What did you do Today 2018

Took my lathe motor apart, put it back together, no clue or improvement except lots of sparking/arcing from a capacitor. At least I know how it comes apart and what it looks like in there now! I also can't figure out how the fan has any effect... it is on one end of the shaft but both ends of the motor are enclosed so I can't see where the fan would draw air from inside.

The fan will be in a cowl that directs the air over the outside of the motor, cooling the whole thing. A totally enclosed motor so you don't fill it up with gunk. Often on these the switch gear is mounted on the end opposite the pulley and can be got to by undoing 3 or 4 little screws. On a number of these type motors I have found arcing from the switch to the motor frame, easily cured with some insulation added.

Ian S C

Andrew - just out of interest, when you come to use these, how will the bolt be held whilst you tighten the nut?

Finally got back in the workshop to start on the cylinder will finish bore for the liner tonight then the part I enjoy profiling the outside and creating the exhaust ports.
I think that is easy compared to when I see George another speed nut machining various car heads from castings on manual machines with the blueprint on the wall.
Will change my nickname to Swarthy again after today looking at my bucket.

Got 3 phase supply hooked up to the house in anticipation of getting it into the new workshop if it ever gets built.

Took the capacitors off the lathe and milling machine motors so I can order some new ones.

Your post is a little confusing (to me anyway).

If the capacitors you intend to replace are for the motors then they should not be required as three phase motors dont use them.

Capacitors are only normally replaced if they fail as they are not really a 'wear' component.

Ian P

For the ones I've fitted so far it hasn't been a problem. The bolts are quite tight in the holes, they often need tapping in with a mallet. If one nips up the nut it is often possible tighten a bit further with an "impulse" on the spanner. The bolts don't need to be particularly tight. There are 20 of them around the circumference and the loads are entirely in shear.

Andrew

Clear to me

The answer to the three phase issue is immediately above - David has three phase supply, but it isn't connected to a workshop, and said workshop may not come along for a while.

So, for the forseeable future, his machines are single phase.

Re the capacitors, see the post at the very top of the page

I did not connect the two postings, but it all makes sense now.

Motor capacitors are usually in cans or cases with blade terminals (or flying flying leads) was the visible sparking or arcing actually a failed capacitor or just bad terminations?

I recall a question here recently where someone was considering changing all the capacitors as a precaution, maybe it was in this (multi topic) thread.

Ian P

Over the last week I have made two abortive trips looking for my local Flo-gas supplier to change my propane bottle, both of teh 'flogas' places turned out to be calor... 'sorry mate, it's our Derby branch that does flogas'.

Then today, loading wood for a shelf bought in B&Q I noticed the bottle says 'Energas' - Doh!

What is really irritating is that all three places I went to are on the same road...

It's raining outside, but it's been snowing in the workshop this afternoon:

Andrew

Ate too many sugar-free sweets

Our club web host 1&1 has been sneaking in price rises with discounted upgrades so it doesn't look like you are on the more expensive rate until next renewal. I have just 'upgraded' us to the cheaper package. They don't have a 'downgrade' button but I suppose a lower price is an upgrade. The value of my time working this out was about twice the saving so a company probably doesn't notice or care.

Facing the outer rim of a weight lifting weight, I was having a few problems with the carbide inserts. The little CCMT060204 inserts cut fairly easily, but left an awful finish and wore rapidly. The larger CNMG120412 inserts were a struggle. The lathe didn't really have to torque to drive them through the hard face of the cast iron at the 10" diameter with the slowest possible 350fpm cutting speed due to the large corner radius.

Some years ago I'd got some cheap CBN inserts from the Bay of Fleas in a CNMx09 size. I finally got to try one out. light, 8 thou cuts at 600fpm left beautiful golden chips and a mirror finish on the cast iron . I think I need to resort to these inserts more often with tough stuff. I've got five to play with and if I treat them with respect, they'll probably outlast me!

David S has it right. We're getting solar panels so have to get a single phase or 3-phase meter put on - we have an obsolete 2-phase one at present that must be replaced. So I decided to get 3-phase and will send it up to the new workshop if it ever gets built... a process that is taking forever to get started.

The leads on the lathe caps are soldered on so I'm assuming the connection is okay. The milling machine has eyes on the end of the leads so I can't see how they were ever good connections because they were not screwed into the caps, more like staked on. One of the eyes was burned right through.

The replacement caps will have spades so I need to put the appropriate female connectors on the wires.

I'm worried I've just made the lathe motor problem worse during the pointless disassembly by crimping or squeezing a wire somewhere. The new cap is $60 AUD... perhaps I should get a cheap one, see if the sparking goes away, and replace it with a good one if the sparking is fixed.

Went to the tip to recycle various bin bags full of swarf and was challenged by a man in uniform - 'this is for metal mate'.

Expecting in the best traditions of this forum to have a blazing row with a jumped up facist jobs-worth, I said it was metal. Bad news ; on seeing the bags were full of swarf he and I had a pleasant chat about the pleasures of lathe ownership.

Then, in Tesco's, after being successfully assisted by an employee aged about 12, I found that one of their Charity Collections was for Heritage Iron. I approve; they specialise in restoring old iron-work and encouraging blacksmithing skills.

Then, whilst queuing to take on petrol, it occurred to me that charging an electric car overnight at home would be much less bother. Not having a convenient local petrol station means I have to go at least 6 miles out of my way to refuel.

These positive experiences are proof that the whole world has gone mad. I only go out to polish my prejudices and am deeply offended when they are contradicted in this inconsiderate way. Like yesterday: heard on radio - 'everything modern is rubbish and always has been'. Bah humbug.

Dave

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 13/03/2018 13:55:13

Dave, I'm happy for you that your visit turned out that way. I have, in the past, witnessed attendants at the tip (Oops! 'Household Waste Recycling Centre' ) accuse people of bringing 'trade waste'.

In this modern age, when it seems to be rare for people to actually make things, I feel it is important for us all to assert that running a home workshop (not for profit) is a bone fide hobby activity and, hence, is DOMESTIC, aka HOUSEHOLD. Just because we're not as much in the public's view (or do I mean officialdom's view? ) as some hobbies it's not obvious to them how common our hobby is nor how established are our traditions.

I belong to a microscopy club (The Quekett - Google it) which is a registered charity. One of the club's stated aims is to acquaint the public with the benefits of microscopy and to facilitate their learning the art. To that end, members and local groups who hold microscopy events that include public access are urged by Quekett HQ to submit reports of those events so that they can be shown to the Charities Commission as evidence that the club is pursuing its aims. I am not a member of an ME Society but I hope that the various ME Societies around the country might consider adding similar clauses to their Constitutions if they are not already there.

Might there be such a clause in the Constitution of the S.M.E.E ?

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

Edited By Swarf, Mostly! on 13/03/2018 14:58:04

I am still prejudiced against automatic gear boxes. Way too soon to even contemplate an electric car

Robin, I don't like automatic gearboxes either. In fact, one of my early cars required double-declutching, and I can still do it. As for electric cars, there isn't an affordable one which has enough range to be of any practical use here in the far north of Scotland. However, there are some things in modern life I would not wish to be without - my computer, for instance. And rather than grizzle about the state of the NHS, in my current state of health I marvel at the complexity and huge cost of some of the machinery and techniques used to treat me. In some ways I might be a grumpy old git, but not all the time!

I like the auto box in my Vito. It gives about the same fuel consumption as a manual and is much nicer to use in bad traffic than the manual we had in our previous Sprinter. However, it's for 'slow & thoughtful' driving as it doesn't change gear fast and seems to rev the engine much faster than I would if I was in control.

Regards,

Richard.