Today I started by looking at the leadscrew and how I would make the bushes. I am still undecided as to what to do at the tailstock end but the headstock end requires a new shaft made and the bearings fitted to the aluminum housing are quite thick. Far more so than those supplied by Myford for the countershaft. Those are oilite bushes and I am not sure what those in the leadscrew are. I could ream them to a convenient size and make the shaft to fit or I could make new bushes and bore them to the correct shaft size. I must admit that I am leaning towards new bushes and the correct size shaft.
Putting this to one side I carried on wiring up the motor, inverter and remote control box to Dave's directions. I managed to get to just one query when reading my scribble. So a call was put in to Drives Direct, Nottingham to check the wiring was correct before switching on and dealing with the programming of the Inverter.
I must compliment Dave on both his knowledge and ability to get the information across. After clearing up the wire I couldn't read on my scribble pad the motor was switched on and whilst nothing happened I was told by Dave that that in fact was a good sign!
After step by step directions by Dave the motor was not only running silently, but the variable control was great. I am very pleased with the set up I have got even if I spent a little more than I planned for. The control and engine of this lathe will certainly not be its weak point.
Dave was extremely busy at the time of my wiring up, giving help to other customers BUT they never failed to call back, ever. Many other firms could benefit from there example. So a public thank you Dave.
The next task was to plan where the inverter and remote control box would be positioned. The inverter was quickly sorted out and screwed the the wall by the power socket outlet.
The control box is a little more complicated as until the lathe is working properly its a little difficult to decide on its final position so I placed a clamp on the bench in the place I think will be ok, but I shall make a fixture to hold it and finally fix after a little practical experience shows me the best operating place.
The next task I have started is to make the pulley fit the shaft and cut the keyway so hopefully tomorrow the pulley will be ready to be fitted to the new motors shaft.
About Mike Freeman
Hello, my name is Mike Freeman and I am a retired Chief Fire Officer from the United Kingdom with a keen interest in model engineering, silver caddy spoons and sea fishing. I live in the pretty fishing port of Brixham, South Devon, in the United Kingdom.
I am a sufferer of degenerative osteoarthritis, which impacts on the amount of time I can spend in the workshop, and is the reason why you will see seats and a stool in some of the photo's. I have only recently added the above sentence after a discussion with one of my Doctor's from the excellent pain clinic, based in Torbay. This does affect concentration one of the reasons why I double then re-double my measurements and set ups.
Before completing nearly 30 years of public service I and my wife Sandy, owned and ran, a small restaurant in Okehampton Devon. Prior to marriage I worked for my father in his various businesses, in the early days these were garages, which he bought in a run down state, then built them up before moving on, to start again.
I took every opportunity in those early days, to work in his workshop's
learning 'on the job' rather than as an apprentice. This, I suspect, is the reason why my building various model's in the early days, turned into model engineering, when funds allowed the required equipment to be bought.
My workshop comprises one half of a detached double garage. It has a
stud wall separating the two halves and unusually perhaps, its own
shower/toilet/washbasin compartment! (the true reason for buying the
bungalow - don't tell the wife!!!)
It is fully insulated with a ceiling and fluorescent lighting supplementing the one window. Several double electrical sockets are dotted around in
relevant positions.
Equipment consists of 2 lathes (1 Myford ML 10 and 1 Chinese variable
speed motor with etched glass DRO's), 1 milling machine (RF25 far East) floor standing pillar drill, Proxxon bandsaw, Warco bandsaw, 6" wire brush and polishing mop motor, 6" coarse and fine grinder, Proxxon mini drill, various benches and an engineers vice. I have just acquired a third lathe, a Myford ML7 which I am at present evaluating so I can decide which of the Myford's I will keep.
I have only just bought the Chinese lathe and had it fitted with DRO's prior to delivery. And what a bonus they are! So good in fact that I decided to buy another set for the Milling machine. Whilst my engineering experience can only be described as limited, I find the use of DRO's has affected my accuracy levels which have improved tremendously (although that's not saying much!) and would recommend their fitting to any model engineer.
Prior to retirement I built for my son's 17th birthday a Locost car. This
was a tremendous project and a great feeling when it passed its test. The book it was based on suggests it can be built for £250. Ours was nothing special in the sense of all new parts but still cost about £900 to build!
