First Lathe - Mid 60's South Bend 13" x 5' - Where to Start

[Earl Sigurd]

That photo with the sling round the bed looks like it will try to bend the leadscrew when under load. It might be just the photo angle.

 

[GForceJunky]

That photo with the sling round the bed looks like it will try to bend the leadscrew when under load. It might be just the photo angle.

Your eyes don't deceive you. There was rubbing but no visible deflection of the lead screw. This is the way the sling was routed when the lathe came. I kept it under tension for as little time as possible. The lathe is now sling-free and on a pair of heavy duty furniture dollies so I can move it into place.

 

[GForceJunky]

Did a bit of disassembly. The spindle spring-loaded oilers/wicks are working and everything is nice and lubed as far as the spindle bearings go. The spindle journals and the brass bearings look perfect with no scoring or any worrisome signs of wear.

My carriage lock bolt (and I assume whatever it attached to) is missing (was never there). The crossfeed screw was disconnected from the crossfeed handle. Not sure if this is because of and/or to do with the taper attachment but in any case the handle end of the screw was sitting on the bottom of the saddle. Didn't look or seem right so I'll have to investigate. Ways are smooth but there are obvious wear grooves/ridges on the 1/3 of the bed that sees most of the use. The rest of the bed there is no noticeable groove/lip that's formed - just nice and smooth ways.

Still need to figure out what VFD to use...any suggestions or links to ones that will do the job at a good price point (used is fine) would be appreciated!

If anyone has an extra carriage lock please let me know!

 

[bentwrench]

My electricians at work tell me that the drives from Automation Direct are ok to use.

https://www.automationdirect.com/ad...ncy_drives_(vfd)/general_purpose_vfds#start=0

I bought an Eaton VFD off eBay because I knew how to set them up. I know Eaton/Cutler Hammer, Telemecanique, Schneider, and Fuji drives myself, however those are going to be more expensive. Automation is a nice place to work with and they have some great tutorials on YouTube for setting up the VFD's they sell. I would start there.

 

[GForceJunky]

That's great info! I've heard/read good things about Automation Direct, Wolf Automation, and I believed Drives Warehouse is also supposed to be half decent.

I'm a pretty technologically-inclined mechanical engineer and many moons ago I worked with PLC controllers and setting up automated/semi-automated assembly lines, plus I'm pretty good with electrical, so I'm not super concerned about being able to figure out any of them, but the easier to setup and use the better. The Hitachi and Fuji ones seems to be very well rated, reasonably priced, and much easier to set up than some of the other brands, so I will likely go with one of those. They're also very featureful compared to some of the competitors at similar price points.

 

[animal12]

Dealers Electric are another source for VFD's & motors

Electric Motors | Motor Controls | VFD | AC Drive

dealerselectric.com

animal

 

[bentwrench]

I bought this Eaton unit from ebay. It was new old stock and it cost me $65. I used the "3 wire mode" which allows for momentary start/stop inputs. The switch was another e-bay find and it included at 10K pot for speed control. I set it up so that the center point is zero Hz. Before center the spindle runs in reverse, after it runs in forward. It was a very simple way to run the lathe without running directly form the VFD which I don't like to do. I made a bracket to mount the switch in the factory location. It is a pretty slick setup, and very nice to use. Instant speed control is quite nice to have.

The spindle has a 3 second ramp up, and a 500ms brake time with DC hold. It is very smooth and pleasant to use. Threading is nice because when you thread up to shoulder you just stop the spindle, at 100 rpm it stops almost instantly, in less than 1/4 of a revolution. Just reverse, and cut again. Sort of like a poor man's 10ee. That and 3 phase motors are far superior in just about every way to single phase.

 

[GForceJunky]

I bought this Eaton unit from ebay. It was new old stock and it cost me $65. I used the "3 wire mode" which allows for momentary start/stop inputs. The switch was another e-bay find and it included at 10K pot for speed control. I set it up so that the center point is zero Hz. Before center the spindle runs in reverse, after it runs in forward. It was a very simple way to run the lathe without running directly form the VFD which I don't like to do. I made a bracket to mount the switch in the factory location. It is a pretty slick setup, and very nice to use. Instant speed control is quite nice to have.

The spindle has a 3 second ramp up, and a 500ms brake time with DC hold. It is very smooth and pleasant to use. Threading is nice because when you thread up to shoulder you just stop the spindle, at 100 rpm it stops almost instantly, in less than 1/4 of a revolution. Just reverse, and cut again. Sort of like a poor man's 10ee. That and 3 phase motors are far superior in just about every way to single phase.

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This is a really nice setup and definitely along the lines of what I would like to do, even if I don't get it set up like this to start. 500ms brake time is really nice and quick - is that from full speed/any speed and is it with the built-in braking capabilities or did you add an external braking transistor?