Building a New Lathe

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vtsteam:
I sent for a temporary AC to DC speed controller a few days ago when the Cycletrol 150 first started acting up. Temporary because it only handles a max of 4 amps at 90v DC output while the Cycletrol was spec'd at 10A. Nevertheless I figured I could get light use out of the smaller controller, while deciding what to do for a permanent replacement. The Ebay 4 amp "Samgold" controller was only $30 delivered from a US supplier. There were suitable larger controllers available for $60, but from China which might take a month or two to get here.

I got the Samgold controller this afternoon, hooked it up and was pleased to see it ran the lathe with the heavy faceplate and 5 inch chuck combo without cutting out. I haven't tried turning anything yet, but I did apply some hand pressure to the edge of the slow turning 8" faceplate, and didn't cause a cut out. The spindle does have a 5 to 1 reduction from the DC motor. I could probably double that ratio with a jackshaft, since the high speed range seems more than needed. Maybe the temporary controller is adequate with this treadmill motor.

vtsteam:
I thought about slotting the tailstock ram on the lathe, but since it's round and needs to be milled end to end, set-up would have required making too many fixture pieces, etc. at this stage in the lathe's completion. It could have been done, but I decided the best and easiest way would be to use the old round column mill in the other shed. So I cleared that machine off, cleaned it up, and set the tailstock ram on Vee blocks. I chucked up (colleted?)a 2" x .125" 48 tooth disk mill in a slitting saw arbor to cut the slot.

I actually wanted a .150" finished slot so I did it in two passes. The Craftsman tailstock that I'm using normally uses .150 for some reason. I thought about just going .125" but decided in the end to make the ram parts interchangeable.

So .150" it was. Cutting the slot:

vtsteam:
And the finished ram:

vintageandclassicrepairs:
Hi Steve,
Great to see you back at the lathe project :clap:

John

tom osselton:
I picked up the same controller for a project coming up.

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