Thanks Thanks:  0
Likes Likes:  0
Needs Pictures Needs Pictures:  0
Picture(s) thanks Picture(s) thanks:  0
Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: Machine Gloat

  1. 29th January 2012, 12:19 PM #1
    Paul39
    Paul39 is offline GOLD MEMBER
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    North Carolina, USA
    Posts
    2,327

    Default Machine Gloat

    For several years I have been assembling parts to build a BIG bowl lathe - 36 to 48 inch swing.

    I have a 2 3/8 inch shaft and two ball bearing pillow blocks, cast iron 3 V sheave, new Baldor 3 HP 3 phase motor, and a pile of steel. All acquired for 25 cents a pound from my local scrap yard. I also have a tailstock from a big metal lathe with #2 Morse taper.

    I have been pricing big 4 step pulleys for a countershaft to slow down the motor 1725 rpm to about 50 rpm or less at the slowest speed. I suffered from sticker shock, and thought I could make them as I have a 10 inch swing metal lathe.

    Today I was looking at a classified paper and found an Isuzu 5 speed pick up truck transmission for $50, called the owner, zinged 40 miles to his house and bought it.

    I am so pleased I can barely stand it. Now I have to get to work, pour a slab and start welding and bolting stuff together.

    I will buy a variable frequency drive to convert my 240 volt single phase to three phase, and have variable speed to boot.
    So much timber, so little time.

    Paul
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  2. 29th January 2012 12:19 PM # ADS
    Google Adsense Advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Posts
    Many





     
  3. 29th January 2012, 12:56 PM #2
    Pat's Avatar
    Pat
    Pat is offline Good Wood Ruined!
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Towradgi
    Posts
    4,839

    Default

    Paul, you forgot a minor thing - the pics
    Pat
    Work is a necessary evil to be avoided. Mark Twain
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  4. 29th January 2012, 01:11 PM #3
    Paul39
    Paul39 is offline GOLD MEMBER
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    North Carolina, USA
    Posts
    2,327

    Default

    I KNEW that was coming!

    Go to your nearest tranny shop and ask to see a greasy 5 speed on the floor.

    Patience, patience.
    So much timber, so little time.

    Paul
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  5. 29th January 2012, 03:03 PM #4
    Tim the Timber Turner
    Tim the Timber Turner is offline SENIOR MEMBER
    Join Date
    Jul 2001
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    650

    Default

    Hi Paul

    I suspect that 3 HP will not be enough by the time you allow for power loss through a gearbox.

    My uneducated guess is that you will need at least double that.

    I once saw a prototype lathe that had a gearbox with a 3 Hp variable speed motor.
    It would not run at more than 1500 rpm without load, before it cut out on overload.
    This was due power loss through the gearbox.

    Without doubt not enough power would be avaliable to turn 4ft (1200mm), even geared right down slow.

    Step pullys, belt drive and electronic variable speed is the way go.

    Sorry to be a Kill Joy.

    I'll follow your journey with interest.

    Cheers

    Tim
    Some days I turns thisaway, somedays I turns thataway and other days I don't give a stuff so I don't turn at all.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  6. 29th January 2012, 03:05 PM #5
    Big Shed's Avatar
    Big Shed
    Big Shed is offline Retired Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Bendigo Victoria
    Age
    80
    Posts
    16,560

    Default

    Maybe you should have bought the engine with the gearbox
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  7. 29th January 2012, 03:54 PM #6
    hughie's Avatar
    hughie
    hughie is offline aka The Wooden Potter
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Flinders Shellharbour
    Posts
    5,693

    Default good one Paul

    I shall follow this with interest as have thought about doing the same.
    Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working. — Pablo Picasso

    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  8. 29th January 2012, 10:54 PM #7
    TTIT's Avatar
    TTIT
    TTIT is offline Tree Terrorist
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Emerald, QLD
    Posts
    4,489

    Default

    The lathe my old man made for himself used a gearbox for the speeds - bloody noisy mongrel thing . Needless to say when he went to the big shed in the sky, I offered the lathe to the rest of the family. BIL used it for a while and is holding on to it in case one of the grandkids wants it but he went out and bought an MC900 to use instead. Making your own stepped pulleys would be a much better idea!! (IMHO)
    .
    Updated 8th of February 2024
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  9. 30th January 2012, 04:58 AM #8
    dr4g0nfly's Avatar
    dr4g0nfly
    dr4g0nfly is offline GOLD MEMBER
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Bristol, UK
    Age
    66
    Posts
    1,540

    Default

    I've seen enough greasy lumps sat on workshop floors in my time - just flogged an old MG BGT!

    However WiP pics as the job progresses might be a damn fine idea. I find the idea of a vehicle transmission as a speed changer quite unusual.

    Given any thought to leaving the V8 on the other end and rigging up a foot throttle? - Nahh, bad idea!
    Dragonfly
    No-one suspects the dragonfly!
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  10. 30th January 2012, 05:27 AM #9
    Paul39
    Paul39 is offline GOLD MEMBER
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    North Carolina, USA
    Posts
    2,327

    Default

    my inspiration is 's bowl lathe:


    <hr style="color:#F0E9D0; background-color:#F0E9D0" size="1"> Nah! 's got a bowl lathe to play with now. We have dubbed it the "VB72" cos it cost him 3 slabs of <acronym title="vBulletin">VB</acronym>. Its got a truck gear box and bloody enormouse face plates. Don't ask me any other technical questions. Its blue is all I know.
    __________________
    anne-maria.

    And Rude Osolnik's bowl lathe, photo here:

    http://rudeosolnik.com/?q=studio

    Note the transmission shift lever to the right of the big stepped pulley.

    Turning the input shaft by hand on the Isuzu transmission in any gear takes just a bit more effort than turning a radio dial, so I don't think there will be much friction loss.

    Some of the newer transmissions use auto transmission fluid rather than 90 weight gear lube. I am sure that makes a difference.

    I have a 1967 one ton truck. In winter when it is below freezing it takes both hands to get the tranny in gear because of the 90 weight oil.

    Not a new idea, 1937 Popular Mechanics:

    Popular Science - Google Books
    So much timber, so little time.

    Paul
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  11. 31st January 2012, 07:47 AM #10
    Grumpy John's Avatar
    Grumpy John
    Grumpy John is offline GOLD MEMBER
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Cranbourne West
    Age
    72
    Posts
    3,612

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Paul39 View Post
    my inspiration is 's bowl lathe:


    <HR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f0e9d0; COLOR: #f0e9d0" SIZE=1>Nah! 's got a bowl lathe to play with now. We have dubbed it the "VB72" cos it cost him 3 slabs of <ACRONYM title=vBulletin>VB</ACRONYM>. Its got a truck gear box and bloody enormouse face plates. Don't ask me any other technical questions. Its blue is all I know.

    .............................................
    has since converted the "VB72" into a spindle lathe, just like nature abhors a vacuum, abhors bowl turning . I know he changed the motor over and put a new start switch on it, not sure if he kept the gearbox or not .
    To grow old is inevitable.... To grow up is optional

    Confidence, the feeling you have before you fully understand the situation.

    What could possibly go wrong.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  12. 31st January 2012, 05:41 PM #11
    Harry72's Avatar
    Harry72
    Harry72 is offline SENIOR MEMBER
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Port Pirie SA
    Age
    52
    Posts
    6,908

    Default

    A gearbox from a motor bike would suck less HP.
    ....................................................................
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Similar Threads

  1. Serious Gloat
    By bowl-basher in forum WOODTURNING - GENERAL
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 6th October 2009, 01:56 PM
  2. Convert manual machine into electric machine
    By Tiger in forum COOKING
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 3rd March 2008, 01:47 PM
  3. Big Gloat for me anyway
    By Bill Wyko in forum WOODTURNING - GENERAL
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 28th March 2007, 07:58 AM
  4. Another Gloat
    By Phil Spencer in forum WOODWORK PICS
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 23rd October 2006, 11:47 AM
  5. Major Machine Gloat
    By rodm in forum METALWORK FORUM
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 12th October 2005, 11:31 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Forum Rules