CovMac Lathes

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Empathy, Brian ... It's been very hot near the Cheshire/Derbyshire border too.

I'm sure this is not new to you; but I'm including a link to a good tutorial article which some might find useful: **LINK**

http://content.penturners.org/library/techniques/skiprats_triple_start_threading.pdf

Five-start threads are not uncommon, on things like helical focus mechanisms for lenses; and although I no evidence to suggest that CovMac made special provision for that market, the lathe would appear well-suited to the work.

... It's all idle speculation !

MichaelG.

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Apologies for the omission in that post:

" ... and although I no evidence to suggest ..."

should read

"... and although I have found no evidence to suggest ..."

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MichaelG.

Thinking along the lines of multi start threads of large calibre, large gun breeches were a multi start threed, and I also believe that some of the mechanisms used to push shells into large naval guns used quick action threads, and also along the lines Michael is speaking of, the mechanism to change the azimuth angle of a field gun. Gues who had his head in military engineering books during formative years!

Phil.

Hello Michael,

Thank you for the penturners link, a very elegant tutorial which describes the business of making multi start threads rather well I thought.

It is a cooler start to the day here from yesterday spent taming the Boston Ivy on the two sides of the house not actually in the direct sun, but hot enough for that sort of work on a ladder all day.

Returning to your example of a 5 start thread, if the pitch of the resultant thread is to be 10 mm then the lead has to be 50 mm which means gearing the lathe to cut a 50 mm thread in the first place so that 4 other similar pitch threads can be fitted into the space available. One turn of the resulting screw would move a suitable made nut by 50 mm

Martin Cleeve in his invaluable book on the subject, with whom I am sure you are familiar, makes it simple for metric threads especially as they are designated by pitch. On pp 102 he quotes a neat little expression:-

LEAD = Pitch x number of starts or PITCH = Lead divided by number of starts

I hope that helps us both get a handle on the subject

Kind regards Brian

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Thanks for the reply, Brian

I think we are both 'saying the same thing' from our different perspectives:

The CovMac lathe is capable of traversing a 10mm pitch thread, so ... if we set it to cut a 2mm pitch thread-form, and repeat for five starts we end up with a lead of 10mm but a modest thread depth.

Very hot here ... just came indoors to cool down ... hope that ^^^ makes sense.

MichaelG.

Hello Michael,

I agree with that analysis but I submit it would be a very different thread if compared to a 10 mm pitch thread cut by the lathe, the helix angles would all be wrong and neither would you be able to run a 2 mm pitch die along it for the same reasons. I think that is correct!

It is really too hot to think clearly on these matters, despite the intake of amber coloured cooling fluid; they need testing to see what is actually going on and that could be done without wasting metal by using a Sharpie pen instead of a cutting tool..

The fact though remains that the screwcutting gearing on the Covmac lathe is way too ambitious in the coarser pitch screws that are greater than the pitch of the leadscrew and would be sure to cause tears at bedtime if attempted. The lathe can also be geared down to cut BA threads, but with 10 inch chucks and the problems involved in gripping work in those sizes that is also unrealistic.

Kind regards Brian

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Yes, of course that's correct, Brian

... It was never my intention to suggest otherwise.

MichaelG.

Glad to report some progress on the Covmac!! Yes I know it has been a long time, but I have been busy restoring other things in the workshop, and thanks to my mate Richard coming over to play for the day, the Covmac motor is fitted! Tomorrow I will bore the pulley from 1 1/4" to 38mm (or is it 1 1/2" and fit it. Pic is on its back! tried to turn it round, which I have already done on my computer, failed, gave up!

Bored the five sheave pulley from 1.25" to1.5", or 38mm if yer metrically inclined! will need to drill and tap for a grub screw after I have recut the keyway, as in the previous fitment this pulley had a tanged key in it, and the new motor is an internal key. That's tomorrows job!

Edited By Phil Whitley on 08/05/2019 21:01:46

Back on the Covmac, and this time it is to the finish!, got the motor cabled up, and new belts sized up, just working on modifying the belt guards, should have chips next week!

Hello Phil,

Good to see more progress! What power of motor have you settled on to run the old girl on, it must be fairly substantial to justify 5 belts?

Regards

Brian

Hi Brian, when I got the lathe it had an ancient repulsion induction single phase variable speed motor on it, which weighed about four times what the motor now fitted weighs, so I have swapped it for a three phase 3hp 750 rpm motor. The pulley is the original off the old motor, bored out to fit the new one, and rekeyed on the shaper. The five belt set up is original to the machine. If all goes well I should get it up and running next week!

Hello Phil,

All exciting stuff isn't it, eat your heart out Chris!

I recently rescued a Churchill Cub, made in 1947 which I am restoring. Not in Covmac scale but large for me. The motor on that was enormous, a two speed 3 phase unit weighing 55 kg, it was about all I could do to push it about on the floor. All that for 1 HP

I shall be running the lathe with a variable speed 240 volt 3 phase unit when that happy day comes about, the difference in weight and performance is remarkable. The new motor weighs 17.3 kg and delivers 2 HP

The old motor stator will be reused as a demagnetising tunnel with a central plastic tube fitted in place of the bell ends.

Regards Woody

Edited By Brian Wood on 10/08/2019 14:11:52

Churchill cub, very well made machine, especially the later ones, what model (Mk) is it ? pics? There was one for sale on ebay which was just outside Beverley, my brother was interested in it, and was going to go for a look, but didn't bother when the guy told him how much interest he had in it! Needles to say, it sold "well".

Phil

Here is the comparison, and the old single phase motor is only 2hp! Speed adjustment wheel (just behind terminal box) moves the brushes around the armature, the motor speed slows right down to a halt, then restarts in the opposite direction! Note that on this side, the "drip proof" vent at the rear has been fitted upsode down because of the position of the motor when mounted on the lathe. I think that the motor mounting plate on the lathe, which is solid cast iron, probably weighs more than the new motor. If you look on lathes.uk at the Covmac page, the 3hp 750 rpm is the original recomendation for the lathe, although I shall probably never manage to overload it!! the FLA of the new motor is only 5.5a.

Edited By Phil Whitley on 11/08/2019 12:35:20

Hello Phil,

My Churchill is the Mk III, made in 1947. There is some problem which prevents me putting anything into my albums, I can no longer find the button that does the business; it has been like that I think since having to buy this computer when the hard drive failed on my previous one.

This was an eBay find in a " farm" at the southern end of Saddleworth Moor, it would be better described as a junkyard really. There was lively bidding with several contenders in the contest and 37 watchers waiting to leap in.

Despite the neglect and rust, the bed and expensive other bits like the all geared headstock are in first class shape, it will be a nice machine again when I'm done.

The screwcutting gearbox is the economy model with three ranges ( times 2, times 1, and times 1/2 ) to extend the scope from the full set of 15 changewheels that came with it. The 9 inch four jaw Pratt chuck is in top condition, the three jaw 6 inch has three set of jaws, one being soft, and might be best described as adequate with some chips knocked off the corners of the jaws. Oddly enough, the top slide bears no impact marks so what was clouted I don't know.

I will be writing it up for MEW magazine if they are still interested in lathe stories when it is complete.

Like you say, I don't believe you could over power the Covmac lathe.

Best wishes Woody

Edited By Brian Wood on 11/08/2019 14:14:37

Todays progress, fitted the end gear housing and adjusted the fit of the new belt guard, made and fitted the cover plate, practised my TIG welding on the bit where the coolant pump drive used to be (flap disks are a godsend when you are still learning TIG) and cleaned up ready for paint. Tomorrow, I will pick up the V belts, fit them, and then clean off the rest of the belt guard, and get some paint on it! Horrible job, but it has to be done. Needless to say I wore a breather mask for the removal of the suspiciously arsenic green paint! it was wartime after all, and I suspect they were using any paint they could get their hands on. I had forgotten how heavy the end gear cover and door were! Solid cast iron, and they didn't skimp on thickness either! Tomorow I will sort out a starter and isolator from my collection, and do some wiring while the paint dries. Also considering a splash guard to stop the inevitable coolant up the wall trick!

It is looking good Phil, looking forward to the next step in progress. Wise move with the old paint removal, it could contain pretty much anything

Today has been cleaning and painting, got the rest of the belt guard cleaned up and primed, and also got the belts and fitted them, tomorrow I will roller the white paint onto the guards, and get on with the wiring. forgot to take pics of the cleanup, but very boring anyway, here is one of the new belts.

Phil

Hello Phil,

You've answered one of my earlier questions and put 5 belts on it. It certainly looks businesslike now. Next test is to run it surely?

Good luck

Woody