I have a lathe, but no mill yet, so that's the other reason.

I hooked some weights to the lever of my Pav, quick route to a spring lever

Pavs are around used for decent prices....the Cremina is supposedly so high quality it is unapproachable. When I do think of it I imagine a thermo syphon group and a spring lever. I have not taken apart a spring lever so I'm not sure what the complications would be. My inclination is towards a po-mo kind of design where one could see as much mechanism as possible.

The simplest answer that comes to mind is $$$$$$.....cash, dinero. We have had a very nice design laid out for some time....thermosyphon group with a pid small brew boiler that feeds a cylinder with piston that could be used both with and without a spring....separate steam boiler....every bell and whistle imaginable....even the capability to add a pump and separate pid brew group......we all think of these things in the dead of winter. We got the whole thing worked out to a cost of about 1000 smackers until we got to the group, which we spec'd out to a LOT of machining.

From what we can figure a cost of 1500 or so to make a few units to HOPEFULLY sell for 2 grand? The market in many ways is just a bit on the tight side to be talking about a machine introduction in that price range. Most of us tend to think in a profit motive sense I suppose, but if someone came up with a lever espresso machine made from old model T parts or something we would likely all get on the bandwagon.

But as a start, you can get a CMA group, complete, for about 300 Euro and hook it up to a boiler that, safety tested runs about 800 Euro and add the 200 Euro worth of control components and tubing and voila....a Cremina begins to sound cheap!!!

I guess I should have clarified...what I really want to do. Is DIY a larger plumb in temp stable lever for home that can really steam like crazy. Lets say a 3+ liter boiler running at 1500+ watts (outspec a ponte/lusso)....or a 220v setup for even greater steaming ability (i already ran a 220v to the kitchen for my S20).

Hi Doug, well what if you could get the machining done for cheaper? I imagine it is the programming that is wickedly expensive since its something none of us have a proper print for. The machining itself could be cheap using a small shop.

The reason I ask is we are getting a new CNC mill with 4th axis and although we will not be able to do production runs (we only do high precision medical)...I might be able to make prototype to get the ball rolling so the print could be taken to another shop.

I just don't know which design is best. Based off the OE videos and other info...little changes in design can greatly effect temp...like the Empress you guys rebuilt.

I just noticed I haven't updated my machines in my profile. I've sold off everything and have a Rancilio S20 MIDI DE which is what is using the 220v I had to run...and its plumbed in.

A kit approach based around the CMA group maybe, let the buyer assemble it and finish it off to keep the cost down but 1'st Line has the Bez B2006AL on sale at a good price for this class of machine I thought more here would have bought one.

I like that machine alot...I personally prefer their Elisse model for looks. The problem with it is a 5 liter boiler and 1400w....just seems like that is undersized, probably the 220v is properly sized.

Besides you can get a Rancilio Classe 6 leva for close to that price right now if you import...which is a very good looking machine (performance unknown to me).

If I were to go for the home I'd get the Ponte Lusso 2 gruppi...and uprade the heating element.

But I want to make one on my own partially for looks, I want to make a modern looking lever...high tech looking. Only the Rancilio's HL cube like thing has sort of fit the bill and I cannot find those anywhere....I'm thinking industrial looking but clean links Keeys designs are two retro looking for me and besides $$$$$$$$$$$

truemagellen wrote:DIY a larger plumb in temp stable lever for home that can really steam like crazy. Lets say a 3+ liter boiler running at 1500+ watts (outspec a ponte/lusso)....or a 220v setup for even greater steaming ability (i already ran a 220v to the kitchen for my S20).

So... you want a B2006AL in kit form (where "kit" involves a few large chunks of raw brass and machine tools).

(110V, 1400W, (230V/2000W version may be available, according to manufacturer) 5L, plumb in... what am I missing here?)

If I'm going to do that why don't I get the Lusso and modify it (it costs much less and I don't see that much of a difference between it and the Bezzera).

I'd like to see an exposed angular group...which machining could accomplish.'