Member postings for Captain Biggles

Hi Terry,

I've been trying to get on their website too and been having the same problems. I'm wondering if they've gone out of business, so if you have got hold of them on the phone please let me know.

Thanks,

Joel

Thanks Ketan. Definitely in the market for one, guess I can just use an adaptor so I can keep all my existing 3MT tooling

This post (and the ones above it) have convinced me to make my next mill purchase from Arc.

Now, all I need is the SX3.5 with a 3MT spindle and no DRO. Even better would be a tilting head.

What are my chances for the next batch to arrive back in stock with that specification???

Joel

Edited By Captain Biggles on 02/10/2020 15:42:23

Thanks both.

I'm after a VFD controlled motor of at least 1kW, with 3MT spindle and a table bigger than 500 x 150mm and feeds on at least the longitudinal travel. It should be c. 1000mm width footprint.

The closest machine I've found that meets these criteria is the Wabeco F1410 but that is significantly out of my price range, sadly.

As far as I can tell from what you've written, and looking at Warco's website, the primary difference between the VMC and Super Major is that the Major is bigger and has a back gear rather than belt drive. Anything else I've missed?

-- BUMP --

I'm curious about the VMC Vario and people's experiences with it. It seems an ideal size for my workshop although I'd rather an 3MT spindle if this was possible as I have a lot of tooling already.

The Super Major Vario is a jump in price and size, is it worth it?

Thanks,

Joel

Thanks Andrew,

I am in contact with Transwave who said that unless it says 415/240 it's not suitable. It only says 415 and it's wound in a star (see photos, with apologies for previous owner's paintwork)

However if I can wire it into a delta configuration then presumably it'll be ok at 240?

Thanks,

Joel

Following a most enlightening and entertaining post about hand wheel dials yesterday (**LINK**) I did say I'd be back with more questions soon.

So...

My M300 is a 3-phase machine and I've only got domestic single-phase in the garage. Transwave have suggested an VFD but I'd also need to change the motor as the one on there currently isn't dual-voltage, apparently.

But surely if I'm going to the trouble of replacing the motor I may as well just fit a single-phase one and not bother with the VFD, saving £500? Or am I missing something?

Thanks,

Joel

Thank you for the info all - most enlightening. I have to confess I've only ever used more recent lathes with a dial, with or without a DRO, so it never occurred to me there may have been another way.

Speaking of which, the link to the Harold Hall article on his website referenced by DC31k above is here: **LINK**

I've contacted a supplier of spare parts for the M300 as I thought I'd seen a drawing with the dial assembly in the manual and I was right, there was an option to specify this when purchasing the lathe from new. Most didn't bother however, which explains why I'd struggled to find any photographic evidence. I've asked for a quote, out of curiosity mostly as I still plan to fit a DRO.

You can also purchase stops directly from Colchester for the M300, for about £250 with or without micrometer adjustment here: **LINK** and a multi-position bed stop here: **LINK**

Cheers,

Joel

Please help!

I've just bought a second-hand Harrison M300 and am trying to get familiar with it (so expect more questions). The first thing I've noticed is that the handle for the longitudinal (transverse) feed has no dial on it - to tell how far the apron has traveled.

Unless I'm going crazy, this means that unless you're using the dial on the compound slide, you've no idea how far towards the chuck you've moved. I've studied photo after photo and video after video and not seen any concrete evidence of there being a dial on anyone else's machine, so was this standard?

I'll fit a DRO so it's not the end of the world, but can anyone put my mind at ease? What am I missing?

Thanks all,

Joel

Anyone built the Stuart Turner "Progress" OH1 and care to share their thoughts & tips?

Just about to start mine, am thinking I may make a few of the parts differently to how they're drawn...

Thanks,

Joel

No offence is taken, and yes, I'm sure I will get around to buying a linisher/grinder at some point. But I have to say there is definitely an air of moral superiority dished out by those who grind their own over those who made the decision at the outset to postpone the purchase of yet another piece of equipment when an out-of-the-box alternative solution exists which enables the beginner to hone (ha ha) their skills in other areas of this fascinating hobby.

Speaking with all the clarity of a beginner...

Having bought a lathe/mill, vices, collets, mounting blocks, bolts, milling bits etc, the beginner is then faced with a simple decision. Either buy some square bits of HSS and yet more equipment in the form of a grinding wheel & work out the hard way how to grind a bit (often with only books / internet to advise) or buy some tipped tools where all that work has been done for them.

It is hardly surprising therefore that a beginner would pick the tipped tools is it?

Sure, if I was doing an apprenticeship and an old hand could show me how to grind then I'd be all ears, but left to your own devices when there are so many other skills to learn I don't think a beginner should be chastised for picking those other skills to learn first.

Joel - Romford MEC Newcomer of the Year 2014!

+1 for Makita. Got the 18v drill & impact driver set & they're brutal.

Who says design by committee is a bad thing?

Cheers all!

Comme ca?

Michael, you're a genius... Cheers!

I'm after some advice - has anyone fitted a DRO to a Chester Centurion 3-in-1? Alternatively, can anyone comment on my cunning plan...

The sketch below shows the scale (in a extrusion) freely running behind two clamps that are bolted to the body of my machine. The encoder is mounted on L-bracket between the two. The bottom of the scale is attached to another bracket, and it's here I need some advice. Somehow this bottom bracket needs to attach to the quill, I'm not sure whether bolting it would be a suitable option, and I'm considering some kind of jubilee clip type solution.

Can anyone comment?

(The sketch below is simplified, showing just part of the body of the machine and the quill. Spindle ommitted for clarity)

I've been trying to get hold of them post-Alexandra Palace too, keep getting answer phone. I've not actually left a message admittedly, but I've posted something to them and will let you all know if I get anything back in the post!

David,

You are still missing the point. This is not a debate about the "value" of the current deal (we'd do well to remind ourselves of the difference in "value" and "cost" anyway) but my original point still stands.

I pay £40.50 for an annual subscription to Railway Modeller and get access to all the back-issues they've got around to digitising. I CAN read them all, online or offline, wherever I am in the world.

I pay £55 for an annual subscription to Model Engineerand and get access to all the back-issues they've got around to digitising. I CAN'T even read the current issue unless I have internet access, let alone the back-issues.

Why?

It is not about copying, or distributing, or what a good deal we get already, it's about having access to what's been paid for, wherever I want it.

Joel

Coming tomorrow from Essex - first time. Excited.

Edited By David Clark 1 on 18/01/2013 15:43:38

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. What I was really hoping for is perhaps David to suggest a reason why other magazines I subscribe to allow me to read them offline but ME does not. Otherwise I'll just resort to reading these other mags when I'm on the road.

It's nothing to do with me wanting to make copies or backups or share them or to get around a pay-wall. I just want to read them on the plane as easily as the other mags I subscribe to digitally.

Incidentally, going back to what Robin said above about making copies, I cannot see any way of making a copy of Railway Modeller, for instance, and nor would I wish to. But I can read it on the plane!!!!