What do you prefer and why?
Belt or Gear head lathe?
- Thread starter Joseph Cues
- Start date
Do they ( gear heads) seem noisier to you at all Ed?
Any more vibrations than belt drives?
Any more vibrations than belt drives?
Noisier? Yes, all those metal surfaces coming in contact do make more noise. Vibration? Not enough to affect the end product specially if you run "check pieces" every so often. Try to develop a QCP (Quality Control Program) on the things you use. Not just on equipment but also with your new batches of finish coats and adhesives.Joseph Cues said:
QCP is one of those things that I, picked up while working in the hospital, incorporated into my cuecrafting process.
Last edited:
lathe's
Hey Guys,
I use both, types of machine lathe's, belt and gear head.
Both types of machines run smoothly.The belt lathe makes less noise than the gear-head machines. I have been using them for many years and find "NO" vibration within the machines, if taken care of properly.
Keep the belts in adjustment with the proper tention at all times. Align the pulleys up from motor to pulley drives, and on the belt machine, open the top and make sure it's all in alignment. Do this from the get go, and you won't have any vibration.
As the belt wears, just re-tighten. If you tighten the belt and have vibration, something is wrong. Take a look at the spindle bearings, they may have slack, over time, [end play]. They are tapered bearings, with adjustment nuts and locks. Just do not over tighten, and cause them to wear with to much with end pressure. When the lathe is cold, [over night] put your dial-mike on the end of the spindal, and have about .003 run-out, [end play]. When the machine warms up, it will be perfect. If it apears to be loose, tighten up a bit, or if it's to tight, lossen it off a bit. This also applies to gear-head lathe's.
A gear-head lathe makes a bit more noise, you only have a little gear-back-lash when turning on and off.
Either of these machines works very well.
I have two [ belt driven] jet lathe's 13X40, collet chuck lathes, and 3 enco's [ one with gears, 2 with belts],12X36, with 6 jaws adjust-a-chuck .
Maintance,
All machinery needs to be maintained properly.Clean and oil it, every day it's used. You take care of it, it will take care of you.
In oiling the bed ways, never use a heavy bed way oil. Use, automobile-transmission oil, [the red stuff], saw/dust won't stick to it, just floats off. With heavy oil, saw/dust piles up and becomes hard to move the carriage, and other working parts.
blud
bandido said:
Hey Guys,
I use both, types of machine lathe's, belt and gear head.
Both types of machines run smoothly.The belt lathe makes less noise than the gear-head machines. I have been using them for many years and find "NO" vibration within the machines, if taken care of properly.
Keep the belts in adjustment with the proper tention at all times. Align the pulleys up from motor to pulley drives, and on the belt machine, open the top and make sure it's all in alignment. Do this from the get go, and you won't have any vibration.
As the belt wears, just re-tighten. If you tighten the belt and have vibration, something is wrong. Take a look at the spindle bearings, they may have slack, over time, [end play]. They are tapered bearings, with adjustment nuts and locks. Just do not over tighten, and cause them to wear with to much with end pressure. When the lathe is cold, [over night] put your dial-mike on the end of the spindal, and have about .003 run-out, [end play]. When the machine warms up, it will be perfect. If it apears to be loose, tighten up a bit, or if it's to tight, lossen it off a bit. This also applies to gear-head lathe's.
A gear-head lathe makes a bit more noise, you only have a little gear-back-lash when turning on and off.
Either of these machines works very well.
I have two [ belt driven] jet lathe's 13X40, collet chuck lathes, and 3 enco's [ one with gears, 2 with belts],12X36, with 6 jaws adjust-a-chuck .
Maintance,
All machinery needs to be maintained properly.Clean and oil it, every day it's used. You take care of it, it will take care of you.
In oiling the bed ways, never use a heavy bed way oil. Use, automobile-transmission oil, [the red stuff], saw/dust won't stick to it, just floats off. With heavy oil, saw/dust piles up and becomes hard to move the carriage, and other working parts.
blud
V
((VH))
Guest
What's important is proper maintenance... treat it like your car I would say...
My belt driven runs smooth as any gear head lathe, and I don't think vibration would be a problem if the thing weighs 1.5 tons
I'm havin my thread gears custom work this weekend
My belt driven runs smooth as any gear head lathe, and I don't think vibration would be a problem if the thing weighs 1.5 tons
I'm havin my thread gears custom work this weekend