CVA Fixed Steady

[Trevanion]

Something I have been after ever since I bought my CVA Lathe was a fixed steady for it, they very seldom come up for sale and when I have seen them come up for sale they tend to go for big money and they're not always complete. When this one came up recently for what I thought was not a completely offensive price I decided to pull the trigger and get it. I thought I would post a few photos as there isn't much online about them, aside from the fact that they are heavily inspired by the Monarch 10EE's steady (as is the whole lathe) so they are also desirable for the American market to fit on a 10EE but require a bit of modification to get to the correct centre-height as the CVA's sits about 1/2" higher apparently.

In typical CVA fashion it's ridiculously over-built, it could be half as stout and still function just as well for most work, it will fit around 3" through the hole.

It doesn't look to have had much use at all, the bronze bearing surfaces seem to have had very little wear.

It should come in useful, there have been times that a steady would have made life a lot easier in the time I've had the lathe.

Also, if anyone's interested I've also recently made a CVA page on Facebook, at present it's just myself on there but it would be nice to have more CVA owners on there: https://www.facebook.com/groups/985809386749573

 

[Martin-Sy]

That steady looks nice. Good spot!
I still think the hole should be bigger.
I don't do facebook but will let others know that are not on here.
@fizzy has a couple I believe.

 

[fizzy]

That steady looks nice. Good spot!
I still think the hole should be bigger.
I don't do facebook but will let others know that are not on here.
@fizzy has a couple I believe.

Yes I have the fixed and travelling ones. Will have to take some pics.

 

[Trevanion]

I still think the hole should be bigger.

Yes, for the sheer mass of it, the hole is quite small. Though I very rarely turn anything above 3" so I doubt it will be much of an issue in the future (he says).

Had I spotted it sooner the seller also had a travelling steady for sale, but I missed it before it sold. I'm sure I'll come across another one day, along with the metric gears and taper turning attachment

 

[Agroshield]

...the hole is quite small... ...metric gears

It would be intereseting to review a number of lathes from all manufacturers and see if any of them offer 'big bore' fixed steadies as standard.

If you look at someone like Cutting Edge on YT, even though the lathe has a large swing, the fixed steady still has a capacity that is only a small percentage of that swing.

I think there may be STL files of CVA gears on thingiverse. You could 3D print them in plastic to make sure they fit and then send to JLC PCB for printing in a good engineering plastic or even metal.

Edit: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:37795

Second edit: the Thingiverse stuff says the gears are 32DP 20 PA. That is good because they are for all practical purposes identical to and interchangeable with 0.8 MOD, so that doubles your options.

 

[fizzy]

I have a full set I think of metric gears as well. No taper turner though.

 

[Martin-Sy]

I have a full set I think of metric gears as well. No taper turner though.

Same here, thanks to @pete for some of the metric gears.
I also managed to acquire some of the CVA 16DP gears that were available as accessories for odd threads.
Whether I'll ever use them is another matter.

As I don't have the TTA.....and although this may not the right forum thread to mention it, I have been thinking about making an electronic profile attachment.
This could do all that a TTA does and more.
In essence it would use the Z axis DRO scale output signals fed into some electronics that calculates the required cross-slide position and drives a stepper motor to achieve it.
It would mean taking the cross-slide ball-handle off and replacing with a toothed belt pulley to take the drive.
The electronics / firmware would have an interface to allow the angle to be set and and a means of applying a cut.

Once set it would be used just like a traditional TTA.

With more effort it could be made to cut curves etc. Semi CNC I guess.

 

[Pete.]

Just for clarity, the CVA has the centre height of the later square dial 10ee lathes. The earlier round dial 10ee were 1/2" less swing so the centre height is 1/4" lower and therefore the CVA steady won't fit it's too tall.

 

[Agroshield]

...a means of applying a cut.

With more effort it could be made to cut curves etc

The compound slide might do to apply the cut. The challenge could be physically fitting it parallel to the cross slide (handle clash).

For curves (profiling), which would go both in and out, you would need a zero-backlash screw. A standard TT only works in one direction so backlash is less important. A hydraulic profiler (e.g. Hepworth copier, TruTrace) is hydraulically-driven so is naturally backlash-free. Also, in most hydraulic copiers/profilers the tool slide does not move perpendicular to the Z-axis. Another way of saying this is that if it does move at 90 degrees, it severely limits the shape of the tooling you can use and the profiles that are possible.

There is a book called 'Copy Turning' by K J Downes (https://onlineshop.oxfam.org.uk/cop...tandard-reference-series/product/HD_302437511) that is well worth buying.

 

[RichardM]

I have a full set I think of metric gears as well. No taper turner though.

"My old Tony" on YT has a taper turner video, he made one for his lathe, l am thinking of making one using a linear rail to track along.

 

[Bruce A]

Hi,

A new topic, I hope that it is OK with all. I have CVA lathe with the electrical device fitted to the outer end of the spindle motor
that automatically engages motor reverse to act as a brake. The power is removed from the motor when it has slowed to about 200 RPM.
This reversing system is not operating on my lathe.

The copy of the lathe manual I obtained from Tony of lathes.com.uk does not include the circuit diagram for the model fitted with this device.

If anyone out there has such a circuit diagram I would appreciate a copy. I would cover any costs.

Regards,
Bruce

 

[Agroshield]

This reversing system is not operating on my lathe.

Please read here:

CVA taper turning attachment

Hi All, I wonder if there is a lonely CVA taper turning attachment looking for a home anywhere? I doubt if my lathe already had the telescopic cross slide screw so I’d need that too.

www.mig-welding.co.uk

Some useful information and a few names to pursue, including someone in the same country as you.

 

[Martin-Sy]

Welcome to the forum @Bruce A .
The thread linked by @Agroshield has more about the rapid stop system than I have managed to find anywhere else.
In essence it puts the motor (electrically) into the opposite direction until it is almost stationary.
It's very hard on the drive mechanism and I've heard reports of the headstock spindle pulley coming lose.
You'll need a proper utility three phase supply for it to work.

Can you post a picture and the s/n of your machine please?
Did you get any accessories with it?

 

[Bruce A]

Thank you Agroshield and Martin. My CVA arrived with both steadies, 3 and 4 Jaw, face plate and catch plate. No TTA or collets.

The serial number is 1642 by J.L. Jameson Ltd.

Regards,
Bruce

 

[Martin-Sy]

The serial number is 1642 by J.L. Jameson Ltd.

Thanks Bruce. Mine (1961 made) came with a few accessories, but no TTA.
Amongst them was the taper adapter for the spindle nose which (just like the Monarch 10EE) is Jarno #12 to 2MT.
I have managed to acquire the two steadies.

Jameson made the lathes for a while when CVA were too busy with other work.
After that Coles in Dorking made and rebuilt them until 1990 or thereabouts.

J L Jameson, Ewell, Surrey UK

I can see that you must have met Hugh as he's posted a picture of your data plate in that earlier thread.
Here: KT1642

Anyway good luck with your wiring (assuming that you really want the quick stop to work)
If you do draw it out I'd be interested in a copy.
Regards, Martin.