Elliott OMNISPEED lathe

[Agroshield]

...and potentially leave the rubber a bit higher up so it doesn't completely wipe the oil off the ways...

The place you need oil on the ways is under the saddle. Any part of the ways that you can see that have oil on them has potential to attract abrasive swarf.

The idea of the wipers is that they retain the oil under the saddle and prevent harmful material from entering that place.

If there is any over-spill or excess oil, ideally it would be flowing from the saddle onto the ways and not from the bare ways in under the saddle.

I think the rubber needs to be snug so it squeegees the nasties off the ways before the saddle passes onto that bit of way.

 

[Smouser]

Ok thanks - i'll do some googling around for some material and see what I can find
I'll try and see if I can manage to get some sketches going this weekend but don't want to promise anything yet.
Also love your truck as well :P The front bumper is amazing and i cannot believe it managed to carry a mill on the back xD
Noice!

Cool. As I said I am not home for a little while so I can't even check what I have got.

The way cover drawings will be a big help!

The Ford Ranger has done well when I picked up the mill.

Looking really good. Nows a good time to fit a DRO before you put it in its final resting place

Thank you. That is a very good point. I have not even considered a DRO.

I have still not had a chance/time/motivation to fit the Z axis scale on my milling machine either
The X and Y is on and working though.

 

[Pawcu]

The place you need oil on the ways is under the saddle. Any part of the ways that you can see that have oil on them has potential to attract abrasive swarf.

The idea of the wipers is that they retain the oil under the saddle and prevent harmful material from entering that place.

If there is any over-spill or excess oil, ideally it would be flowing from the saddle onto the ways and not from the bare ways in under the saddle.

I think the rubber needs to be snug so it squeegees the nasties off the ways before the saddle passes onto that bit of way.

That makes sense thanks
My concern about leaving a tiny film of oil was to try and reduce rust on the uncovered ways... but i guess even if the rubber squeegees the oil off, it won't completely remove all the oil so it will be enough?

Cool. As I said I am not home for a little while so I can't even check what I have got.

The way cover drawings will be a big help!

The Ford Ranger has done well when I picked up the mill.


Thank you. That is a very good point. I have not even considered a DRO.

I have still not had a chance/time/motivation to fit the Z axis scale on my milling machine either
The X and Y is on and working though.

No worries I'll see what I can manage to do
I think the DRO would be a good addition for the lathe - I'm thinking of getting a touchDRO setup for mine - might be overkill for the lathe but i need to replace the old newall DRO on my bridgeport as well and for that I will definitely go the TouchDRO route.

 

[Smouser]

No worries I'll see what I can manage to do
I think the DRO would be a good addition for the lathe - I'm thinking of getting a touchDRO setup for mine - might be overkill for the lathe but i need to replace the old newall DRO on my bridgeport as well and for that I will definitely go the TouchDRO route.

I looked at the TouchDRO setup for my mill and really liked it. In the end, I bought a generic DRO kit for the mill as I wanted to do a job and 'needed' a DRO system quick. I am 99% sure the scales I have got are compatible with the TouchDRO system so I could still move that way if I want (potentially sharing the same screen/tablet between the mill and lathe).

Are you looking at building the TouchDRO bits yourself or just buy? I considered both at the time and decided due to time constraints, I would have just bought the bits required.

I have not used a DRO on a lathe yet, I guess it will help/be convenient. However, on a milling machine I feel it is critical (at least for me ) to have a DRO. I found keep tracking of the dials and numbers hard work.

I am visiting family in the UAE where it really is summer.

Itching to get back to my projects already with all these new plans

 

[Pawcu]

I looked at the TouchDRO setup for my mill and really liked it. In the end, I bought a generic DRO kit for the mill as I wanted to do a job and 'needed' a DRO system quick. I am 99% sure the scales I have got are compatible with the TouchDRO system so I could still move that way if I want (potentially sharing the same screen/tablet between the mill and lathe).

Are you looking at building the TouchDRO bits yourself or just buy? I considered both at the time and decided due to time constraints, I would have just bought the bits required.

I have not used a DRO on a lathe yet, I guess it will help/be convenient. However, on a milling machine I feel it is critical (at least for me ) to have a DRO. I found keep tracking of the dials and numbers hard work.

I am visiting family in the UAE where it really is summer.
View attachment 413469
Itching to get back to my projects already with all these new plans

Most new Scales I believe should work with TouchDRO so you should be ok
I'm thinking of sourcing the scales and just buying the controller for touchDRO - though i need to see what tablet i will use :P The only thing that pushes me away from touchdro is that I have to keep charging the tablet instead of just switching it on but I guess its a small price to pay for the functionality you get - which is why im still not sure about it on the lathe as I think on the lathe you wont really use most of the functions the touchDRO offers but i still need to use a lathe first :P
Yeah I'm lazy when it comes to the dials... not to mention that here in Malta we use metric and all my machines are imperial.....

Hehe try to enjoy it as much as possible while you're there... at least you get to see some sun xD I understand that might be a bit too much heat though to enjoy outside xD
Luckily here in Malta the heatwave we had a few weeks ago finished... then we had actual temperatures of 43C and power outages as well to makes matters worse -_-

 

[RichardM]

If you are thinking of the Touch DRO have a look at:
https://www.yuriystoys.com/ he's the guy who does them. I have the early BluDro version on me mill with capacitance scale, currently being swapped out for a new BMR Aikron system. Capacitance scale systems are prone to picking up electrical noise.
Nice interface, yes annoying when you forget to plug the tablet in, I keep a charger in the garage as well. The tacho input is a useful addition and something I have replicated on the new system.

 

[Agroshield]

My concern about leaving a tiny film of oil was to try and reduce rust on the uncovered ways..

Some food for thought: ideas more than commands.

Oil to prevent rust would be there in the periods when you are not using the machine. It will attract every bit of airborne dust during that time. In that respect, way oil, which is by nature sticky, is perhaps not the right stuff for this application.

To protect the exposed ways against corrosion in the time between using the machine, a lighter grade corrosion inhibitor, which is a lot easier to remove, might be better. Wipe it (and all the dust it has attracted) off when you next use the machine. Oil the saddle using the oiling points and run the carriage up and down the bed to distribute the way oil.

 

[Pawcu]

Some food for thought: ideas more than commands.

Oil to prevent rust would be there in the periods when you are not using the machine. It will attract every bit of airborne dust during that time. In that respect, way oil, which is by nature sticky, is perhaps not the right stuff for this application.

To protect the exposed ways against corrosion in the time between using the machine, a lighter grade corrosion inhibitor, which is a lot easier to remove, might be better. Wipe it (and all the dust it has attracted) off when you next use the machine. Oil the saddle using the oiling points and run the carriage up and down the bed to distribute the way oil.

Thanks that's true. I'll need to search for some corrosion inhibitor then. Anything you recommend I'll see if I can find it here

 

[Pawcu]

@Smouser apologies I haven't had time to work on the wipers... basically last 2 weeks i've spent dismantling the whole apron box and I'm glad i did... some of the gears were rusted and pitted and even one of the shafts (but I think I can still make it work). I found 2 shot bearings and I will replace mostly all of them as well. I'm going to be out of the country for a few weeks now so it will be a while till I get some time to work on the lathe again :/
Also regarding that screw you found, unless it's from the outside housing, I can confirm insider there shouldn't be any screws so it might be from something else?

 

[Smouser]

@Smouser apologies I haven't had time to work on the wipers... basically last 2 weeks i've spent dismantling the whole apron box and I'm glad i did... some of the gears were rusted and pitted and even one of the shafts (but I think I can still make it work). I found 2 shot bearings and I will replace mostly all of them as well. I'm going to be out of the country for a few weeks now so it will be a while till I get some time to work on the lathe again :/
Also regarding that screw you found, unless it's from the outside housing, I can confirm insider there shouldn't be any screws so it might be from something else?

Great stuff.

Thanks for the confirmation on the screw. I have been out of the country too so no progress on the lathe.

I might get a chance to look at how I am going to try and mount the non-standard motor in my lathe this week.

Good luck with the apron box!

 

[Pawcu]

Great stuff.

Thanks for the confirmation on the screw. I have been out of the country too so no progress on the lathe.

I might get a chance to look at how I am going to try and mount the non-standard motor in my lathe this week.

Good luck with the apron box!

Good luck with the motor mount and welcome
Yeah my biggest issue at the moment is sourcing imperial bearings - i need 6 * FT7/8 bearings. I found them online from the UK but its going to cost me around 90GBP with shipping and taxes to Malta

 

[Smouser]

How many bearings do you need?
Surely you can get it much cheaper than £90.

You can also send it to me and then I will forward if it is going to work out cheaper?

I know some companies do no not want to post internationally.

*Edit* I see you need 6 bearings.

 

[Seadog]

They're not cheap, £13 each, unless you buy dodgy ones. That's £78 alone.

 

[Pawcu]

How many bearings do you need?
Surely you can get it much cheaper than £90.

You can also send it to me and then I will forward if it is going to work out cheaper?

I know some companies do no not want to post internationally.

*Edit* I see you need 6 bearings.

Thanks - though the bearings themselves ain't cheap. I also have to pay taxes which I think I will still end up having to do if I forward them to you?

They're not cheap, £13 each, unless you buy dodgy ones. That's £78 alone.

Yeah these were the ones which I was planning to get:

FT7/8 Imperial Thrust Ball Bearing 7/8x1-1/2x3/8 inch Simply Bearings Ltd

simplybearings.co.uk

They are unbranded but they have good reviews. @Seadog where did you find yours from?

 

[Smouser]

Cheapest I could find:

FT7/8 7/8X1.1/2X3/8 GENERIC THRUST BEARING - BEARINGS | SEARCH4PARTS

FT7/8 7/8x1.1/2x3/8 GENERIC THRUST BEARING. Buy parts online in UK at Search4parts. Bearings, adhesives, lubricants & chemicals, seals, motors & gearboxes and more

www.search4parts.co.uk

No idea if they are any good though. However, the bearings probably don't really have a hard life in the lathe box.

I guess you are replacing all the bearings due to rust and contamination?

 

[Seadog]

I've just found the same supplier.

£40 for 6, free five day postage.

 

[Pawcu]

I've just found the same supplier.
View attachment 414959

£40 for 6, free five day postage.

Cheapest I could find:

FT7/8 7/8X1.1/2X3/8 GENERIC THRUST BEARING - BEARINGS | SEARCH4PARTS

FT7/8 7/8x1.1/2x3/8 GENERIC THRUST BEARING. Buy parts online in UK at Search4parts. Bearings, adhesives, lubricants & chemicals, seals, motors & gearboxes and more

www.search4parts.co.uk

No idea if they are any good though. However, the bearings probably don't really have a hard life in the lathe box.

I guess you are replacing all the bearings due to rust and contamination?

Thanks guys - that works much cheaper than what I have found xD
I'm waiting for a quote from a local supplier but I doubt it will be cheaper than this - @Smouser I might take you up on your offer if it's still available - do you have revolut or paypal when the time comes?
And yes I am replacing them as some of them were really bad - 1 thrust bearing has the bearing cage snapped in 2 pieces with missing balls (context is important here)
Another deep grove ball bearing was so FUBAR that it was more like a heim joint instead of a bearing... which caused the shaft to get a bit worn as well :/ Hopefully I can make it work without having to machine a new one... or a sleeve.

 

[Smouser]

Thanks guys - that works much cheaper than what I have found xD
I'm waiting for a quote from a local supplier but I doubt it will be cheaper than this - @Smouser I might take you up on your offer - do you have revolut or paypal when the time comes?
And yes I am replacing them as some of them were really bad - 1 thrust bearing has the bearing cage snapped in 2 pieces with missing balls (context is important here)
Another deep grove ball bearing was so FUBAR that it was more like a heim joint instead of a bearing... which caused the shaft to get a bit worn as well :/ Hopefully I can make it work without having to machine a new one... or a sleeve.

Wow. Good job you stripped that box then.

I can forward the bearings on for you no problem if the website don't send to Malta/it is too expensive etc.

 

[Pawcu]

Wow. Good job you stripped that box then.

I can forward the bearings on for you no problem if the website don't send to Malta/it is too expensive etc.

Yeah I'm glad I did as I almost fainted when i saw the state of it xD
Thank you I appreciate it If its a problem though no worries - I found a courier that sends from UK to Malta and its not too expensive (Around 11 euros excluding tax)
It does seem to allow shipping to Malta but for some reason it keeps saying that address is not valid and no delivery options come up :/

 

[Seadog]

Which means that they won't ship.