Member postings for Michael Callaghan

I know that you can purchase breakout boards for Linux, but at a price if usb. The biggest problem with Linux for me is the time you need to invest in getting to know the ins and outs. Really all one wants is a program that talks to the machine be it a lathe or milling machine. I was not knocking Linux, but I think that the OP just wants the lathe up and running. Not sure what a C axis is. or what you mean by live tooling. Can you please explain. Thanks

Here is my 2 pence worth. I have converted two lathes for cnc. One a Denford orac and the one I am fooling with now a Wabeco lathe. People keep going on about screw cutting on a lathe. To be honest in all my years I have never cut a tread on a lathe, just dies. So that’s sorted. If you are looking at software. There are a few to pick from. Mach3 is the most common, lots of information on the net etc, and most breakout boards will run mach3 or 4. Linux is a sort of build your own sort of thing and needs breakout boards that can run this program which makes it more expensive in equipment over mach3. Then you have acorncnc which is very good but also expensive being only available from the USA. As for equipment needed. Stepper motors and drivers x2. For the price now I would go with what’s called a closed loop system this means that the stepper motor can inform the driver if it starts to loss steps and adjust as needed. There is around a £20 increase in price over open loop but worth the money all day long. Then you need a breakout board, this is the board that works like a car ECU it informs the motors what to do. A power supply is not much to buy. If you go Mach 3 get a usb fitted breakout board which will allow a newer pc to be used. Linuxcnc you are stuck with the printer port. Acorn allows use of the Lang cable. Cost wise, it’s mach3, linuxcnc, acorncnc. It all depends on what you want from the lathe. Me I went with mach3, but will swap to acorncnc when the exchange rate is better. Or I can my mate to send it to me.

At the moment I am waiting on a better power supply. Will start again when that’s wired in. Thanks for the interest

Hi martyn. Look on the follow web site. Lathes.U.K. This site carries information on all machines made. The other thing that sometimes works is to put in a search for belt driven lathes, look up images and see if you can find one the same as yours.

Hi all. I am midway through a cnc lathe conversation and have hit a problem. I am using a closed loop system. I have played around with mach3 for years and have never had this problem so it could be an equipment problem. On trying to calibrate the z axis the motor moves very slowly. I have been able to get the correct steps per distance which turned out to be 1000 steps. However no matter how I set the motor tuning the motor just moves slowly. However if I jog the motor it moves at speed. Can anyone think of what’s going on here. Thanks.

For me it’s armour like this. Made without anything in the way of advanced tools. Made to fit the men like a second skin. Plates formed by nothing more then a man’s hammer and skill. Not only did this need to look great by the use of the skill of the finest artists of metal and design. But the metal craft in getting the correct temper of steel took a depth of knowledge long lost.

Thanks again

Thanks chaps.

Hi, is it still possible to get spindle seals for fobco drills. Thanks

From time to time over the years I have sold machines to upgrade by little workshop. I have placed ad,s on various forums with little response. I have sold on eBay with buyers coming some distance to collect and both of us happy with the price paid and given. However of late I tried to sale a very nice cnc router which was too big and taking up too much space for the use I was getting out of it. Placed it on Facebook market place, and had a dealer come round who said he would buy it for the asking price but he could not collect until the following week. In that week I turned down other interested people. And yes you knew this was coming, the dealer did not turn up. However out of the blue another chap turned up and offered half the asking price and could take it away same day. I put it on eBay, and it’s now in Burma. Dealers on the whole are robbers. The only think in their ability to transport the machines. When I am past it, I will sale the whole lot on eBay.

I don’t know if it helps, but you can get an educational copy of solidworks (a genuine download) for £80pa . It was £20pa last year. I have no idea why the increase. I have been using solidworks for years and now find other programs hard to get on with.

Hi chaps, my old meddings pillar drill is becoming a bit of a pain these days. So I am looking for a replacement. I would like something a bit heavier then the meddings, but not a monster I can’t move without a crane. I know that fobco 7,8 drills are good, but spares are hard to get I have been told. I have seen an Elliot g3 which looks from the picture to be in good condition. It’s been converted to single phase with a smaller .75kw motor which I am not sure was a good move. Are these drills anygood.

Thanks chaps.

Hi, can anyone please let me if old excel pillar drills are anygood. I have never heard of them before today. Thanks

It maybe worth you taking a lot of pictures and visiting a club near you to get more information. There is a club not too far from you at Wimborne. Dealers will offer you next too nothing and some others will try it on. Start by knowing what you have. Then put it on eBay

I had a ton senior a few years back. One of my reasons for selling it was the weight of the Z axis. With a heavy vice and work on the bed it became a job at times to move it. Apart from that they are nice milling machines for light work. Make sure that there is no old oil on the ways and the gib,s are set right.

Thanks chaps, sorted now. What a pain it’s all become. You just get in the hang of L,N,E and they change it to meaningless nonsense

Hi, it’s been years since I wired a VFD, and I have forgotten the little I knew to start with. My problem is that the input side of the Delta VFD-EL is marked R/L1,S/L2,T/L3. The manual is full of drawings and safety this and that but nothing has clear has live, earth and neutral. So can anyone please let me which of these terminals are indeed live and earth and neutral. Thanks.

Thanks for your reply.