turn off or turn down speed

[Woiim]

I have a Laguna Revo 1836, what I wish to know is when checking turnings for dimensions etc., do I turn down the speed to stop or turn off with the on/off switch. Nothing in the manual about what to do.

[Gabriel]

Using calipers?
I don't turn the speed down however there is a technique to it that I wouldn't try explaining in text as I'd hate to see the results of it didn't work....
Can I suggest finding a local turning club that you could pop into and ask there as I'm sure some friendly folk would demonstrate

[Pat]

Woiim, if you are inexperienced, measuring any work is safest done with the work stationary.

I concur with Gabriel, go and have lessons or join a club to learn the more advanced techniques, as your safety is paramount.

There are techniques with various versions of calipers and guides, but it is best that you see them and have someone there to guide you.

[hughie]

As above as far as technique goes. But as for off or down, turn it off.

[Christos]

I agree with what has been said above.

Best to turn the lathe off. It also gives you a little breather to look at the form and decide if something needs to be changed. When I first started turning I turned my lathe off and would rotate my head sideways to see what it looked like. :) These days I tend not to do that as much as I have an idea of what I would like to achieve. That does not always turn out exactly as I imagined.

[brendan stemp]

Your question is a little ambiguous. "do I turn down the speed to stop..." no you don't need to turn the speed down to stop the lathe. Most EVS lathes have an electronic break on them so turning down the speed doesn't help stop the spindle any quicker. However, if you mean; should you slow down the lathe or turn it off to measure, then I would agree with all other comments. I do have a video on dimensioning on the lathe. Here is a link if you are interested: https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=oVQWy2XyNOc

[Woiim]

Thanks guys just wasn't sure what the best for the lathe was. I have been doing pens and have turned it off each time to check with calipers but thought I might be harming the lathe with so many on/off times.

[hughie]

Thanks wasn't sure what the best for the lathe was. I have been doing pens and have turned it off each time to check with calipers but thought I might be harming the lathe with so many on/off times.

If you have a variable speed lathe then you only stop or turn off the motor. The power would still be on to the variable drive as you dont want to stop motor by dropping the power to the drive, they dont like it.

[joe greiner]

Your question is a little ambiguous. "do I turn down the speed to stop..." no you don't need to turn the speed down to stop the lathe. Most EVS lathes have an electronic break on them so turning down the speed doesn't help stop the spindle any quicker. However, if you mean; should you slow down the lathe or turn it off to measure, then I would agree with all other comments. I do have a video on dimensioning on the lathe. Here is a link if you are interested: https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=oVQWy2XyNOc

That's Brendan's access to his channel.

This works better for the rest of us:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVQWy2XyNOc

Cheers,
Joe

[NCArcher]

Hitting the stop button is fine. On an EVS lathe the stop and start buttons are actually inputs to the speed controller. When you hit the stop button the speed controller will ramp the speed down to a preset shutoff point, and in some cases, apply an electronic brake.
Turning the speed down till it stops will work as well but is unnecessary and you then have to turn the speed back up to where you were before.

[Woiim]

Thanks for that, that is what I was after info on:U

[Mobyturns]

Short answer, from a safety viewpoint don't ever use the EVS speed control to "stop the lathe" by turning it to zero.

It is a very unsafe practice / habit to develop. The lathe motor remains powered up / enegerized and the potentiometer / speed control knob can easily be bumped into life by simply brushing your clothing against it, resulting in an unexpected / unintended event. If forgotten it also leaves the lathe in an unsafe state if you may have curious visitors, little or big.

Please use the on / off / stop switch to turn off the lathe as it ensures the lathe motor is not powered. Another best practice to develop is to remember to totally isolate the power to the lathe ( remove power lead from GPO) when working on the lathes electrics or mechanicals i.e. changing belts etc and after a session of turning.

As for stoping the lathe while measuring spindle diametres etc, the best advice is to stop the lathe if you are a novice or a pro. There are techniques that are effective in doing it while the lathe is running, however they can be hazardous.

[Woiim]

Thanks for that, makes sense