First Time Lathe Play Advice

[Pete.]

Lathe was bought on a whim and i've done nothing with it until now. It is all learning and nowhere near attempting to power it yet.
Using the 3 jaw allowed me to confirm the similar results i obtained whilst spinning drum on vehicle axle. Don't think there was any great movement at the inner bore surface whilst doing this, hence suspecting ovality. Mounting in lathe was initially a means to confirm previous findings.
Now want to play with the big toy

I thought the junior had a 2 speed motor. You might want to check that as it will affect how you power it, unless you have 3 phase.

 

[mr haynes]

I thought the junior had a 2 speed motor. You might want to check that as it will affect how you power it, unless you have 3 phase.

Motor is dual voltage

 

[iNf]

Motor is dual voltage

View attachment 483018View attachment 483019

You may already know this but you will still need a 3 phase supply to run at 240v (usually via a VFD if you don't have a 3 phase supply to the property) I can't see anything on that label to say it is a 2 speed motor but if it is it will be difficult to run from a VFD (certainly from a cheap one)

 

[indykid]

You may already know this but you will still need a 3 phase supply to run at 240v (usually via a VFD if you don't have a 3 phase supply to the property) I can't see anything on that label to say it is a 2 speed motor but if it is it will be difficult to run from a VFD (certainly from a cheap one)

The dataplate says it's single phase so it must have been swapped out at some point. The instructions for direction reversal confirm it's single phase too

 

[mr haynes]

Boy i got it from said it was single phase, didn't have a reason to doubt him.

 

[iNf]

Doh! Didn't notice that looking on my phone

 

[Pete.]

Boy i got it from said it was single phase, didn't have a reason to doubt him.

So it is. There you go then plug and play.

 

[indykid]

Doh! Didn't notice that looking on my phone

I must admit it's the first 480V plated single phase motor I think I've ever seen.

 

[mr haynes]

I must admit it's the first 480V plated single phase motor I think I've ever seen.

I posted this before and the consensus was it was all good, nowt unusual.
Was new to me too

 

[mr haynes]

So it is. There you go then plug and play.

As long as it's not like Rock, Paper, Scissors, Table Saw play......

 

[Dave-sparks]

I must admit it's the first 480V plated single phase motor I think I've ever seen.

Most likely made for the 240V/480V split phase supplies used in some areas.

 

[mr haynes]

Life has finally got out of the way and now back onto this.
I have now powered the motor (sparks and sensible folk please look away) and attached belts, all seems to be moving ok with both motor and lathe.

Looking for input from you good folk on the controls.

What speed should i be looking to use?
Should it be set for surfacing or sliding?
The lever with the red knob of danger appears to change the rotation when turned by hand, should i be touching this?
The inserty thingy appears to have one unused point, should this be fine to use?

Some more pics to peruse:

 

[Kram]

The insert looks like a rougher. You wont get a nice fine cut removing just the minimum of material with that.

Suggest practise on some scrap first.

Thats a large chuck, observe if it has a max rpm stamped on it. 900rpm may be too fast for it.
Given those speed options, likely 200 or 400 rpm. On a big lathe like that I'm hesitant to say 900!

Sliding/surfacing, I think that will be if the power feed is driving the cross slide. I'd suggest sliding and keep the power feeds off until you have more experience with it.

 

[oldbikedavey]

Life has finally got out of the way and now back onto this.
I have now powered the motor (sparks and sensible folk please look away) and attached belts, all seems to be moving ok with both motor and lathe.

Looking for input from you good folk on the controls.

What speed should i be looking to use?
Should it be set for surfacing or sliding?
The lever with the red knob of danger appears to change the rotation when turned by hand, should i be touching this?
The inserty thingy appears to have one unused point, should this be fine to use?

Some more pics to peruse:

View attachment 485207View attachment 485209View attachment 485210View attachment 485211View attachment 485212View attachment 485213View attachment 485214View attachment 485215View attachment 485216

The insert looks like a rougher. You wont get a nice fine cut removing just the minimum of material with that.

Suggest practise on some scrap first.

Thats a large chuck, observe if it has a max rpm stamped on it. 900rpm may be too fast for it.
Given those speed options, likely 200 or 400 rpm. On a big lathe like that I'm hesitant to say 900!

Sliding/surfacing, I think that will be if the power feed is driving the cross slide. I'd suggest sliding and keep the power feeds off until you have more experience with it.

Get on to Tony Griffiths at www.lathes.co.uk , and he will very likely be able to supply a users manual for the thing .
It'll be a great deal cheaper than a damaged lathe !

 

[addjunkie]

Get on to Tony Griffiths at www.lathes.co.uk , and he will very likely be able to supply a users manual for the thing .
It'll be a great deal cheaper than a damaged lathe !

This is good advice. But if you cant find an instruction book, you need to play carefully to find out what each control does. Or find an experienced lathe user to come and have a play with you.

As for what speed to run the brake drum at I might suggest you google “calculating speeds and feeds for turning”. It will guide you on how to work it out, and then give you a feel for where you should be.

 

[Pete.]

Sliding is power feeding up and down the bed. Surfacing is power feeding across.

Not familiar with the red lever operation but it looks like it reverses the power feeds. @presswill know.

Thst drum you want turning at about 100rpm. The insert has one good edge that side mighr have more the other.

 

[mr haynes]

The insert looks like a rougher. You wont get a nice fine cut removing just the minimum of material with that.

Suggest practise on some scrap first.

Thats a large chuck, observe if it has a max rpm stamped on it. 900rpm may be too fast for it.
Given those speed options, likely 200 or 400 rpm. On a big lathe like that I'm hesitant to say 900!

Sliding/surfacing, I think that will be if the power feed is driving the cross slide. I'd suggest sliding and keep the power feeds off until you have more experience with it.

AFAIK it looks likely to be the Lang supplied chuck, 3 jaw was an optional extra.
Ah, didn't realise the crosslide could also have power feed, makes sense now.
Had a quick look on amazon, identifying and choosing the correct insert is not quite as straightforward as it appears

 

[mr haynes]

This is good advice. But if you cant find an instruction book, you need to play carefully to find out what each control does. Or find an experienced lathe user to come and have a play with you.

As for what speed to run the brake drum at I might suggest you google “calculating speeds and feeds for turning”. It will guide you on how to work it out, and then give you a feel for where you should be.

So far only turned on power, without touching anything, to confirm there was life.
Everything thing else done by hand

 

[mr haynes]

Sliding is power feeding up and down the bed. Surfacing is power feeding across.

Not familiar with the red lever operation but it looks like it reverses the power feeds. @presswill know.

Thst drum you want turning at about 100rpm. The insert has one good edge that side mighr have more the other.

Red lever seems to be in a prominent position, appeared to change the spindle rotation direction when hand turning the pulley.
Not sure why.....
It operates the lever arm on the backside of machine, can just about make it out on the end shot pic above

 

[fizzy]

AFAIK it looks likely to be the Lang supplied chuck, 3 jaw was an optional extra.
Ah, didn't realise the crosslide could also have power feed, makes sense now.
Had a quick look on amazon, identifying and choosing the correct insert is not quite as straightforward as it appears

Chuck out the rule book when using carbide inserts on older lathes. They were designed in the days before carbide tooling became popular.
Drove me mad trying to get nice finishes etc on my Colchester Triumph.
Don't be afraid of heavy cuts.
Sometimes higher speeds give a worse finish - I find around 600rpm on my Triumph is best. Just play around.
Tips designed for aluminium or brass - very pointy ones - can sometimes give better finishes with light cuts when you are creeping up to a finished diameter.