Motor for Flexispeed Lathe

Do you think that 1/16 hp motor will be enough? I am thinking of a 1/4,or even 1/2 horse motor for my Simat 101 which is almost a copy of the flexispeed.

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Mark,

0.16 HP is rather more than 1/16

MichaelG.

I have a Simat 101 to set up some time this year and I'm proposing to use the motor from one of these:

I think it would be ok for it.

**LINK**

Bert

That's the plan. I have the countershaft assembly, with a small motor some gearing down will give it more poke at low speed. I think these lathes need to run at speeds of less than 1000 rpm.

Bert, I think the usual speed for the counter shaft is 500rpm, so you just have to work out the ratio required.

Ian S C

It will probably need a 6:1 ratio although you may get away with 5:1, it depends how much the motor speed drops under load. The problem will be getting the belt to have a good wrap around the small motor pulley. Long centres will help but a better alternative might be to use timing pulleys and belts with teeth. Let us know how you get on.

Rod

Hello Herbert, what width belt are you using from the counter shaft to head stock on your simat? My pulleys measure 7.85mm so I suppose that an 8mm (5/16" wide belt will be ok.

Thanks for the good advice chaps!

I'm not in too much of a hurry with it. I bought it on a whim a year or so ago. It was mounted on an old kitchen cabinet with a large motor that wouldn't look out of place on a Myford!

I saw this B&Q bench grinder without any wheels for £6 so I thought it would do. I don't have much time at the moment but I'm hanging up my clogs at the end of April so I should be able to get on with it. I shall log it on here when I do, hopefully with some help from you guys it wll be a useful addition to my workshop.

Bert

Finally, I have set up my Flexispeed and it isready to try using. I am not sure whether I have set the speeds at realistic rates: the top speed is a shade under 500 rpm, the lowest without the backgear being 190 rpm. With the backgear, it is measuring 50 rpm. The first thing that I wish to make for it is a pair of oilers for the headstock, followed by a QCTP. Making these will soon give me an idea of a how useful the speeds are.

Regards,

James.

James, that sounds a quite sensible speed range. Is that a clutch on the counter shaft pulley? That looks a nice little lathe.

Ian S C

Ooops

Edited By Ian S C on 10/07/2015 11:50:18

The problem with small grinder motors apart from the 2850 speed is that they are not continuously rated - do check the label. They get quite warm after a few minutes or at least the two I have do.

Phil

If this crops up again. Peatol sell a nice compact GEC motor for their lathes. 1400rpm. They get a bit hot but this type of motor often does. The price was very reasonable and I'd guess it still is. 1/4hp £50 currently. Their lathe needs the power for it's nK top speed. There would be plenty available at normal speeds on other small lathes.

I had something similar to the flexispeed at one point, came fitted with 1/2 hp. Too much doesn't hurt really but as it was an old motor it was a bit big.

Whoops - I'm assuming the Peatol still uses the same motor or a very similar one as the motor board and belt would have to be changed if it was much bigger.

John

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Edited By John W1 on 10/07/2015 14:24:05

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John,

If you want to check ... here is the website for Peatol [in Harborne]

MichaelG.

Different make but looks the same style of motor to me due to the external capacitor.

He isn't far from me so I have visited him a couple of times but not for a long time. I sold my Peatol a couple of years ago but kept a few of the bits which will probably find there way onto my Pultra. I'm hoping to machine the 4 jaw I have to fit directly on the spindle nose to avoid overhang and get the 3 jaw and do the same but will need to do some size checks for that. The 3 jaw can be persuaded to grip as true as any collet if it's on a lathe that can turn very round and parallel. Just machine the faces while the chuck is closed on a washer pulled back into a small register at the back. Remove the washer and clean up the slight lip that's left. Grip - I've held sharp 3/8 end mills in it and cut straight through 3/8 mild steel. Also a 1/8 in woodruff cutter probably a bit over 1in dia to its' full depth. (Making a router fence.)

John

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Hi Herbert

There will be no power in a small grinder. I tried one on a small engraver, total waste of time.

John,

Thank you. I am pleased with the machine, which was a Christmas present. The lump on the pully is just the stub of the billet from which I machined the pulley. I started doing it on a friend's lathe, but needed a bigger machine to bore it out. I did that on a huge great industrial machine in a factory at about 10:00pm. As I barely knew the person, I did not want to overstay my welcome, so it had to stay as it is.

I am not sure whether the comments from others regarding grinder motors refer to my motor or not: however, this motor is not from a grinder, is rated at 1/6hp and cost just £25.00 delivered.

Regards,

James.