Author Topic: Cowells Adventures (Read 6784 times)

b.lindsey · « **on:** February 04, 2017, 10:12:28 PM »

OK, since some of you (you know who you are) were giving me a hard time on the other thread, I just started a new one. Just as well, the old topic title wasn't appropriate anymore anyway.

After some rearranging in the garage, I at least have a temporary home for little "C". Enough to play around with it a bit anyway. That said, I found a stray piece of aluminum rod and went through facing, turning (both manual and with the geared feed), angle cutting using the compound, and so on and ended up with a tool height setting gage. Would be better done in steel but didn't have any handy of suitable size.

Anyway, got a feel for the handwheels, changing speeds, adjusting the compound, and the autofeed, so that is a first step. More adventures to follow, and as you can see it now knows what a bit of swarf is.

Bill

crueby · « **Reply #1 on:** February 04, 2017, 10:18:07 PM »

Nice!!

(Zee, Jim, pass the popcorn!)

b.lindsey · « **Reply #2 on:** February 04, 2017, 10:22:41 PM »

I trust you guys and Jo were not expecting a full engine in one afternoon

Bill

crueby · « **Reply #3 on:** February 04, 2017, 10:38:21 PM »

Quote from: b.lindsey on February 04, 2017, 10:22:41 PM

I truest you guys and Jo were not expecting a full engine in one afternoon

Bill

Oh no! Not at all. We were going to give you the evening too....

Flyboy Jim · « **Reply #4 on:** February 04, 2017, 10:55:11 PM »

Su..........weeet!

Jim

zeeprogrammer · « **Reply #5 on:** February 04, 2017, 11:12:17 PM »

Awe gee. It's all dirty now.

As it should be!

Engine tomorrow right?

philjoe5 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 04, 2017, 11:48:53 PM »

Nice! Is this lathe on the scale of the Sherline?

Cheers,
Phil

90LX_Notch · « **Reply #7 on:** February 04, 2017, 11:59:31 PM »

That is a great adventure Bill. Once again, best of luck with it.

-Bob

b.lindsey · « **Reply #8 on:** February 05, 2017, 12:05:23 AM »

Phil, slightly smaller perhaps but yes, comparable. The main difference is all steel or cast iron construction and traditional speed control and threading via the geared head and change gears.

Bill

steve-de24 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 05, 2017, 12:59:44 AM »

Bill,
Good to see you've cut metal with it and the lathe's working ok.
One difference between yours and my older lathe is that Cowells have gone over to a more sensible dial marking for a metric machine. Yours looks to have 50 increments around the circumference of the dial, of 0.02mm each, with major intervals at 0.2 and 0.1mm.
For some reason my older dials are divided into 40 increments with major intervals at 0.25 and 0.125mm - I suspect they couldn't resist overlooking that 0.025mm = 0.001 inch. However there has been the very odd occasion when working in fractions of 1/8th of a mm was convenient.

Steve

b.lindsey · « **Reply #10 on:** February 05, 2017, 02:16:09 AM »

You are correct Steve, 50 divisions per rev. with major divisions at .2, .4, .6, .8, and 0 and intermediate marks at .1, .3, .5,.7, and .9 (less numbers) and smaller lines at each .02mm.

Bill

Kim · « **Reply #11 on:** February 05, 2017, 05:42:48 AM »

Very nice Bill! And congratulations again on your newest addition!

Kim

Jo · « **Reply #12 on:** February 05, 2017, 08:03:37 AM »

The important question: how does it feel in comparison with your Sherline?

Jo

steamer · « **Reply #13 on:** February 05, 2017, 01:31:05 PM »

Nice! Smaller lathes have a feel all their own, and for small parts is so enjoyable to use.

Dave

b.lindsey · « **Reply #14 on:** February 05, 2017, 01:57:35 PM »

Jo, I would have to say it feels incredibly smooth overall. The lack of a true handle on the compound may take some getting used to but in use it is far more rigid than the Sherline compound which is a separate attachment without adjustable gibs. From a power standpoint I would say they are about the same, though I haven't tried the back gear yet. I suspect that will provide a lot more torque when needed. Today I want to give the collet adapter a try and the QC toolpost as well. More on that later.

Dave, yes I think the Cowells will be used more for those small fiddly parts and for making small fasteners when needed too.

Bill

Tennessee Whiskey · « **Reply #15 on:** February 05, 2017, 03:17:44 PM »

Well you didn't think I was going to

and just take off; did you? Professor, he's a pretty good looking old boy, even if he ain't a real big old boy

. Is there a crossfeed or is it done with the compound? I love the color. That blue is darn close to the old Ford blue engine color. If that's a Warner tool holder, I now really appreciate the size. You might as well start building his muscles: brass next, then 12L, and then a little O1 for the backgear. I'm tickled for you Bill. Sure woulda thought for that money though, he'd done that "swarfless turning "

. Tell everybody hey.

Cletus

b.lindsey · « **Reply #16 on:** February 05, 2017, 04:04:51 PM »

Cletus, yes it has a crossfeed, not powered though. See the picture below, that handwheel is for the crossfeed. The longitudinal feed is via the handwheel at the tailstock end of the lathe or through the gear train for power feed or threading.

Bill

90LX_Notch · « **Reply #17 on:** February 05, 2017, 04:15:39 PM »

Eric he needs go straight to some stainless or 4340 and thread it.

-Bob

b.lindsey · « **Reply #18 on:** February 05, 2017, 04:38:01 PM »

A bit more exploration this morning. I wanted to see how the compound is held in/adjusted. You can see it removed in photo 1, by loosening two grub screws (one of the front and one on the rear of the crossslide. To adjust the angle is a simple matter of loosening those grub screws slightly rotating the compound and the retightening against that angled extension. Photo 2 shows the QC toolpost and yes Cletus that is a 1/4" Warner toolholder. The toolholders lock in to the dovetail on the toolpost via a SHCS which you can just barely see on the extreme roght of the photo. Not quite as convenient as a cam handle but solid none the less.

Mosey had asked about the hollow back chuck. Photo 3 shows the back side. The chuck key (not shown in this pic is more like a drill chuck key as to how it engages the back side of the scroll. Photo 4 shows the front side with the jaws out far enough to show the scroll.

While I had the chuck off, I put the collet closer on as shown in photos 5 & 6, I think I have some 1/4" 12L14 laying around so I will give that a try this afternoon. If not I know I have some 1/4" drill rod.

Bill

philjoe5 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 05, 2017, 05:19:18 PM »

Just had a visit to the Cowells website. Some beautiful machinery there. I missed the original thread Bill, did you purchase from the website or buy a used machine?

Cheers,
Phil

b.lindsey · « **Reply #20 on:** February 05, 2017, 05:56:56 PM »

Phil, I ordered it from Colin at Cowells. We had emailed back and forth numerous times and he is a most helpful guy. He originally quoted delivery at around 12 weeks but it ended up being more like 9 weeks. There don't seem to be a lot if used machines on this side of the pond.

Bill

Roger B · « **Reply #21 on:** February 05, 2017, 06:18:32 PM »

It looks like you are having fun with the new acquisition

ShopShoe · « **Reply #22 on:** February 06, 2017, 02:43:35 PM »

That looks so sweet. You are to be congratulated and envied.

By the way these machines were talked about I had been assuming that they were rare bits to be hunted down and collected. I did not realize that they could still be bought new.

So, from those who own them; with the threading are they the best machine to sit down at a small desk and enjoy a few hours making studs and linkages?

(I don't play Fantasy Football [American Game], but I have a constantly-changing fantasy workshop I think about when stuck in doctor's waiting rooms and similar places.)

ShopShoe

steam guy willy · « **Reply #23 on:** February 06, 2017, 03:09:52 PM »

Hi, Does your lathe have Norwich cast into the base ?? if so it was made in Norwich 100 yards from where i live !!!!!!!!!The factory is now in Brightlingsea where i used to go sailing..........Small World ! But then England is quite small !!!
Willbert

b.lindsey · « **Reply #24 on:** February 06, 2017, 03:18:24 PM »

I have looked at the underside but didn't take note of the markings. I will look this evening and let you know.

Bill

Jo · « **Reply #25 on:** February 06, 2017, 06:09:45 PM »

There is too much swarf on Little C for me to be willing to try looking

Jo

Nick_G · « **Reply #26 on:** February 06, 2017, 06:25:00 PM »

.
Bill. Jo will not be happy until you start machining casings on it.!

Nick

b.lindsey · « **Reply #27 on:** February 06, 2017, 11:49:25 PM »

Willy, I checked and mine looks just like the one in your photo...Norwich.

Bill

Jo · « **Reply #28 on:** February 14, 2017, 01:57:18 PM »

Bill I am getting concerned we haven't seen any swarf from your new lathe for over a week

.

I can only assume that you are enjoying yourself too much to remember to take pictures for you friends so we can appreciate it as well

Jo

b.lindsey · « **Reply #29 on:** February 14, 2017, 02:56:40 PM »

No swarf yet Jo, other than just some playing around. Have been finishing up a rather large CAD project for a guy that has the castings but not the CAD skills to produce the prints to go with them. Finally got the first draft of those finished up over the weekend. The Cowells first project has been identified though, but will take mill work as well on the Sherline. That will be George's "TINY" hit and miss engine based or Arv's original drawings. IN the process of gathering up the required materials to begin it so more to follow on that soon enough. Meanwhile lots of Cowells fondling going on, certainly don't want it feeling neglected

Bill

crueby · « **Reply #30 on:** February 14, 2017, 05:17:09 PM »

Looking forward to seeing that new engine! Glad the Sherline won't be neglected either.

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Author Topic: Cowells Adventures (Read 6784 times)