Hi GraemeGTB wrote: ↑Thu Feb 07, 2019 12:36 pmYour parts look OK for someone who claims to be self taught......-steves- wrote: ↑Wed Feb 06, 2019 2:52 pm Managed a little more time today, didn't manage to make much as I had to strip all the lathe down as I had quite a bad wobble going on, it's all tight again now, but unfortunately I think the poor little thing will need replacing at some point with a better quality one, cheap is not always cost effective.
What lathe do you have?
I build steam locos on a Seig C2 lathe and an X2 mill without much problem and the lathe has turned over 350 wheels in steel by now. It's a bit slower to make a part than larger lathes, as you can't take very heavy cuts, but once set up the accuracy is adequate for the task. Parting off can be an adventure though if the gibs aren't adjusted right and I don't attempt to part off brass over 1/2" or steel over 1/4". I have a bandsaw and use that for cutting wheel blanks.
I've never had the lathe wobble except when turning large parts mounted off centre in the 4 jaw chuck. Do you mean 'chatter', where the lathe vibrates and screeches, while the tool bounces around so the surface finish has strange patterns? Chatter is often a problem with a mini lathe, as the mounting of the top slide isn't very rigid.
I've got into the habit before I start a new project of going over the lathe cleaning, lubricating and adjusting everything, then sharpen the tools and check the tool holders are at the right height. The variable speed control also helps minimise chatter, as it is speed dependant.
I'm a scientist, not an engineer, so also largely self taught, mostly from books and many years of making small parts on a Unimat SL.
Graeme
Most definitely self taught if you can call it taught at all, just more of guess work than anything. I have a few books for beginners for lathes and mills, but to be honest I didn't gain masses from them, a few essentials here and there of course. The lathe came from Amadeal and is one of these, Mini Lathe - 7x14 Machine with 4" Chuck. https://www.amadeal.co.uk/acatalog/Mini ... html#SID=2
My main issue is not actually knowing exactly how to adjust it properly and it's all been a case of take it apart and have a best guess, yesterday I did just that and to be honest it's a bit too tight in places now. Chatter is the correct word I was looking for but couldn't remember it when I typed my last post. I can part off brass up to 1.5 inches if luck is on my side, but steel, not a chance, maybe my tools are not sharp enough, I can't even cut steel without massive chatter, but then I have no idea how to sharpen the tools and tend to use disposable carbide inserts because of that. I have no one locally to turn to for advice, though my step father knows how to use a lathe and sharpen tools he is 50 miles down the road and even when I ask him he just does it for me, but I am not good at unerstanding just how he did it as to him it's just second nature. It appears you have a great routine going, something which maybe I need to be doing too.
I do have a band saw, well sort of, I have one of these, it lifts up to convert into a band saw with a small platform https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/cbs45md ... tting-ban/
I hadn't thought about parting larger things off with this, that gives me some food for thought, thank you.
The mill which I have is one of these, again from Amadeal a few years back, but yet again, not much experience with it, just set it up and use it as I best see fit, though I did spend ages finding a 90 degree angle for the head as initially it always cut more side side than the other, but that's all sorted out now.
I am neither a scientist, nor an engineer, just a storage and server person (computers for any that might not know) by trade, though now a full time carer for my wife, hence I don't get long periods of time in the man cave.
I am finding this project both interesting and challenging. I do wish I knew how I should be tackling some of these tasks rather than just making up bits in the first way that pops into my head, I think some professional direction would be seriously useful