I Received My “New” Lathe Today
- Thread starter jackieschmidt
- Start date
jackson1
Silver $$ Contributor
In my operating experience a DPO on a manual lathe is pretty much useless. Travel dial and stop work fine for setting turn lengths. Taper attachments would be in the seldom used category. Hope you get a lot of use out of your machine. Seems like a fine sized machine for barrel work.
Doug Beach
Silver $$ Contributor
Interesting. I use the DRO almost exclusively. I’ve never used a travel dial on my own lathe, and I don’t use the dial graduations much, other than the compound. Using the DRO, I have no difficulty hitting the dimensions I want.
In what way do you find a DRO useless?
butchlambert
Site $$ Sponsor
And here I'm still using an indicator and magnetic base for 'fine' moves.
Nice lathe. Taiwanese clone of the Colchester.
When I saw the turret setup I thought "commercial production, probably beat to death"- interesting that it was a Vo-Tech lathe- don't think I've ever seen one coming out of a trade school with that setup.
Not me. Both lathes, both mills have them. On older iron, it's the only way to compensate for worn screws when I need to hold a thou.
'Course, there's other ways- like an indicator on the toolpost, but DRO's are so much easier. Plus, they'll take the math/thinking out of it. Set your parameters, cut 'till you hit "0.000".
When I saw the turret setup I thought "commercial production, probably beat to death"- interesting that it was a Vo-Tech lathe- don't think I've ever seen one coming out of a trade school with that setup.
Not me. Both lathes, both mills have them. On older iron, it's the only way to compensate for worn screws when I need to hold a thou.
'Course, there's other ways- like an indicator on the toolpost, but DRO's are so much easier. Plus, they'll take the math/thinking out of it. Set your parameters, cut 'till you hit "0.000".
Doug Beach
Silver $$ Contributor
When threading I watch DRO count down, and depending on how fast the carriage is moving, I either kick it out when I see .02, or .01. Reliably gets me +/- .003, better if I’m feeling extra coordinated
.I’ve used a travel dial to thread / cut to a shoulder on other lathes. Didn’t seem better or worse, than a DRO, just slightly slower to set up.
Tomato tomahto.
butchlambert
Site $$ Sponsor
When threading I watch DRO count down, and depending on how fast the carriage is moving, I either kick it out when I see .02, or .01. Reliably gets me +/- .003, better if I’m feeling extra coordinated
I’ve used a travel dial to thread / cut to a shoulder on other lathes. Didn’t seem better or worse, than a DRO, just slightly slower to set up.
Tomato tomahto.
Slower to setup?
Doug Beach
Silver $$ Contributor
If it’s not already in place, you have to put it there, that’s all.
hoz53
Gold $$ Contributor
i really think alot of it is what youre used to. I learned using stops and indicators and i dont have DROs on my lathes yet but i sure plan to. one if them i can hit dimensions accurately with the dials, the other one -ha ha forget that! DROs are so nice to me because no more worrying about backlash and compensating for wear.
The wheel setup is very nice. I would be interested in the details on how you attached to the bottom of lathe, type of “axle” and wheels.
I have to move mine in the coming weeks and no longer have access to the Roll-a lifts I used to bring it home.
Nice looking lathe!!
jackieschmidt
Gold $$ Contributor
It’s sitting all by it’s lonesome in my new workshop tonight. I took the turret assy off to save some weight. I need to cut some steel mounting pads, get it off the wheels. I’ll be gathering up some other items in the future, a small mill, tool grinder, etc.
jackieschmidt
Gold $$ Contributor
I made the axles out of some 2 inch square tubing we had laying around. I drilled and tapped four 2 1/2 diameter ends for 5/8, welded them on the ends of the square tubing, screwed some all thread In with a jam nut, slid the wheel on and placed another 5/8 nut to hold it on.
The. axles are simply bolted to the bottom of the lathe feet.
I will have them off tomorrow night. I’ll that a picture.
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hoz53
Gold $$ Contributor
are you retiring and need a home workshop? My house is about 3/4 mile from my shop and so mabie i need a home workshop also.
jackieschmidt
Gold $$ Contributor
I am not “retiring”, although I am long past the age when most do.
I am looking to the future when I possibly won’t have my shops facility to take advantage of.
Our new house is 45 miles from my Business.
hoz, if you are around your business after hours, someone is bound to 'stop in' wanting or needing something. Your time is not your own. With a home shop, when he feels like quitting, he can, without having the drive home. Everyone needs some of their time to be their own and do what they want. Some have little respect for "business hours". Ask me how I know!!
You know the same way I know.
hoz53
Gold $$ Contributor
yeah i knew that but i wasnt thinking again. Youre right.
hoz53
Gold $$ Contributor
well it all sounds good and good luck to you.
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