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Thread: Standing up to my lathe
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1st Sep 2019, 04:59 PM #1Philomath in training
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Standing up to my lathe
For some time I've felt that my lathe is a little low - I have to stoop just a little to use it. Recently I was employed at a place where the lathes used a starting rod along the bed but went down for on. Mine goes up for on (as per the manual) but I considered changing mine over for consistency. To make down for on comfortable, I decided that I would have to lift the lathe up. I'm no longer going to go down for on, but the lifting up idea still has some merit.
In November I put up a WTB for some PFC and Kryn found me some, so I had no excuse. The fabricating side has been going off and on for some time now but this morning Eric came over and helped install, so it has happened. After using the lathe when the controls were lower, it feels a bit odd with them higher up but not bad. I'll get used to it...
I wanted a stand that looked in keeping with the profile of the lathe. As it has rounded corners, that meant that the lifting stand would need them too. I measured up and decided that the corners were R1 3/4" so found some pipe, quartered it and away I went. Sections were joined to PFC and then the tops and bottoms filled. On the other hand, I also wanted some good square corners, so backed with some copper bar, I build up those corners and then ground them back
P1040387.jpg P1040398.JPG
Part way through joining the two pedestals together. (This design allows for some under lathe storage as well as being able to move the lathe in the future with a pallet truck)
P1040400.JPG
I tried the end out and discovered that the radius was not 1 3/4" but 2", and also that there were some smaller radii that I had assumed were the same but ended up being different. Cut and shut time...
The one on top is the replacement section, the one underneath is the first go.
P1040669.jpg
The frame once complete would be attached to the underside of the lathe with 5/8" BSF bolts. Luckily, I found some 5/8" BSW and was able to cut them down. The split die was borrowed from work, needed as the threads in the base casting were a bit (like 5 to 10 thou) undersize.
P1040677.JPG
Installation was a matter of jacking up with the toe jack supplied by China's mate, resting the lathe on some supports (in this case a stack of bricks) while taking out the blocks and sliding in the frame. Blast and paint was by Davey's Blast and Paint in Wingfield. Did a good job too.
P1040685.JPG
I had hoped that the castings would be a little more uniform but fit up was not quite as close as I would have liked. Probably understandable with a casting of this size (the bed bolts on but the lower section is all one piece). If I had the capability, I would have liked to pick up the lathe, trace out an accurate pattern and go from there but as I was I had to rely on the manual for hole positions. I suspect that what the drawing office assumed the tolerances would be and what the factory produced may have differed ever so slightly. Of course, my welding or having the welded fabrication grit blasted would not have caused any distortion what so ever
P1040687.JPG P1040689.JPG
One thing I did discover though is that the main gear box has an oil leak, so a tear down is on the cards soon to check that out. I noted when I first stripped it (years ago) that there was a crack, so it is not unexpected.
Thanks again to Kryn, Eric and Bob (China)
MichaelLast edited by Michael G; 1st Sep 2019 at 05:18 PM. Reason: errors and omissions everywhere!
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1st Sep 2019, 05:08 PM #2Most Valued Member
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That's pretty neat Michael.
I like the idea of using pipe to get the radius.
Simon
Sent from my SM-G970F using TapatalkGirl, I don't wanna know about your mild-mannered alter ego or anything like that." I mean, you tell me you're, uh, super-mega-ultra-lightning babe? That's all right with me. I'm good. I'm good.
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1st Sep 2019, 06:12 PM #3Most Valued Member
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Well done Michael, Kryn, Eric and Bob looks factory standard
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2nd Sep 2019, 03:42 PM #4Golden Member
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2nd Sep 2019, 06:44 PM #5Diamond Member
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Very well done. Makes the bits of 75mm plate under my lathe look pretty shabby.
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30th Jul 2021, 05:27 PM #6Member
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Or the wooden pallet I have under mine
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30th Jul 2021, 09:53 PM #7Diamond Member
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Very nice work Michael, as every one else has noted. It looks just like a factory accessory.
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