My new lathe has landed

[RobCox]

Today I took delivery of my short bed M300. This replaces the long bed M300 which I've had for seven years, and the motivation behind this is 1) the short bed has pristine ways that have hardly done any work compared to the well used long bed I have, and 2) space is a premium in my workshop and I'd like a bit of room to shuffle things around if and when I get the Clarkson Tool and Cutter Grinder that I got cheap at auction, with all of the accessories, cleaned and working. I'll be replacing my Union TC grinder with the Clarkson.

The new lathe arrived and was unloaded with the help of a friend's Terex. I wish they wouldn't strap round the spindle, but it was loaded on to the van like that so any damage would already have been done:

Then the old lathe had to exit the workshop:

And the new one lifted where it could be rolled in on pallet trucks:

Initially I sat it on cribbing until I'd cleared up everywhere outside:

Then took out the original adjuster bolts and fitted the feet and risers that the long bed used to sit on:

It now needs a load of work to get it to the state I want it in. 3ph 440V converted to 240V single phase in to a VFD, DRO fitted (a nice cheap AliExpress job), the compound needs attention, the tray needs a good clean and I'll change the oil, maybe a spot of paint on the worst bits, fit new belts and fit my tool rack to the backsplash.

This shortbed has no gap - I tried to use the gap once in 7 years in the other lathe to no avail so I'm not worried about that change. This lathe comes with a taper attachment and an Ainjest rapid threading attachment too, both of which are a nice bonus!

I guess this is my Christmas present!

Rob

 

[arther dailey]

with better ways sounds like it was worth while , enjoy.

 

[Martin Hocking]

The pictures make it look like you dropped it in through the roof!

Looks like a great purchase and I’m looking forward to seeing you using it.

 

[Gavlar]

I'd suggest putting an indicator on the spindle and checking for run-out. I had a Boxford industrial with a bent spindle caused (I think) by lifting it with a strop around the spindle.

 

[Smouser]

Congratulations!

The Ainjest rapid threading attachment looks like a nice addition!

 

[northwest]

You will notice the difference in the carriage feed wheel position, long sleeves will be the order of the day. You are right about the gap bed, I have never missed the fact that mine too is solid bed. The two things I lust after are the Ainjest threading attachment and the taper turning attachment. Offsetting the tailstock then having to put it back into alignment every time gets old real fast.

 

[daedalusminos]

There is a lifting eyebolt attaching point for...erm lifting. Here's a schematic of my VFD conversion - this results in all the original switch gear working as designed.

 

[RobCox]

You will notice the difference in the carriage feed wheel position

I'd have preferred it the way the long bed lathe is. As you say, that rain of hot chips...

There is a lifting eyebolt attaching point for...erm lifting

Not in the bed of the "old" lathe. There's a hole, way too far to the tailstock end to be of any use, no way the lathe will balance horizontal lifted from that point. The "new lathe has what looks like a threaded hole but I don't have a lifting eye that would fit it and I wouldn't trust the threads....

Here's a schematic of my VFD conversion - this results in all the original switch gear working as designed

Thanks for that. I'll be using a WEG VFD. I converted the long bed lathe to a VFD, Teco, I think, but the one feature it lacks that I really would like to implement is a different ramp down time for normal stop and emergency. I use 2.5s ramp up/down but I want sub 0.5s in an emergency. Ramping down too quickly as normal operation really hammers the headstock gears in high speed ranges. I'll be fitting a speed control pot somewhere too. Comes in handy for reducing chatter or mimicking CNC and speeding up the rpm as you face off .

 

[Agroshield]

I'll be using a WEG VFD. ...mimicking CNC and speeding up the rpm as you face off .

Do you have a link to the VFD manual? It is not clear from your post whether it has the capability for different ramps depending on what switched input is used or if you are hoping this is the case.

Something to think about is that the maximum braking ramp without the VFD tripping from overcurrent depends on the inertia of what is in the spindle. That is a factor which will not be known at the time the red button is pressed. Hence some experiments might be needed. Difficulties will occur if the E-stop is tuned to a 16mm dia. aluminium rod and then the first time you really need it you have a 12" dia. piece of steel in the chuck.

Wrap a string around the pot and to the cross slide, so as the cut progresses, it auto-speeds up.

 

[RobCox]

Do you have a link to the VFD manual?

https://inverterdrive.com/file/WEG-CFW300-Programming-manual

Pages 11-1 to 11-2

As for the problem of tripping under rapid decelleration, the 2.2kW model (which is what I need for the 3hp motor) has a braking resistor facility, minimum 39ohms. I'll be using a 150W one on a heatsink. The resistor sorted out the tripping issue on my mill.

 

[indy4x]

Not in the bed of the "old" lathe. There's a hole, way too far to the tailstock end to be of any use, no way the lathe will balance horizontal lifted from that point. The "new lathe has what looks like a threaded hole but I don't have a lifting eye that would fit it and I wouldn't trust the threads....

The hole was put there by the 300 group for the sole purpose of lifting the lathe

From memory its an M16 thread

Yes, the hole in the long bed does seem in an odd position but you use the carriage to balance it

It's how I lifted and moved my M300 long bed plus 3 other short beds

 

[brewdexta]

https://inverterdrive.com/file/WEG-CFW300-Programming-manual

Pages 11-1 to 11-2

As for the problem of tripping under rapid decelleration, the 2.2kW model (which is what I need for the 3hp motor) has a braking resistor facility, minimum 39ohms. I'll be using a 150W one on a heatsink. The resistor sorted out the tripping issue on my mill.

Similar VFD to what I'm fitting to my mill, just fitted the resister, but I'm using the cold plate version, no annoying fan I've just got to put the motor back together as I've been fiddling with the windings and I can give it a go.

 

[RobCox]

So I've had a couple of days to mess around with this lathe. I checked that the spindle hasn't been damaged during lifting. Measured at the back of the D1-4 taper there's barely a tremble on a 0.01mm DTI.

The Ainjest rapid threading attachment requires a lot more force that I expected to get it to fully engage and lock the handle down. I'm guessing this isn't right, so it'll be coming off soon, at the same time that I remove the leadscrew and feed shafts for a good clean. The little lever attached to the spring has wear on the end where it engages with the notches on the knob. The release lever requires a lot of force to overcome this lever and disengage the feed:

I've looked online for info but not found anything helpful. Has anyone on here any experience of these?

Next annoyance is the backsplash. I removed it to avoid it being crushed by the lifting straps. Now I've started to think about putting it back onit turns out this one is deeper front to back than the corresponding part for the longbed:

The pic below gives a better comparison:

Fitting this is going to take up nearly 30cm of width in my already fairly narrow workshop. I'm sorely tempted to cut the welds holding the end on (the bit on the floor in the top pic), slice a few inches off along the length and re-bend it, modify the end and weld it back together. If it's not as deep it won't interfere with the cross slide or taper attachment:

You can see the wasted space here, and it's not a wide enough gap. Any thoughts on this?

On a positive note, I took a look at the headstock gears. Aside from the oil looking well past its best before date, the gears at lease look in fine fettle:

 

[Brad93]

Mill Hill supplies do all the annest parts

 

[Agroshield]

I've looked online for info but not found anything helpful. Has anyone on here any experience of these?

You can buy a manual at great cost from lathes.co.uk

Some instructions for its use are found in the Colchester Student manual. Have a look around the manuals for anything bigger than a Bantam/Chipmaster and you might find something useful. Colchester and Harrison were sold in the US as Clausing so stuff at vintagemachinery.org might also have info.

See:

https://www.practicalmachinist.com/...ding-attachment-manual-or-info-needed.195927/ (two links)

Looking For: Ainjest rapid Threader Manual (imperial Unit)

I have recently been tasked with bringing a lathe back into service, it has a Ainjest rapid threading attachment (imperial version) and i am looking for a set up manual or at least how to set up the auto trip function (there might be parts missing on this unit). Any help is appreciated...

www.practicalmachinist.com

https://kinzers.com/don/MachineTools/techman/Ainjest%20Rapid%20Treading%20Attachment.pdf

Attached picture is from that thread.

 

[daedalusminos]

If you still have the longbed splash back then just cut that down.

Have you had a look at the state of oil in the gearbox yet?

 

[daedalusminos]

An exploded view of the high speed threading attachment is shown in the M300 manual...

 

[RobCox]

Attached picture is from that thread.

Thank you! This is the sort of thing I was looking for.

If you still have the longbed splash back then just cut that down.

Aah, I'm intending to sell that along with the longbed lathe once this one is up and running. Can't do it before as I'd be latheless!

Have you had a look at the state of oil in the gearbox yet?

If you mean the QCGB, no, but it'll get drained, dismounted, washed out and refitted and filled with nice clean oil.

 

[RobCox]

An exploded view of the high speed threading attachment is shown in the M300 manual

Yes, it's more the adjustment side of things. It seems to require more force than I think feels right to operate and release at the mo.

 

[Agroshield]

I found the Ainjest patent:

GB868034A