I have just purchased a Boxford Lathe

[123hotchef]

@123hotchef Can't you fit a tap to the coolant pipe? [if this has been suggested before, kindly disregard this post. I'm too lazy to read back through the thread tonight.. ]

Yes I could indeed. That would regulate the flow but not stop the coolant running off the lathe onto the floor.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Yes I could indeed. That would regulate the flow but not stop the coolant running off the lathe onto the floor.

Less volume, reduced throw?

 

[123hotchef]

Less volume, reduced throw?

It is possible maybe less will go on the floor due to reduced flow

 

[addjunkie]

If you extend your guard too far our over the hand wheel as you suggest, all the coolant will rund out of it down on to the floor, or your leg.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Strip of clear plastic curtain. Like you get in warehouses on the bottom of the guard as a mud flap type tbingm

 

[123hotchef]

If you extend your guard too far our over the hand wheel as you suggest, all the coolant will rund out of it down on to the floor, or your leg.

That is what happens now mate

 

[123hotchef]

Strip of clear plastic curtain. Like you get in warehouses on the bottom of the guard as a mud flap type tbingm

I reakon so just rivit it on job done

 

[zx9]

That is what happens now mate

"Better get a bucket"
In the dim and distant past we had three lathes at school, a Boxford was the smallest, some of the kids were able to make one heck of a mess with the cutting oil others were able to regulate the flow and aim such that it was just sufficient to lubricate and cool the tool.
As @slim_boy_fat recommended a tap to reduce the flow will help.
As you are using carbide tips (IIRC) and it is not a production process munching large cuts so you probably don't exactly need flood cooling like in the CNC videos @Hood posts.

 

[Pete.]

If you fit a tap don't fit it near the nozzle, fit it at the incoming end. Better yet fit a tap and a relief valve (easy peasy to make as a lathe project) so that you don't push the pump pressure up by regulating the flow.

 

[123hotchef]

How does one make a relief valve I take it there is a return that rather than restrict flow it dirvirts it back to the tank

 

[addjunkie]

As its a centrifugal pump, they can and should actually start against a close valve or check valve.

Rather an a relief valve, you could just install a 3 way valve back to the tank.

A relief vavle is just a simple plug that sides open but held closed with a spring, usually adjustable.

 

[123hotchef]

As its a centrifugal pump, they can and should actually start against a close valve or check valve.

Rather an a relief valve, you could just install a 3 way valve back to the tank.

A relief vavle is just a simple plug that sides open but held closed with a spring, usually adjustable.

That's what I was thinking mate a 3 way valve with the 3rd way back to tank

 

[123hotchef]

It might be better to shorten the guard actually

 

[Pete.]

For a relief valve just drill a small hole at the bottom of a big hole, drop in a ball bearing and spring, screw on a cap that has a hole drilled in it. I made one for my hobber I'll get some photos tomorrow.

 

[Hood]

For a relief valve just drill a small hole at the bottom of a big hole, drop in a ball bearing and spring, screw on a cap that has a hole drilled in it. I made one for my hobber I'll get some photos tomorrow.

Would a relief valve be needed?
My CNC Lathe and Chiron both have constant running pumps and solenoid valves to switch on the flow and dont have relief valves. I could see the need with a gear pump or similar.

 

[123hotchef]

I don't know. But restricting the flow with a tap can't be good for the pump

 

[Hood]

Don't see it being a problem, if there is no outlet for the fluid then the pump just won't be pumping it anywhere. It is just a vane impeller that is rotating in free space so there will not be any significant load on the motor whether it is pumping fluid or not.
As said both my Computurn and Chiron had constant running pumps with solenoid valves to switch the coolant on/off so if there would be an issue with doing that I don't think the manufacturers would have done it.

 

[Hood]

Oh and both machines are over 30 years old and both have the original pumps.

 

[123hotchef]

Don't see it being a problem, if there is no outlet for the fluid then the pump just won't be pumping it anywhere. It is just a vane impeller that is rotating in free space so there will not be any significant load on the motor whether it is pumping fluid or not.
As said both my Computurn and Chiron had constant running pumps with solenoid valves to switch the coolant on/off so if there would be an issue with doing that I don't think the manufacturers would have done it.

Good point So there will.be no pressure build up anyway

 

[Pete.]

Probably not necessary then. My hobber has one because it has a gear pump. Years ago I had a machine with coolant That had a feed pipe with a tap just behind the nozzle. Turning the tap down to reduce the flow just meant less coolant came out but at much greater speed. That one certainly could have used a prv.