Mini Lathe Project

Started by Tiddlerbasher, June 17, 2015, 10:26:41 AM

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Tiddlerbasher

A couple of years ago I was given a couple of boxes of "bits" that a friend had played with but ultimately gave up :(
The parts in the boxes were obvioulsy a mini lathe (of some kind). It appeared almost complete so I set about stripping, cleaning, buffing etc.

The finished lathe:



To give an idea of scale - the base board is 30" long the 3 jaw chuck is 2 3/4" diameter - we are talking "small" :D





The original 1/2 HP motor :o (way too big) was replaced with a DC E-bike motor (cheap and available :)) The speed controller an electronic PWM device with standard on/off switch - providing 0 - 1500 rpm. The original dual 3 pulley system (only 3 speeds, all to fast) was replaced with timing pulleys and toothed belt. The original AC motor used a V belt drive which had to be tensioned to grip. The timing belt is hardly under any real tension.

The most important thing it works really well and is so quiet and vibration free 8) The wife doesn't even know I'm using it ;D

Alto Mare

That looks great, can't wait to see what you will be making us. ;D Now I don't feel so bad for getting rid of mine ;D.
Sal
Forget about all the reasons why something may not work. You only need to find one good reason why it will.

Tiddlerbasher


Rothmar2

Sky is the limit now with that, and great job on the conversion.
After seeing your line winder masterpiece, I am looking forward to seeing what else you come up with.
Should be able to knock up senator SS rings with that if you can get the annulus blanks cut on a larger lathe beforehand. The variable drive is the biz!

Keta

Hi, my name is Lee and I have a fishing gear problem.

I have all of the answers, yup, no, maybe.

A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way.
Mark Twain

anglingarchitect

You guys really get up early or don't sleep at all.

Bryan Young

Wow, that's a nice lathe and modification.

I really need to look into ebike motors and controllers.  Where do you buy such components from?
:D I talk with every part I send out and each reel I repair so that they perform at the top of their game. :D

Tiddlerbasher

Hi Bryan,
The motor, PWM controller and power supply all came from Fleabay. UK based sellers but all Chinese crap (like most electrical based stuff :()
The 24v 120W motor (for a Chinese scooter) was £10, the 10A power supply £13, and the 10A PWM controller £5 - £28 all in - not bad :) Probably cheaper your side of the pond :D

The timing pulleys and belt sourced locally, from a specialist shop, for a few pounds.

These kind components could be used for any number of "motorised" projects. The wiring is really simple: + to red wire (can be brown or white) - to black wire (can be blue) otherwise + to + and - to - :) Just make certain there is a safety margin for the PSU and PWM. I used 10A versions 'cos the motor can max out at 7.5 A (it usually runs at 4-5 amps).


LTM

Quote from: Bryan Young on June 17, 2015, 02:08:29 PM
Wow, that's a nice lathe and modification.

I really need to look into ebike motors and controllers.  Where do you buy such components from?
Ebay for sure B

Leo

Reel 224

I have an old EMCO-UNIMAT Mod-SL Lathe and Milling machine. It was designed for small mettle parts as such for the hobbyist, I have used it to turnout small mettle parts here ant there in the past, what I need to do is blow the dust off of it and see if it would be useful for reel work. 
"I don't know the key to success,but the key to failure is trying to please everyone."

exp2000

#10
I am truly envious Tiddlerbasher  :)

homemadetools

Homemade tool guy checking in. Not a spammer ;D  (proof: http://www.homemadetools.net/links )

Just a note that we featured Tiddlerbasher's excellent mini lathe in yesterday's HomemadeTools.net newsletter: http://mailchi.mp/buildthreads/vise-stop-hand-turning-rest-router-plate-alignment-tool

We have 7 total homemade tools listed from AlanTani.com, all of course fully credited to each builder and website, and linked to each post: http://www.homemadetools.net/sites/alantani.com

I hope we've been able to send you some good traffic.

Cor

Is a pretty sturdy looking tool, nicely restored.
Am sure you'll enjoy using it.
Cornelis