Who uses a DC motor for their metal lathe ?

[JoeyInCali]

I have 10.2 ADC 90-180V dc controller.

Am thinking of getting a used belt Logan lathe and use this.

 

[vasilios]

rig it up,full speed ahead,no problem,DC good.

bill

 

[cuesmith]

I have 10.2 ADC 90-180V dc controller.

Am thinking of getting a used belt Logan lathe and use this.

A DC motor can be a good idea. I chose a different route. Since most of the work done on my main lathe is in cutting wood and you get better cuts in wood using higher speeds than you'd use on metal, when I set up my South Bend lathe it came with a 3 PH, 1HP, 1875 RPM motor. I thought about getting a phase converter but they usually reduce the power somewhat, or at least that was I was told. So, I bought a new AC motor that was 2 HP, 3500 RPM, single phase. I love this set-up! It probably uses more electricity but it really cuts wood great! I wouldn't trade that lathe for any lathe on earth for cuemaking! The new motor only cost me about $175 which was less than it would have cost me to set it up with either a DC or a Phase converter.

 

[GBCues]

DC is easy to set up a reverse as well (hint: DPDT switch). Also, depending on your motor and speed controller, they can be set up for constant torque, which is handy for what we do.

Go for it!

Gary

 

[Islandeddie]

Southbend

"I set up my South Bend lathe"

Sherm, does your South Bend have the flat belt 3 position setup like mine? Did you retain the reversing option?

I have put on a rubber automotive serpentine belt, but the stock motor is under powered, and am looking at upping the horse power.

 

[cuesmith]

"I set up my South Bend lathe"

Sherm, does your South Bend have the flat belt 3 position setup like mine? Did you retain the reversing option?

I have put on a rubber automotive serpentine belt, but the stock motor is under powered, and am looking at upping the horse power.

Mine's similar but it's a tool room lathe on it's own cabinet. The step pulley is below the headstock and the motor just below the pulley all enclosed in the left side of the cabinet. Yes I installed a reversing drum switch positioned similar to where yours is and had it set up so that it was adjustable and could turn itself off when running towards the headstock before it crashed into the chuck. That was handy when I did most of my operations on just that lathe but as I bought more and more lathes set up for different operations I no longer need to use the shutoff.