The Project Pad

Great work on the shop and upgrades, Aaron!

The little 9xXX lathes are pretty useful little machines. There are a lot of different retailers with minor differences, but they are all essentially the same machines. I've had this Enco 9x21 for almost 15 years and its been a great little starter machine.



I've got a couple recommendations for anyone reading that either has one or is thinking about one.

Tooling:

Get a quick change tool post (like Aaron has above also). I can change tools 2 or three times in a minute or two while working on things trying to get into the face,OD,ID,etc., and not having a quick change tool post is a PITA. It is probably the number one thing to get.



Indexable tooling (holders and inserts) sure beats constantly grinding tools for everything. You will still want to have some HSS or carbide blanks around to grind for special situations, but the indexable tooling will get you there 90+% of the time.

DRO:

You can add inexpensive DRO's by using the cheap digital linear scales like those used in the digital calipers. I added one to the carriage slide and one to the cross slide. I also will use dial indicators as a back-up sometimes, but the digital DRO's are usually within a couple thou even with my rickety brackets. There are also ones with remote and/or larger displays but these I've shown can be done on the super cheap...like less than $75 total for both axes.





Motor/Speed Controller:

Out of the box, these machines have a switch that is forward/reverse/off and the speeds are all changed via belts and pulleys. First, changing belts and pulleys is dirty and also a bit of a pain. Second, if you are doing things like single point threading and using the auto feed on the carriage, the lowest speed will still test your reflexes while threading up against a shoulder. The solution was a DC treadmill motor driven by a router speed controller. Now I rarely have to mess with the belts and just use the controller to adjust speed. The belts need to be changed on the rare occasions if you want/need to operate in a better spot on the motors torque/speed curve.



Looking forward to more updates and how the shop progresses!

more info on motor and controller? already looking at DC treadmill motors. 2.5 hp ok?

speeding-g60 wrote:more info on motor and controller? already looking at DC treadmill motors. 2.5 hp ok?

Mine is a 2.5hp. That is the one you want...somewhere around 4500rpm/100VDC/10-15A is about the right specs IIRC.

There are several write-ups for the motor conversion. This is one of the better ones I used when I did the conversion...and it's still up more than 10 years later: http://bedair.org/Tmotor/Tmotor.html

He did eliminate the clutch/v-belt which I would like to try at some point, but for now I left the clutch and pulleys because I was able to just modify the existing parts to work. I think with the increased efficiency of eliminating the additional belt and pulleys you may end out ahead. Once this revision breaks, I'll try it that way next. With what I did, I only needed to make the motor mount plate and modify the pulley to fit the new motor shaft.

Motors and controllers are on eBay for pretty cheap. Should be less than $100-125 for both.

i see many mods in my future. tach. motor stuff. haha.

THANKS! and of course i will document these changes here LOL.

Good info Chris! I'll be needing it as I just picked up this badboy for cheap on craigslist...South Bend 10"x36" (they list total bed length; it's really about 20" useable) with quick change gearbox. Currently wired for 3-phase, so I'll need a new motor. Looks like the treadmill motor is the way to go, or should I just do a vfd?

IMG_20141125_222835813 by alxdgr8, on Flickr

VFD inverter would be my choice for that one, its already 3 phase.

and $100 and you are done.

If you go the VFD route, make sure that all of your grounds are very good. I work with electric motors, and VFD's are known to cause premature bearing failure. Its mainly due to the "dirty" current the electric motor is receiving.

DE80q wrote:If you go the VFD route, make sure that all of your grounds are very good. I work with electric motors, and VFD's are known to cause premature bearing failure. Its mainly due to the "dirty" current the electric motor is receiving.

Interesting, guess I have more reading to do. I'd most likely be installing an outlet for this, so I'll make sure to check the grounding of the sub-panel in the garage.

Started the awning style roof over ze garage doors to prevent rain from entering ze shop. When rain happens, as it is wont to do here quite frequently, it runs down the doors and coalesces inside on the floor in a big puddle. And it bothers my ADHD.
Will finish tomorrow.
I don't roll with plans, just ideas. I think about it, I buy shit for it, and I just do it. Plans just get in the way and kind of narrow down your thought processes I feel. They hinder the "creative you".

Today this morning worked out it until it was raining too much and the wind picked up. Took a break and a nap. But I was freaking soaked to the bone. My socks were the only part of my clothes that were dry. Two shirts drenched completely thru.

After a nice nap got up and back to it until I was called in for dinner. And that was the end of productivity for me. After dinner I came out and had a bonfire and sat in a chair under the new portion sipping my drink and enjoying the fruit of my labor.

Doing work like this by oneself is sometimes challenging. So I have to do a lot of prep work like hanging step pads and false work to support long boards while I level things out n stuff. Then pull these temporary facilities.

Almost done.





Mountain is pinkish.... looks cool.



And 20 minutes later..... it's ice blue

Nice depth on the awnings... and what a terrible view you have

Hope she don't blow her top again!

Amazing shop transformation by the way.

Yeah we have a front row seat when it goes again haha.

Finished the awning. It's just to keep rain off the door as it runs down And pools on the concrete sliding under the door. Also gave it a light because Chub is scared of the dark.

Another quick lil project since i have nothing to do after work.

carport for wifey to park in and so i can keep the riding lawnmower out here and free up the first bay inside.

someday i will be building ground up an actual shop then let wifey have this space for garage, and my overflow storage. that is a long term idea though. maybe hopefully next year.











































https://vimeo.com/123781232