Author Topic: an adventure in the mini lathe world  (Read 5386 times)

Offline Ratchap

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 52
an adventure in the mini lathe world
« on: August 22, 2018, 09:58:29 PM »
Greetings from West London, I was suggested i start to  show  what i was doing / planning/ dreaming of  with my  freebie  mini lathe. it is going to be used for making parts  for my 7mm to the foot  model railways

I understand it is a  Norfolk lathe of 1960's era  I was given it 7 years ago and only just have managed to get a motor fitted apart from the motor  what you see in the picture is what i was given
an independent 4 jaw chuck , 2 dead centers a back plate a couple of HSS tools and the Allen keys.

since getting the motor and fixing every thing down i  have started on a list of needs  and wants
needs.To replce the motor pulley  with one the same size as the lathes to  enable simple  speed changing
a 3 jaw chuck  or collet holder to  mount on the back plate
alive centre
a drill chuck for the tail stock
some form of calibration for the cross slide and compound slide
means of screw cutting ( i am thinking a stepper drive and arduino

wants 
some form of split lead screw  mechanism as its a lot of work to wind the tool post  all the  way  from  head to  tail
improve the hand wheels
a cover for the pulleys  on the lathe
a milling vice  for the cross slide

I hope that these projects may be of interest
« Last Edit: August 22, 2018, 10:08:27 PM by Ratchap »
what do you mean it wont fit  Get a bigger hammer

Offline b.lindsey

  • Global Moderator
  • Full Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13860
  • Dallas, NC, USA
    • Workbench-Miniatures
Re: an adventure in the mini lathe world
« Reply #1 on: August 22, 2018, 10:24:32 PM »
Nice looking little lathe Nigel. Is the spindle nose threaded and if so what size? I like the robyst handles on the tailstock and toolpost as well.

Bill

Offline Ratchap

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 52
Re: an adventure in the mini lathe world
« Reply #2 on: August 22, 2018, 10:30:48 PM »
the spindle nose IS threaded  and i am told its 1/2 inch UNF  i have a set of unf  thread gauges on order  from Amazon  ((  other suppliers are out there)
what do you mean it wont fit  Get a bigger hammer

Offline b.lindsey

  • Global Moderator
  • Full Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13860
  • Dallas, NC, USA
    • Workbench-Miniatures
Re: an adventure in the mini lathe world
« Reply #3 on: August 22, 2018, 10:54:54 PM »
It may not be of help in the UK but the 2.5" Sherline 3jaw Chuck is available with 1/2-20 threads if that is what the spindle nose turns out to be. https://www.sherline.com/product-category/chucks-collets/scroll-chucks/

Bill

Offline Ratchap

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 52
Re: an adventure in the mini lathe world
« Reply #4 on: August 23, 2018, 12:30:00 PM »
cheers Bill  only trouble is the price  !! I have ordered a ER32  chuck to  mount on the back-plate which will do  most of what i  want  in conjunction with the 4 jaw chuck als ordered a nice little  tailstock from amazon  should be here ( at work) this afternoon  will add some pictures and a little write up of the plans for it later
what do you mean it wont fit  Get a bigger hammer

Offline Ratchap

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 52
Re: an adventure in the mini lathe world
« Reply #5 on: August 23, 2018, 09:45:43 PM »
the live center has arrived  and  nice piece of work it is, the holder will be replaced  as it does not line up height wize  so somple bit of  bllock cutting  and drilling should sort it  out
« Last Edit: August 23, 2018, 09:54:57 PM by Ratchap »
what do you mean it wont fit  Get a bigger hammer

Offline Ratchap

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 52
Re: an adventure in the mini lathe world
« Reply #6 on: August 27, 2018, 08:56:27 PM »
well i got  some 14mm  nuts  and 1/2 unf  nuts
the /2 inch one  will not even start  the 14mm one goes on 1 or 2 turns any ideas ? 
what do you mean it wont fit  Get a bigger hammer

Offline AOG

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 730
Re: an adventure in the mini lathe world
« Reply #7 on: August 27, 2018, 09:20:59 PM »
Don’t forget that there are also 1/2 unc. 1/2 UNF is 1/2 by 20 TPI . 1/2 UNC is 1/2 by 13 TPI. You might try that.

Tony

Offline John Hill

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 188
  • Playing in my shed at Ashburton, New Zealand.
Re: an adventure in the mini lathe world
« Reply #8 on: August 27, 2018, 09:39:47 PM »
Nice little lathe!

I suggest you include a layshaft to reduce the drive speeds as I assume the spindle bearings are plain bushes and will not appreciate the sort of high speeds the current set up could provide.

I have a Flexispeed lathe that is very similar and find it a joy to use for those small jobs!

John

Offline Ratchap

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 52
Re: an adventure in the mini lathe world
« Reply #9 on: August 27, 2018, 10:12:27 PM »
cheers  Tony  i will order a selection  of nuts  lol

john the 1st job i  am going to  do is to make another  3 step pulley  the same size as on the lathe  fit this to  a Layshaft  I have got a length of SS rod  and some Pillow bearings on order   will just need to  source   the drive pulley  and build a framework.

I have a chunk of ally  centered in the 4 jaw chuck ready to face off  center  pop  and  turn to size  starting on wed

« Last Edit: August 27, 2018, 10:15:35 PM by Ratchap »
what do you mean it wont fit  Get a bigger hammer

Offline crueby

  • Full Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 18557
  • Rochester NY
Re: an adventure in the mini lathe world
« Reply #10 on: August 27, 2018, 10:27:40 PM »
Just catching up on this thread, when my eyeballs tripped over the statement
 
Quote
it is going to be used for making parts  for my 7mm to the foot  model railways
Never seen that scale before, or actually even one that mixes mm's and feet (started to type 'foot's'  :Lol: ). Is that a common scale in the UK?
Nice looking old lathe, looking forward to seeing parts from it!
 :cheers:

Offline Ian S C

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1080
  • Stirling Engine Maker Darfield Canterbury N Z
Re: an adventure in the mini lathe world
« Reply #11 on: August 28, 2018, 03:01:43 AM »
A wee trap with threads, 1/2" UNC 13 TPI,  !/2" BSW 12 TPI.  There is more than the standard meric coarse too.
Ian S C

Offline John Hill

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 188
  • Playing in my shed at Ashburton, New Zealand.
Re: an adventure in the mini lathe world
« Reply #12 on: August 28, 2018, 08:08:59 AM »
Hi Ratchap,  I measured my Flexispeed spindle thread and it is 1/2 x 16TPI presumably  BSF. I think your Norfolk will be the same.

John
« Last Edit: August 28, 2018, 08:17:08 AM by John Hill »

Offline Ratchap

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 52
Re: an adventure in the mini lathe world
« Reply #13 on: August 28, 2018, 10:22:44 AM »
Just catching up on this thread, when my eyeballs tripped over the statement
 
Quote
it is going to be used for making parts  for my 7mm to the foot  model railways
Never seen that scale before, or actually even one that mixes mm's and feet (started to type 'foot's'  :Lol: ). Is that a common scale in the UK?
Nice looking old lathe, looking forward to seeing parts from it!
 :cheers:

7mm to the foot is  also  known as 0 scale,  4mm to the foot is 00 scale, 3.5mm is HO scale   (mostly used in Mainland Europe) , 3mm  is TT scale, 2mm to the foot is N gauge, 1mm is Z gauge

there is an pure imperial scale  of 3/16 to the foot    called S scale  wikipedia has articles on all these.
a lot of modelers swap scale and gauge  there are also a range of  variations   which use  1 gauges track  and another scale
confused ?    im not surprised
what do you mean it wont fit  Get a bigger hammer

Offline Ratchap

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 52
Re: an adventure in the mini lathe world
« Reply #14 on: August 28, 2018, 10:29:15 AM »
Hi Ratchap,  I measured my Flexispeed spindle thread and it is 1/2 x 16TPI presumably  BSF. I think your Norfolk will be the same.

John

Cheers John  i  will  try my thread gauge  when i  get home plus I  have ordered  some nuts  in that  size
what do you mean it wont fit  Get a bigger hammer

Offline Ratchap

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 52
first chips
« Reply #15 on: August 30, 2018, 08:42:33 PM »
after a long time  the old  girl starts  to make chips . The first thing i had planned was the extra  3 step pulley, troubles i i find  the graduations on the hand wheels  are ................ crap !! so   4  aly blanks ordered cut to length  will be collected  tomorrowthen its  the issue of  calibrating    lol
i am really enjoying the path I have chosen to tread
what do you mean it wont fit  Get a bigger hammer

Offline AOG

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 730
Re: an adventure in the mini lathe world
« Reply #16 on: August 30, 2018, 11:06:28 PM »
My dial graduations aren’t very accurate either. I use a dial indicator and set stops at the correct dimensions. It takes a little setup but it’s way more accurate then my dials

Tony

Offline Ratchap

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 52
Re: an adventure in the mini lathe world
« Reply #17 on: August 30, 2018, 11:21:42 PM »
Tony that sounds like a plan  i will prob use the  graduations as  gudence
what do you mean it wont fit  Get a bigger hammer

Offline b.lindsey

  • Global Moderator
  • Full Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13860
  • Dallas, NC, USA
    • Workbench-Miniatures
Re: an adventure in the mini lathe world
« Reply #18 on: August 31, 2018, 01:01:13 AM »
Surprising that the handwheels are that far off. Could it be backlash? Sloppiness in the ways? Interested to find out what the issue is.

Bill

Offline zeeprogrammer

  • Full Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6811
  • West Chester, PA, USA
Re: an adventure in the mini lathe world
« Reply #19 on: August 31, 2018, 02:28:19 AM »
I would check. I was using the graduations on my tailstock...I haven't verified...but I could swear they off.
There's the graduation on the handwheel...and the markings on the ram.
If I moved the handwheel by 0.1mm...I could swear the ram moved by 1.0mm.
I haven't looked into it (whether the ram actually moved 1mm).  (Could be me.) But it's worthwhile to verify.
Carl (aka Zee) Will sometimes respond to 'hey' but never 'hey you'.
"To work. To work."
Zee-Another Thread Trasher.

Offline Ratchap

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 52
Re: an adventure in the mini lathe world
« Reply #20 on: August 31, 2018, 09:01:38 AM »
Surprising that the handwheels are that far off. Could it be backlash? Sloppiness in the ways? Interested to find out what the issue is.

Bill

there is a bit of slop plus  some backlash  one thing i  need to  do  is to  adjust the gibs in the saddle  plus tighten up the locking ring on the lead screw
what do you mean it wont fit  Get a bigger hammer

Offline Ratchap

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 52
Re: an adventure in the mini lathe world
« Reply #21 on: August 31, 2018, 09:04:29 AM »
I would check. I was using the graduations on my tailstock...I haven't verified...but I could swear they off.
There's the graduation on the handwheel...and the markings on the ram.
If I moved the handwheel by 0.1mm...I could swear the ram moved by 1.0mm.
I haven't looked into it (whether the ram actually moved 1mm).  (Could be me.) But it's worthwhile to verify.

My hand wheels are the old fashioned plastic  type with poorly engraved / scratched   graduations  and the only  figures  are 0  1/2 1 1 1/2  if i remember from looking last night   it seems every time i  try to  do  something i  need to  do  some thing else first ,  should i  buy  a new lathe and  forget  the old one  ,,,,,,, noooo  this is part of the fun
what do you mean it wont fit  Get a bigger hammer

Offline Ratchap

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 52
Re: an adventure in the mini lathe world
« Reply #22 on: August 31, 2018, 05:11:09 PM »
And after  stripping and cleaning the 4 jaw chuck  plus  some tweaking with the tool height  the beginnings of a new lead screw control. I must admit its very satisfing watching the swarf come of nice and cleanly
« Last Edit: August 31, 2018, 05:16:12 PM by Ratchap »
what do you mean it wont fit  Get a bigger hammer

Offline zeeprogrammer

  • Full Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6811
  • West Chester, PA, USA
Re: an adventure in the mini lathe world
« Reply #23 on: August 31, 2018, 05:13:33 PM »
 :ThumbsUp: Congrats!
Carl (aka Zee) Will sometimes respond to 'hey' but never 'hey you'.
"To work. To work."
Zee-Another Thread Trasher.

Offline Ratchap

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 52
Re: an adventure in the mini lathe world
« Reply #24 on: September 02, 2018, 05:48:17 PM »
what started out  well has now  been put on hold untill i  can sharpen up  /  get some more lathe tools plus i  need  to  sort out the lay shaft  and a better way of tensioning the motor pulley belts
what do you mean it wont fit  Get a bigger hammer

Offline b.lindsey

  • Global Moderator
  • Full Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13860
  • Dallas, NC, USA
    • Workbench-Miniatures
Re: an adventure in the mini lathe world
« Reply #25 on: September 02, 2018, 07:10:11 PM »
Definitely bring the old lathe back to life, you will be happy in the end. Then get a new one too if you wish. As Jo says, you can't have too many lathes  :Lol: maybe even think about making some metal handwheels.

Bill

Offline Ratchap

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 52
Re: an adventure in the mini lathe world
« Reply #26 on: September 03, 2018, 01:02:38 PM »
Definitely bring the old lathe back to life, you will be happy in the end. Then get a new one too if you wish. As Jo says, you can't have too many lathes  :Lol: maybe even think about making some metal handwheels.

Bill

Bill  this is what  I  am Making  but the lathe tools i  have are  not the best ( new ones on order)  plus my drive belt is slipping ( new one on order)

" note to self,  before assuming the belt is slipping  ensure you have the drive pulley  locking screw  tight  so the  ******* pulley  does not slip"
« Last Edit: September 03, 2018, 06:54:13 PM by Ratchap »
what do you mean it wont fit  Get a bigger hammer

Offline Ratchap

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 52
Re: an adventure in the mini lathe world
« Reply #27 on: September 08, 2018, 08:21:43 PM »
had a fun hour  this afternoon  playing tool sharpener.  ended up with a  bag of lathe tools bits and i did not manage to  let one go pinnnnnggggggggggggg    or burn my pinkies.
i am looking forward to trying them when i get home  tomorrow
what do you mean it wont fit  Get a bigger hammer

 

SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal