Renovating my Cowells 90ME Lathe

[Admiral_dk]

Beautiful restoration 

If you're not goint to use it - will it get a DisplayCase to reside in 

Per

[Jo]

If you're not goint to use it - will it get a DisplayCase to reside in 

He'll sell it 

Jo

[simplyloco]

If you're not goint to use it - will it get a DisplayCase to reside in 

He'll sell it 

Jo

Oh no he won't !

[simplyloco]

Fitting the New Switches

The kit arrived today from Cowells so I couldn't resist getting on with it! This is what you get for 60 quid...


Wiring the new bits. The diagram was so clear even I could follow it!


Fitted and working.
Well Chuffed.

[Roger B]

   

[Twizseven]

That looks very nice.

Did this originally have the push buttons, or have you upgraded from the single forward/reverse on/off switch.  If so was it an easy upgrade.

Colin

[simplyloco]

That looks very nice.

Did this originally have the push buttons, or have you upgraded from the single forward/reverse on/off switch.  If so was it an easy upgrade.

Colin

Hi Colin. It was an easy upgrade from the single switch, about a morning's work once I had sussed out the wiring diagram!
John

[Kim]

Great work, John!  Looks quite professional 

Kim

[Jo]

The modern style switches does make it look like a much later machine 

Jo

[simplyloco]

ADAPTING A COMMERCIAL ER16 COLLET CHUCK
There are just two projects on my 'improvement' agenda. An ER16 collet chuck and a quick change toolpost. Today I finished the first one, and very happy I am too!
The idea was to use a cheapie Chinese chuck and make it run accurately on the Cowells spindle. The only way to do this was screwcut/tap a M14x1.5 thread in the chuck , and mount the chuck on the lathe spindle and check for runout. In this case the runout was awful so I set about correcting the error.
A few pics. Note the new calibrated dials... 

I set a dummy in the Cowells 3 jaw and set the compound slide angle to 8 degrees. After a few iterations/ adjustments I got the engineers' blue to sit just right so went ahead with the real thing.


Just a few light cuts and the job was done.


The TIR is less than 0.0006", so I'm well happy!I shortened the chuck as much as I dared to reduce the overhang.

[Admiral_dk]

Dials looks great and you are going to be happy about improvement of the Collet-Holder for years to come     

Per

[simplyloco]

Dials looks great and you are going to be happy about improvement of the Collet-Holder for years to come     

Per

Thanks Per. This QCTP that I made today is going to help things along a bit too! It's a straight copy of the Cowells offering, except that I've made it extend a little so that I can swing the holder if I have large tools in it. I'll make a batch of holders , together with the knurled thingumigigs that set the height.

[simplyloco]

A proper thingumijig!



Three little feti just waiting to be born!



This is the Cowells offering. With two holders, £178.00! With four holders. £271.00!!!!

[Kim]

Yikes!  They're pretty proud of those, aren't they?    I like the ones YOU made!  They look like they'll do the job nicely! 

Kim

[simplyloco]

Yikes!  They're pretty proud of those, aren't they?    I like the ones YOU made!  They look like they'll do the job nicely! 

Kim

Thanks Kim. I like mine: well chuffed!

Four little doves and their mother...
Completed, set to height and working fine. The four way toolpost has its place, and is very handy, but can be a real pain as it doesn't self index like the QCTP.