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Thread: Small lathes (and mill combos)
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1st Jul 2019, 02:08 PM #46Intermediate Member
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- Jun 2003
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- Brisbane, Qld
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- 33
Went out to have a closer look at one of the sheratons today and almost went for it - decided I should sleep on it rather than making a spur of the moment decision. They'll arrange delivery and positioning in my shop for 3K all up.
We powered it up and it appears to run smooth - we tried a variety of gears (not all) and it seems to run smooth and quiet - they also say they have checked all gear combinations, for what that's worth. Bed and other surfaces look good to my eye, checked power feed for both along the bed and cross and it seems to run smooth. Winding the tool rest and saddle through full range of motion felt smooth. Tailstock and quill seem solid and smooth.
Coolant pump seems to be dead which is a shame but not a showstopper I think.
Can anyone recommend a way to check if the bearings are in good shape?
Motor is 415V 5HP and I think it says 5A (little hard to read). My thinking at the moment is to just get a sparky to connect to three phase rather than mucking about with a VFD or replacing the motor. The main power draw on my three phase circuit in the workshop is my dust extractor which won't be running at the same time as the lathe, so I'm thinking it's just a branch of cable off that circuit, with another isolator etc, so hopefully not too expensive.
One unfortunate thing is it doesn't come with any tooling or much in the way of accessories. Think I can live with that as long as it's a good machine - certainly a much more capable machine than I was expecting to acquire when I started this process.
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1st Jul 2019, 06:03 PM #47Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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- Feb 2006
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- Perth
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Sounds pretty good.
The coolant pump could be a ball of corrosion that might just have to be chucked out.
If so a small plastic water feature pump will do pretty well in its place.
If you have a compressor one thing I would look at in place of the coolant pump is a misting system.
I spent AGES resurrecting the "ball of corrosion" pump on my mill and since installing a mister I hardly use the coolant pump.
Bearing wise, if it ran smoothly and quietly at high speed that is some some sort of indicator.
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1st Jul 2019, 08:42 PM #48Most Valued Member
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- Nov 2007
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- melbourne australia
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Sounds like you've found a winner!
Chris
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2nd Jul 2019, 10:30 AM #49Most Valued Member
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- Jun 2011
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- Australia east coast
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Do this. It's the simplest and most reliable thing. Even if you've only got a 15A 3 phase breaker that'll handle even a 7.5HP 3 phase motor easily.
WRT the coolant pump I never use mine so I don't think it's any sort of problem.
Spindle bearings - if the lathe can turn out work without chatter and the work is round, the bearings are good enough. It's actually pretty hard to kill headstock bearings unless you run them dry of oil or something. The bearings in my 1942 Monarch are still fine.
PDW
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2nd Jul 2019, 10:17 PM #50Intermediate Member
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- Jun 2003
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- Brisbane, Qld
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Decided to pull the trigger! Just need to organise a sparky and find myself some tooling.
Will start out with some cheap chinese tools, can anyone recommend a good source or a particular ebay seller? ozmestore1 is already on my list.
Thanks,
Danny
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2nd Jul 2019, 10:28 PM #51Philomath in training
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- Oct 2011
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- Norwood-ish, Adelaide
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- 59
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Don't do that. The average cheap Chinese tooling set has tended not to be interchangeable with anything, so even though you get insert carbide tools, you soon find that you can't find inserts for them.
WNMG's or CCMT inserts are quite common. Jump on to ebay and find some tools that take them (probably around the 09 size). HSS may sound old fashioned but still has it's place too. It's (relatively) cheap and through learning how to grind it, you will learn about the cutting process.
Michael
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3rd Jul 2019, 07:46 AM #52Intermediate Member
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- Jun 2003
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- Brisbane, Qld
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- 33
Yeah, I was going to get an HSS set to start with (and maybe a throwaway set of carbide if they're cheap enough!).
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3rd Jul 2019, 09:33 AM #53Diamond Member
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- Feb 2013
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- Laidley, SE Qld
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- 1,039
I've been buying my lathe and mill tooling and inserts from these guys for a few years, they haven't upset me so I keep going back.
To me the great thing about carbide is that you can start making parts straight away, it handles all the routine turning facing boring and parting ops. If (when) you stuff up an insert, lesson learned and fit another insert. That said there will be times when you will need to make a custom cutter HSS for a job.
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/225...6cc24c4dXpf4FF
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3rd Jul 2019, 10:55 AM #54Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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- Feb 2006
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- Perth
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If you only just take a small chip of the end of the insert and its accessible enough I've found I don't have to throw it away and can usually reform the tip with my diamond wheel. OK it won't have the exact same geometry as the original but its usually good enough for most work.
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4th Nov 2019, 06:56 PM #55Intermediate Member
- Join Date
- Jun 2003
- Location
- Brisbane, Qld
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- 33
Life interfered for a while there, but I'm starting to learn to drive this Sheraton (and how to turn metal in general). Going well so far, first thing turned for use outside the workshop was a simple pen:
1st-kitless-1.jpg
1st-kitless-2.jpg
Cheers,
Danny
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