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View Full Version : My little Woodfast 305 travelling lathe is up and running again



dai sensei
2nd September 2016, 01:36 PM
Whilst on my Darwin trip I burnt out my variable speed motor on my little lathe. I have gone through a few variable speed controllers but this time the motor burnt out.

I looked at a few options, new motors, new lathe etc but decided on a new and improved motor. I chose a 1HP 3PH 1400RPM motor (0 75KW 1HP 1400rpm Shaft 19mm Electric Motor Three Phase 415V | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/181695344360?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT)) with a 1HP 240V AC single phase variable frequency drive inverter VFD (75KW 1HP 5A 240V AC Single Phase Variable Frequency Drive Inverter VSD VFD | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/172159677408?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT)). I used both the old pulleys, just had to bore out the lower motor pulley to suit the motor's 19mm shaft.

Previously I had my lathe on my little red trolley, but to fit the motor I would have had to remove the 2 drawers it had leaving only the 2 shelves underneath. I also take another trolley of sorts (old clad cheap shelves) that supports my sharpening station/compressor/dremmel/spray gear etc. Both old trolleys were looking a bit worse for wear given the kms they have travelled over the years (including ~2000kms of pretty rough dirt roads). So I decided to bite the bullet and build a better more solid trolley that to replace the previous 2.

Built from structural ply (2 full sheets of 12mm and 1 of 19mm) glued and screwed over an aluminium frame giving a 1200Lx600Wx640D and supported on 4x 500kg 5" casters (2 swivel/brakes and 2 fixed).

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At the front there is a cupboard on the left with the suspended motor plus a sliding shelf underneath for big heavy stuff (100kg bearing slide). On the left there is 2 small and 1 larger drawers that go 2/3 width on 45kg bearing slides and the larger bottom drawer full width on 100kg bearing slide. At the rear there are 2 cupboards, one giving rear access to the motor cupboard and many electrical connections, the other giving access to 2 padded shelves (one for LED light and the other for the VFD). All use box latches to close/lock/pull (Compression Lock Small Black Push Latch Toolbox Trailer Camper Catch Caravan | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/171823899044?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT)) and when closed catch on the aluminium frame.


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The motor is supported by plate, hinged to a beam at the rear, plus hanging bolts at the front. The height is set to tension the 43" belt. To change gears and whilst travelling, I lift the support plat up and insert a ply spacer plate, raising it by 19mm.

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All seems to work a treat after much help from BobL, who did a similar motor/VFD set-up for his lathe, plus a few helpful suggestions from others. The first real test will be at Philip Island Turnabout.

The safety screen is from aluminium SHS and 25mm SQ mesh ~1000x600. The sharpening station consists of my Carbatec slow speed grinder (1/2 normal speed) with a CBN on one side and white wheel on the other. It has the Tormec sharpening mount system on either side, all mounted on a sheet of ply, so I can transfer the station back to my workshop when home.

When packed up all the lights (large driving 24" LED, LED spotlight on flexible gooseneck, LED lit magnifying glass) go inside the trolley, the screen and a folding 1200x500 table strap to the rear leaving the lathe and grinder on top, all of which is covered with removalist's blankets

BobL
2nd September 2016, 02:01 PM
Tidy work Neil!

smiife
2nd September 2016, 08:12 PM
Hi neil,
Very nice job , well done and woodfast yellow too!:U
Now you will have to paint the lathe as well:o

Christos
4th September 2016, 10:25 AM
This looks like a brilliant setup. :2tsup:

Pat
4th September 2016, 10:50 AM
Looking the goods Neil, one question, how long will it take you to get annoyed with having to wander around to the grinder?

dai sensei
10th September 2016, 10:44 PM
Well it has got a good workout at the 2016 Philip Island Turnabout, so not so shiny anymore

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Gabriel
11th September 2016, 07:18 AM
Maybe not as shiny, but hopefully it stood up to the test and there weren't any 'crap, why didn't I think of that' moments....

dai sensei
11th September 2016, 09:50 AM
Went like a dream. Drilled out the holes for the pepper grinders in very hard stuff without blinking.

Didn't get the RPM counter working, so still not sure what the speeds are on the belts, but 0-1400 on the motor with 6 belt positions it is pretty dam good. I stayed on one of the middle pulley positions where it felt like it was in the order of 0-1500 and perfect for me and what I was doing