WARCO Reversing Problem

Hi Guys, This is my first ever posting on a Forum, so if I don't get it right, please forgive me.

I am the proud owner of a Warco WM 240lathe. It has had very little use since I bought it new due to work commitments. Now that I have some time to spare I thought I would get down to some machining on my lathe. But when I turned it on it rotates up to the recommended 1000 rpm in forward but only goes up to about 300 in reverse. Any ideas or suggestions would be very welcome

Mike

Assuming it is a DC motored one they don't run as fast in reverse so nothing wrong with the board etc.

Jason's understanding matches mine. I think only the WM<n>V (where <n> = swing in mm) models have the AC motor and inverter to give full speed in reverse.

The blurb on the WM250V that I have appears to support this.

My 8 year old WM240 does an indicated 1200 forward and 600 in reverse. I agree that there's probably nowt wrong with yours.

Jim

Thank you for all the reply's, they have put my mind at rest knowing that it isn't going to suddenly give up the ghost. what a great forum, thanks again!!!

Mike

Hi

Reading through this posting it appears that the control has most probably got a speed reduction built in to it look for a Pot on the board that reduces speed in reverse.

Normally a DC motor will run at the same speed in either direction OR as my own setup with a KB controller with separate controls for forwards and reverse.

Eric

If reverse RPM has been deliberately reduced, it makes sense to consider that there was probably a reason for doing so before making mods to defeat it.

Edited By Mick B1 on 07/10/2018 09:14:13

I've failed to find the reference, but I think I remember that some DC motors are de-rated in reverse because the brushes are mounted offset to increase the contact area in forward. But an offset geometry means the brushes wear rapidly in reverse and the effect is reduced by dropping the speed. Seems reasonable - a motor optimised to deliver max power running forwards with the ability to reverse occasionally for odd jobs. Or did I dream it?

I think the lathe is fine.

Dave

You mentioning that has blown the dust off a similar memory of mine. I think that's spot-on.

Or did I just make that up?

How many people have actually done any machining in reverse? The only thing I use reverse for on my S7 is when using an old toothbrush to clean the spindle nose threads so the grot drops off the end rather than being screwed on to the register.

I certainly make frequent use of it - mostly for chamfering on the far side, reversing taps out of deep holes and sanding wooden turned surfaces.

Oh, and screwcutting on continuous engagement.

Edited By Mick B1 on 07/10/2018 11:55:15

I do it quite a bit - upside down boring bar to reach around the edge of a flywheel. - Cutting matching tapers without moving the topslide where the bore can be done forwards and the make part at the back of the spindle in reverse. - Also can be easier to see what you are doing when boring say a valve seat down the end of a hole. Threading away from a shoulder - the list goes on, suppose it just depends how much you actually get upto in the workshop

Helps that I don't have a screw on chuck to worry about dropping off

I had a Myford Speed 10 for 15 years that ran (as far as I could tell) just as fast in reverse as forward, and I was of course aware of that as a theoretical risk, but nothing like that ever actually happened during the ops I did. Perhaps I was just pussyfootin'...

Screwcutting, so I never have to worry about dials or if it's imperial or metric.

Neil

Hi Guys, just wanted to say thank you for all your help regarding the reversing problem with my WM 240. I have to say you were more help than WARCO were, I sent them three e-mails over the last two months, with no reply to any of them. They took the money for the machine quick enough though.

Mike