Thread: Another MARS lathe. Model Unknown.

Originally Posted by hudnut

Does anyone want to guess what the thread/size oiler this is, or know where to get some?

It's tiny, and there are a reasonable number of them required.
Especially when you take into account the ones that were removed and had the holes filled with green paint.
Call me fussy, but I'm checking to ensure all of the galleries are clear.
When I chase them through it's amazing the number of times I discover another blocked oiling point.

Attachment 344527

TRY this

http://www.authenticlightingandhardware.com/oilers.html

All sorts of vintage items.
Its a Brisbane based business.I have used them and had no problems.

< Edit sorry,did not notice the thread reference till now>

Grahame

Update.

I *think* I've finished repainting all the bits I'm going to paint. Very happy about that.

I'm currently waiting on a betalon belt and some oilers.

Is it just me, or is metal polishing a Zen activity?

Everything is back together except:
- gearbox is in place so it doesn't rattle around the shed, but is empty.
I will deal with replacing the selector gear and using it to ensure leadscrew/powerfeed gear spacing is correct as the last task.
- bearings will need to be torqued once belt arrives
- motor pulleys will also occur after belt arrives
- Small oilers will need to go on. *May* require some retapping. I will see.
- wiring of VFD
- adjustment/alignment. Some gibs are very ordinary and a couple are missing. I'll have to fix that.

Felt wipers are installed ready to go.
All shafts, journals, oil galleries, gears, keys, keyways, threads have been cleaned and lubed.
No hammers were required during assembly this time.

Powerfeed and crossfeed both tested by hand and seem to work.

I will be away next week. I assume the belt and oilers won't turn up until I've gone.

20150420_104957.jpg20150420_110155.jpg

Nice restoration and paintwork.

The oilers and the betalon belt turned up today.

The oilers are close, but I will have to run a tap through for the threads.
I expected that. That's ok.

However, the new belt is about 1230mm long. I ordered 1520mm.
Belt is way to short.
I sent a photo and an email.

I don't foresee a problem with getting a replacement.

However, hopefully I'll get another sent without them waiting for me to return the short belt first.
Otherwise that will be 2 weeks shipping each way, and a wait time of a month.

As a matter of interest what thread did the the oilers turn out to have?

Frank.

Originally Posted by hudnut

However, the new belt is about 1230mm long. I ordered 1520mm.
Belt is way to short.
I sent a photo and an email.

I don't foresee a problem with getting a replacement.

However, hopefully I'll get another sent without them waiting for me to return the short belt first.
Otherwise that will be 2 weeks shipping each way, and a wait time of a month.

My Betalon wound up being a bit too long - not a massive amount, but enough to be noticeable (1530 is what I ordered, ddn't measure what was delivered, maybe of the order of 1570? enough that I had to clearance the butchered detensioning lever).

Originally Posted by franco

As a matter of interest what thread did the the oilers turn out to have?

Frank.

I think they are 5/32 WW.

The smallest oilers I could get are 10-32 UNF.

Originally Posted by Ueee

Hi Scott, Interesting Mars, i have never seen one like that, it looks to share parts with the Great Scott but the QCGB, saddle and apron are very different. I&#39;d say the feed/lead screw gears are supposed to be like that, the gear that has been welded on in the QCGB has a yoke on it so it can be slid to engage with one or the other. The single biggest issue you have IMHO is not having the back gear, the flat belt drive really need the extra torque that the backgear gives. Cheers, Ew

Welcome wow another Mars mystery machine.Never seen one like that before think is a dedicated screw cutting machine pic didnt show up a power feed shaft that most have i have seen with a sliding dog clutch engagement.My Great Scot [mars alias] is in pieces for a dedicated restoration and can help you with pics for back gear if you want cheers John.

Thanks for the offer John.


Not much progress recently as I've been away.
I returned to find sections of driveway missing due to the heavy rain a few weeks back, so I've had to get that sorted first.
However, the oilers have turned up along with the correct length belt and some brass shim stock.
I shimmed the bearings.
I'll make some new felt wipers and start doing some final headstock assembly next weekend ready for motor wiring I hope.
I've retapped the holes for the oilers, cleaned them out, and oilers are installed.
I've also removed the headstock and the gap again and made sure there is no paint or crud on the machined mating surfaces.
When I get the spindle, belt and wipers finally set, I'll look at getting headstock alignment sorted.

So, some slow progress, but progress nevertheless.

While away, I made the acquaintance of an aged machinist.
Living next to a very old shed. Dirt floor except for the concrete plinths his machines are on.
A massive Warner a Swasey turrent lathe, Colchester stuff, Cincinatti mills, you name it.

That man knows some stuff, and we talked about all sorts of gear and techniques.
Well, he talked. I listened. I find I learn more that way.

In a gesture that means a fair bit to me, he gave me his original cope of Audel's machinist and toolmakers handbook.
Before he gave it to me, he recited the little verse at the start of the book by heart.
You meet some great people in this country while wandering around if you take the time.

Hi hudnut, if it's not to much trouble, what is the verse in the front of the book, please?
Kryn

Hi Kryn,

An hour with this book would have brought to your mind,
The secret that took a whole year to find;
The facts that you learned at enormous expense,
Were all in this book to commence.

Thanks hudnut, very thought provoking.
What are your thoughts on the book, please? Is it something the beginner machinist could use, or is it more the advanced machinist? Looked up our friend Google and it looks an interesting book, $66 from Amazon.
Cheers
Kryn

Kryn, it looks like a reference book for apprentices starting out. Covers measuring tools and proper use, laying out, marking up, arithmetic, geometry, lathe components, lathe use, change gears,thread cutting and types, blueprint reading, milling machines and use, drilling, reference charts, types of metal and identification, furnaces and heat treatment etc.

My copy is 1942 vintage by frank d graham. I believe there are updated versions by another author that covers cnc.
However, I'm happy Ive got this one. Its very much a "learn from first principles" type text. It explains things very well and logically.