Re: LittleMachines DROs and dials
¡°In the information society, nobody thinks. We expected to banish paper, but we actually banished thought.¡±
~~ Michael Crichton, Jurassic Park
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On 2/20/2024 5:35 AM, Tony Smith wrote: Yup, they just turn the display off which saves bugger all power. There are some versions of these callipers that DO have very good battery life (like 3-4 years) but good luck finding them.
I¡¯ve never tried a pair, but there are solar powered versions: that aren¡¯t too spendy. Those are steel, you can get the plastic ones as well (I use those near electronics). Mitutoyo make them as well if you do want to spend more, theirs are even dual power battery/solar.
Tony
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of mike allen
Sent: Tuesday, 20 February 2024 7:39 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [7x12MiniLathe] LittleMachines DROs and dials
They don't turn odd when ya hit he switch , they just go to sleep . getting a switch between the batteries & the caliper someway will way improve battery life .
animal
On 2/19/24 11:08 AM, Bruce J wrote:
On Feb 19, 2024, at 11:41 AM, Peter Way <poogleway@... <mailto:poogleway@...> > wrote:
[Edited Message Follows]
I have a Littlemachines lathe with really awful DROs. They use V389 batteries that last about a minute. I have the following questions:
Is there any way of locking them? I have dicovered that my cheap HF digital calipers last a LOT longer on batteries if I carefully tighten the lock screw down after shutting them off. But they¡¯re pretty much sitting on my desk in a pencil holder all the time or in a drawer on my bench, since I discovered that putting them back in the case turned them on constantly.
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Re: $1000 Budget: Which 7 x 14 to buy?
I am just using the dials that came with my Speedway lathe that I bought 20 years ago. I have a 1-inch travel dial indicator that can be moved along the bed and a stop for the carriage that is adjustable. You do need a way to clamp the carriage when making facing cuts. I always manually feed toward the headstock and power feed toward?the tailstock to get a better finish. The compound should be set to 29.5 degrees. John Mattis (retired mechanical engineer)
On Mon, Feb 19, 2024 at 10:55?AM Peter Way < poogleway@...> wrote: I would just be careful not to spring for DROs on the dials.? ?I'm regretting that I bought the LMS machine many years ago with awful DROs.? The chewed batteries.? ?They may be better now.? If I were to do it again, I'd save money by getting mechanical dials and then upgrading to linear DROs if needed.
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Re: making Colchester Lathes
Really enjoyed the video.
The way the world used to work.
8^(
--
Lone Tree, Colorado? ?USA
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Re: LittleMachines DROs and dials
Yup, they just turn the display off which saves bugger all power.? There are some versions of these callipers that DO have very good battery life (like 3-4 years) but good luck finding them. ? I¡¯ve never tried a pair, but there are solar powered versions: that aren¡¯t too spendy.? Those are steel, you can get the plastic ones as well (I use those near electronics).? Mitutoyo make them as well if you do want to spend more, theirs are even dual power battery/solar. ? Tony ? ?
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of mike allen
Sent: Tuesday, 20 February 2024 7:39 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [7x12MiniLathe] LittleMachines DROs and dials? ??? They don't turn odd when ya hit he switch , they just go to sleep . getting a switch between the batteries & the caliper someway will way improve battery life . animal On 2/19/24 11:08 AM, Bruce J wrote: ?
? [Edited Message Follows] I have a Littlemachines lathe with really awful DROs.? ?They use V389 batteries that last about a minute.? ?I have the following questions:
Is there any way of locking them? I have dicovered that my cheap HF digital calipers last a LOT longer on batteries if I carefully tighten the lock screw down after shutting them off. But they¡¯re pretty much sitting on my desk in a pencil holder all the time or in a drawer on my bench, since I discovered that putting them back in the case turned them on constantly. ? "Wherever you go, there you are." B. Banzai, PhD ?
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Re: LittleMachines DROs and dials
Peter Way
10:40am? ?
Edited 10:41am
I have a Littlemachines lathe with really awful DROs. They use V389 batteries that last about a minute. I have the following questions:
1. I'm working on a 3D printed battery holder that allows a AAA battery instead. Is anyone else interested in these
Bad news You buy AAA battery holders from Amazon and Walmart for under package of 4 to 6 $10.00. Some have a on off switch?
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Re: LittleMachines DROs and dials
They had some like for BP mills in the 1960's.?
They did nothing for screw wear in center or nut wear.?
FYI If try adjusting nut wear it would not work because of screw wear.?
Next travel dial They like to skip.?
I think travel dial could work with a using a rake .
I use dial indicators. I have one 2" stroke most time I use 1" stroke works.?
On the mark every time.
Dave?
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Re: Variable speed motors
I have one of his motor/controller running my MicroMark 7x16. The original motor died...feels like one of the magnets dropped out of position. I selected his bare-bones 900W version. Fairly easy to install. I needed to move four holes on the lathe's mounting plate, thank the Lord for the DRO on my mill.? I also had to enlarge the hole on the lower pulley.? That was a challenge reaming it by hand using the un-powered lathe.? Here's a picture of my setup. Regards, Ray 
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Re: LittleMachines DROs and dials
??? They don't turn odd when ya hit he switch , they just go to
sleep . getting a switch between the batteries & the caliper
someway will way improve battery life .
animal
On 2/19/24 11:08 AM, Bruce J wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
[Edited Message Follows]
I have a Littlemachines lathe with really awful DROs.? ?They
use V389 batteries that last about a minute.? ?I have the
following questions:
Is there any way of locking them? I have dicovered that my cheap
HF digital calipers last a LOT longer on batteries if I carefully
tighten the lock screw down after shutting them off. But they¡¯re
pretty much sitting on my desk in a pencil holder all the time or
in a drawer on my bench, since I discovered that putting them back
in the case turned them on constantly.
--?
Bruce Johnson
"Wherever you go, there you are." B.
Banzai, PhD
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Re: LittleMachines DROs and dials
[Edited Message Follows]
I have a Littlemachines lathe with really awful DROs.? ?They use V389 batteries that last about a minute.? ?I have the following questions:
Is there any way of locking them? I have dicovered that my cheap HF digital calipers last a LOT longer on batteries if I carefully tighten the lock screw down after shutting them off. But they¡¯re pretty much sitting on my desk in a pencil holder all the time or in a drawer on my bench, since I discovered that putting them back in the case turned them on constantly.
--? Bruce Johnson
"Wherever you go, there you are." B. Banzai, PhD
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Re: $1000 Budget: Which 7 x 14 to buy?
DROs on dials don't take out backlash.? If you are thinking about DROs, attach them to fixed surfaces in order to get true readings.
Ralphie
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Re: $1000 Budget: Which 7 x 14 to buy?
I would just be careful not to spring for DROs on the dials.? ?I'm regretting that I bought the LMS machine many years ago with awful DROs.? The chewed batteries.? ?They may be better now.? If I were to do it again, I'd save money by getting mechanical dials and then upgrading to linear DROs if needed.
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LittleMachines DROs and dials
I have a Littlemachines lathe with really awful DROs.? ?They use V389 batteries that last about a minute.? ?I have the following questions:
1. I'm working on a 3D printed battery holder that allows a AAA battery instead.? Is anyone else interested in these?
2. As I researched this, I realized that some of you have found linear DROs that may even be better to position the carriage and cross slide.
Can you recommend the best option?? It looks like magnetic ones are good for this application, and some cheap Chinese ones are really capacitive, and not as good.??
3. Have any of you converted from DROs to old fashioned dial handles?? That would be nice in addition, since those don't require any batteries, etc.? I kick myself every time I think about having bought the DRO version.
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Re: making Colchester Lathes
I have owned Colchester Lathes in past.
They very good lathe.
The only problem I found was the 80¡ã bedway harder to make tooling.??
Dave?
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Re: making Colchester Lathes
I think many on this list already know this, but when they say a "5 inch" lathe in the video that refers to the radius that will clear the bed.? Some parts of the world use radius.? Others, such as in the U.S., use diameter.? So, the mini lathe might be 7 inch swing (diameter) or 3 1/2 inch swing (radius) depending on where you are.
Charles E. "Chuck" Kinzer
On Monday, February 19, 2024 at 07:51:48 AM PST, davesmith1800 <davesmith1@...> wrote:
A lot labor in just casting.?
Dave?
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Re: making Colchester Lathes
A lot labor in just casting.?
Dave?
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Re: Variable speed motors
I think he's also on ebay as thecustomcrafter
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On Monday, February 19th, 2024 at 9:22 AM, WAM <ajawam2@...> wrote:
Great find. Thank you for sharing that.
On 2/19/2024 9:13 AM, Jay Fougere wrote:
Sorry to bump an older thread but in doing some research on the
controller board used in the sewing machine motor kit I had purchased
I found the following site.
Please note that I have no affiliation to this site nor have any
experience with his products, but he seems to offer a full line of
conversion kits and parts for these motors. This includes full kits
for the mini-lathes and mini-mils along with a ton of other machines.
It also appears he does some repair services as well.
-Jay
On 2/9/24 21:45, Tony Smith wrote:
For some strange reason laser cutters use 3-phase steppers rather
than the usual b-polar ones. Makes the drivers a bit expensive &
rare by comparison.
Tony
*From:*[email protected] [email protected] *On Behalf
Of *davesmith1800
Sent: Friday, 9 February 2024 2:06 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [7x12MiniLathe] Variable speed motors
It interesting thd different ways I have seen for low speeds
First on AC motors lots of poles you charge the poles for different
speeds but very costly motors.
Then was just was belts and or gears.
Variable pitch belts and charge the gear Works but still gears at one
was costly too but not bad.
The AC/DC motors usd a Variable transformers. This first lower cost
motor setup 1 to w to 1 to 100 speed reduction
The electronic speed control start with small motors but cost was a
lot lower.
The stepper motors in Printers was big change. In 1970's they did
not need encoders for low cost printers. If skip a a few spaces out
of over a hundred thousands you not notice. Next use on low cost CNC
equipment. For most part they used two phases motor.
Later I saw mini 3 phase motor but I saw first controls in 1960's but
winding your own motors.
Now we know as brushless DC motors . Some maybe two phases I just
have seen it .
Some dates can earlier history on web can be do to the writer error.
I know mine maybe off too.
The 1960's is where lot changes switch from tubes to transitions
Dave
Ralph Lehotsky 2:12pm
Yes - it's probably geared down quite a bit for that application,
so power is not as important there
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Re: Variable speed motors
Great find.? Thank you for sharing that.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 2/19/2024 9:13 AM, Jay Fougere wrote: Sorry to bump an older thread but in doing some research on the controller board used in the sewing machine motor kit I had purchased I found the following site.
Please note that I have no affiliation to this site nor have any experience with his products, but he seems to offer a full line of conversion kits and parts for these motors. This includes full kits for the mini-lathes and mini-mils along with a ton of other machines.? It also appears he does some repair services as well.
-Jay
On 2/9/24 21:45, Tony Smith wrote:
For some strange reason laser cutters use 3-phase steppers rather than the usual b-polar ones.? Makes the drivers a bit expensive & rare by comparison.
Tony
*From:*[email protected] <[email protected]> *On Behalf Of *davesmith1800
*Sent:* Friday, 9 February 2024 2:06 PM
*To:* [email protected]
*Subject:* Re: [7x12MiniLathe] Variable speed motors
It interesting thd different ways I have seen for low speeds
First on AC motors lots of poles you charge the poles for different speeds but very costly motors.
Then was just was belts and or gears.
Variable pitch belts and charge the gear Works but still gears at one was costly too but not bad.
The AC/DC motors usd a Variable transformers. This first lower cost motor setup 1 to w to 1 to 100 speed reduction
The electronic speed control start with small motors but cost was a lot lower.
The stepper motors in Printers was big change.? In 1970's they did not need encoders for low cost printers. If skip a a few spaces out of over a hundred thousands you not notice. Next use on low cost CNC equipment. For most part they used two phases motor.
Later I saw mini 3 phase motor but I saw first controls in 1960's but winding your own motors.
Now we know as brushless DC motors . Some maybe two phases I just have seen it .
Some dates can earlier history on web can be do to the writer error. I know mine maybe off too.
The 1960's is where lot changes switch from tubes to transitions
Dave
??? Ralph Lehotsky 2:12pm
??? Yes - it's probably geared down quite a bit for that application,
??? so power is not as important there
|
Re: Variable speed motors
Sorry to bump an older thread but in doing some research on the
controller board used in the sewing machine motor kit I had
purchased I found the following site.
Please note that I have no affiliation to this site nor have any
experience with his products, but he seems to offer a full line of
conversion kits and parts for these motors. This includes full
kits for the mini-lathes and mini-mils along with a ton of other
machines.? It also appears he does some repair services as well.
-Jay
On 2/9/24 21:45, Tony Smith wrote:
For
some strange reason laser cutters use 3-phase steppers
rather than the usual b-polar ones.? Makes the drivers a bit
expensive & rare by comparison.
?
Tony
?
?
?
It
interesting thd different ways I have seen for low speeds?
First on AC motors lots of poles you charge the poles for
different speeds but very costly motors.
Then was just was belts and or gears.
Variable pitch belts and charge the gear Works but still
gears at one was costly too but not bad.
The AC/DC motors usd a Variable transformers. This first
lower cost motor setup 1 to w to 1 to 100 speed reduction?
The electronic speed control start with small motors but
cost was a lot lower.
The stepper motors in Printers was big change.? In 1970's?
they did not need encoders for low cost printers. If skip a
a few spaces out of over a hundred thousands you not notice.
Next use on low cost CNC equipment. For most part they used
two phases motor.
Later I saw mini 3 phase motor but I saw first controls in
1960's but winding your own motors.
Now we know as brushless DC motors . Some maybe two phases I
just have seen it .?
Some dates can earlier history on web can be do to the
writer error. I know mine maybe off too.?
The 1960's is where lot changes switch from tubes to
transitions?
Dave?
Ralph Lehotsky 2:12pm? ?
Yes - it's probably geared down quite a
bit for that application, so power is not as important
there
--
-Jay Fougere
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John Mattis
davesmith1800
Ralph Lehotsky
chrisser