Newall DRO to POS Colchester Triumph

[Hood]

Ripped off the old control box I had fitted years ago for the servo motor and then fixed on the new box.

I may move it a bit as I think I would like it more outboard from the front of the headstock.

I decided to get an RPM meter instead of using the analogue meter I had previously, that meant that the hole I had cut was too big so I cut out the side and will fit a stainless insert with the meter, pot and switches.

To fix the DRO into the box I just cut a bit of 1.5mm thick stainless and put a set on each end and bored holes to match up to the ones in the DRO. The cutout in the Newall manual is way too big, must be for an older model but thankfully it was still ok and isn't seen from the front.

 

[Munkul]

It's looking like a lot less of a POS now.

Was your last dro not as accurate? I got the idea that they're all pretty decent these days.

I just went for the Newall cos of the name, ease of fitting, and the cool looking design, lol. The fact that it's easy to use and easy to re zero, tool change etc is all vindicating my decision haha

 

[Hood]

It's looking like a lot less of a POS now.

Was your last dro not as accurate? I got the idea that they're all pretty decent these days.

I just went for the Newall cos of the name, ease of fitting, and the cool looking design, lol. The fact that it's easy to use and easy to re zero, tool change etc is all vindicating my decision haha

Still a POS, the DRO is about the only good thing about it

Yes it was accurate but not long enough and also really meant for a mill rather than a lathe.
The Newall is nice though, the tool features etc are great, no regrets at all.

 

[Hood]

Got the housing shifted to a better position and the stainless plate for the meter and buttons/pot made.

Fitted the magnet for the prox to the spindle and covered with tape just as an added precaution and then bodged a prox switch through the cover. The cover had already been hacked away for the pulley when I fitted the servo all these years ago and I was supposed to be tidying it up at a later date. Never happened and probably never will

Also got the label tape today so got the labels on he tools themselves done.

The rpm meter is ok, it is very accurate but it is quite slow in its response to change, bit disappointed if I am honest but it will do the job.
Vid here of it working.

 

[Hood]

Ordered one for the Mastiff today.

How much with that length scale?

 

[Maker]

With all the tool offsets saved, I take it you never move the top slide or rotate the toolpost?

 

[Hood]

Just under £1100.
They charge an additional £60 for delivery too as the scale is over 3100mm

Quite a bit more but I think it is the scales that are the expensive part of the system.

 

[Hood]

With all the tool offsets saved, I take it you never move the top slide or rotate the toolpost?

I don't normally move either. I have a taper attachment so no need to swivel and I think the only occasion I have moved the top slide is when I had the smaller scale on so occasionally had to wind it back the get a wee bit extra Z travel.

Having said that it is quite quick to set up a tool so no problem if you did.
There are two ways, well three really but the two best ones are the Teach mode. You position the tool ready for a cut, press a few buttons and then take your cut. You can then move the tool away and then measure the work and enter the values.
The other is quick edit, you just take a cut and then you can't move the X or if you do you need to move clear and then return the X to the previous position before you do the quick edit.

 

[fizzy]

Not bad for a POS lathe really

 

[dobbslc]

When I read the title I thought POS was a manufacturers name for it like a TOS lathe

 

[Hood]

Not bad for a POS lathe really

Just think how much better it could be if it wasn't

 

[ukracer]

I am just an untidy person, I thrive in mess

Snap....lol

 

[Hood]

Last night I made up a new board to integrate the servo drive to the panel.
This is it before I chopped it to size.

I also used one of the boards I bought a while back from Amazon so that I can reduce the 24v output from the drive to 10v and thus go through the pot and relay to give me +/-10v command voltage.

Got it all wired whilst I was waiting on some jobs arriving, also fitted a nicer dial to the pot. An added bonus to redoing the servo control panel is I now have more space for soft jaw storage

 

[Munkul]

When are you going to take the gear linkage out of the headstock? That would drive me mad

 

[Hood]

When are you going to take the gear linkage out of the headstock? That would drive me mad

By Linkage I presume you mean the front levers, if so I am not, I believe in redundancy
If the servo drive packs up I can refit the pulley and belts and put up with the noise until I can repair the drive or get a new one.
I actually wouldn't mind removing the noisy shaft and fitting a chain between input and gearing and using a VFD and the original motor, VFD's have advanced a lot in recent years and are a lot cheaper than servo drives but can't remember how the shafts are arranged inside and which is actually the noisy one, been a long time, so not sure how easy it would be.

 

[Hood]

I must have a fever, could be that bloody Covid jab that has made me go all sentimental or something but I have been over indulging the POS recently.
This evening I fitted a new light, the original one has been hanging in bits for about 8 or 9 years but instead of getting a 50v bulb and trying to sort it I splashed out £40 on a Chinese 12w LED lamp.

With it switched off.

With it on, it puts out a good light, how long it will last I don't know but...

I then fitted the new scale to the tailstock, not as nice quality as the M-DRO stainless one I put on the other week but hopefully it will last a while. The remote readout is much better for me though as I have it angled so I am looking directly at it. I also placed this one above to give more clearance, I was going to fit behind but the levers were fouling with the reader head. I may end up making an extension end bracket and fitting it behind, will see how this works out.
Still have the cable to clip up but I will wait and see if this position is final before I do that.

 

[Munkul]

You'll be cleaning and painting the thing next!

 

[Hood]

You'll be cleaning and painting the thing next!

Behave, I am not that far gone.

 

[Brad93]

You'll be cleaning and painting the thing next!

Nonsense. That’s why he works with ali, stainless and bronze. No painting!

 

[ukracer]

You'll be cleaning and painting the thing next!

Hopefully not....makes me feel almost normal.