Machsupport Forum

General CNC Chat => Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) => Topic started by: slowtwitch on January 01, 2014, 05:58:06 PM

Title: Another Emco Lathe Project
Post by: slowtwitch on January 01, 2014, 05:58:06 PM
Hello folks, In another post, I had rebuilt an Emco 120p lathe. The lathe works great, especially after getting the tool turret working :) But, I found that when doing a bunch of parts, the chip bin filled rather quickly.
It's kinda small on the 120p. I would have to empty it out after a couple pieces were machined. Another drawback was the maximum length of stock I can put into the chuck...which was about nine inches long.

That is all going to change, as I was able to acquire one of these.... An Emco 220

(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f109/slowtwitch/Emco220_zps1097f985.jpg) (http://s46.photobucket.com/user/slowtwitch/media/Emco220_zps1097f985.jpg.html)

It has a large chip bin and a through the spindle capability :)

I have dismantled the lathe, changed a couple small bearings on the ends of the ball screws. Replace the lubrication manifold, readjusted the ways, cleaned and painted the sheet metal.

I'm only using two proximity switches, as that system worked well on the 120p. Here you can see the brackets I fabbed up for the switches.

(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f109/slowtwitch/PC080005_zps5c375556.jpg) (http://s46.photobucket.com/user/slowtwitch/media/PC080005_zps5c375556.jpg.html)

As for the electronics stuff, I using the PMDX 126 bob and the PMDX 107 speed control. The spindle will be powered by a 2 hp AC motor with a Hitachi WJ200 VFD. The steppers are 640 oz-in  units for Keling and the drives are Keling's Digital  KL-8070D drives.

Here is the lathe almost assembled and painted....

(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f109/slowtwitch/P1010002_zps755273e3.jpg) (http://s46.photobucket.com/user/slowtwitch/media/P1010002_zps755273e3.jpg.html)

I'm hoping to finish the wiring in the next day or two. I'm really hoping to be able to make some chips by the weekend  ;D

more to come....

pete






Title: Re: Another Emco Lathe Project
Post by: Hood on January 01, 2014, 06:56:54 PM
Looking good :)
Think you will love it, although I have never seen one they seem to be nice wee lathes.

Hood
Title: Re: Another Emco Lathe Project
Post by: RICH on January 02, 2014, 07:30:10 AM
Looks like new....maybe even better. Hope she works well for you.

RICH
Title: Re: Another Emco Lathe Project
Post by: slowtwitch on February 01, 2014, 07:50:14 AM
Hello folks, It's been awhile  First of all, I'm tired of the cold !!!!!! Temps have been in the teens for the past two weeks. I can take it, but, my shop is unheated and I can't machine anything since my coolant is frozen. I have aquarium heaters in the tanks, but, they can't keep up :(

Fortunately, we're headed for a heat wave, temps in the high 30's and mid forty's. Maybe i'll be able to thaw out the coolant and make some chips this weekend :)

Anyway, I made a quick video of the lathe. It's not the best quality, but, it gives you an idea of the end result....enjoy :)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edKDb8DfqTc (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edKDb8DfqTc)


pete
Title: Re: Another Emco Lathe Project
Post by: budman68 on February 01, 2014, 09:07:54 AM
What an absolutely wonderful lathe you have there. Love everything about it, and please, please, please, can you do a video of it running parts for us?

Something like that is a dream for me at this point......

Thanks so much for taking the time to share it, it's just awesome-
Dave
Title: Re: Another Emco Lathe Project
Post by: Hood on February 01, 2014, 11:57:20 AM
They are indeed nice wee lathes, almost got  one similar a while back, kind of wish I did but the workshop is just too full now.

Looking forward to seeing it running some parts.
Hood
Title: Re: Another Emco Lathe Project
Post by: Dan13 on February 01, 2014, 12:53:14 PM
Nice lathe, Pete. Nicely done. Thanks for sharing.

Dan
Title: Re: Another Emco Lathe Project
Post by: slowtwitch on February 15, 2014, 06:32:19 PM
What an absolutely wonderful lathe you have there. Love everything about it, and please, please, please, can you do a video of it running parts for us?

Something like that is a dream for me at this point......

Thanks so much for taking the time to share it, it's just awesome-
Dave


Here's a video of the Emco at work. I was using the last of some stock that was pre-cut for my Emco 120 (which doesn't have the thru bore capability as the 220)...that's why I ran out in the end :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTtSbpjyy2g&feature=youtu.be (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTtSbpjyy2g&feature=youtu.be)

pete
Title: Re: Another Emco Lathe Project
Post by: Hood on February 15, 2014, 08:24:48 PM
Looks to be working great :) Like the part catcher as well, do you have that macro operated?

Sounds like your drills may be slightly off centre though as they seem to be rubbing.

Hood
Title: Re: Another Emco Lathe Project
Post by: slowtwitch on February 16, 2014, 06:29:08 AM
Thanks Hood, I knew about the drill being off a bit. I just have to learn a better way of centering drills on tool turrets :)

As for the parts catcher, I just have a simple macro to turn on and off the output. I have the macro inserted(in the G code) about .050", before the cut finishes, to open the tray and then insert the macro after the cut is made, to close it.

pete
Title: Re: Another Emco Lathe Project
Post by: Hood on February 16, 2014, 06:47:47 AM
If you clamp a DTI holder in the chuck you can bring the turret in and sweep round the ID of the drill holder and offset the X to get it centred.
A better approach would be to turn up an accurate bar to fit in the drill holder and sweep the OD of the bar, you can then also run along the length of the bar to check the alignment of the turret. Running along the length would actually be best as the first step as you can adjust the turret if needed then you can sweep the OD of the bar to find X centre. If the height of the drill holder is out there is likely not much you can do about that unless there is some way to adjust the height of the turret, shimming would work but could lead to less rigidity so I would only do that if it is well off.
 Normally if you make up drill holders you would bore and finish them to size fitted to the lathe, first by drilling with a drill in the chuck then either a reamer or a boring head in the chuck to get to final size, that ensures the holder is exactly centre.

I have often thought of making a part catcher for my lathe but as I mostly do one off parts I dont really need it, would just be nice to have one for the occasional longer runs of parts.

Hood
Title: Re: Another Emco Lathe Project
Post by: slowtwitch on February 16, 2014, 07:08:17 AM
Hood, I aligned the turret when I put the lathe together and I used the method you mentioned....using a ground rod and indicating its length.

As for your thoughts on the holders...now why didn't I think of that :)  I made holders for the Emco's on my old manual lathe, never thinking of finishing them off on the Emco's, to get them accurate .....   this old age stuff, sometimes the brain needs to be kick started ...  lol

thanks
pete
Title: Re: Another Emco Lathe Project
Post by: Hood on February 16, 2014, 02:13:24 PM
Depending on whether you are using sleeves or not, it may still be possible to finish off on the lathe. If say your ID of the holders were 25mm Dia and you could take out to 30,  you could just make your reducing sleeves to suit.
You may find however you are fine in height and its just the X axis that needs set correctly thus only your offset needs tweaked in Mach :)


Hood
Title: Re: Another Emco Lathe Project
Post by: slowtwitch on March 02, 2014, 07:55:47 AM
Hello Hood, I fixed the problem :). Dummy me assumed that when I removed the turret and replaced it with another Emco turret I had, everything would fall back into place perfectly... I was a bit wrong in that assumption....lol. The newer turret needed an additional .018" worth of shim to get things centered. It took a bit, but, now it cuts the way it should, smoothly and on center :)

I'm telling you this old age stuff is not for the weak...lol

thanks for jarring my brain cells :)

pete
Title: Re: Another Emco Lathe Project
Post by: Hood on March 02, 2014, 03:25:44 PM
Good you got it, your drills will last much longer now :)
Hood