Re: MicroMark 7x16 Fault Notice

#118046

I have rechecked everything mentioned and that yielded nothing notable. There was no jamming or anything of the sort.
The switch operates as it should. I still get a fault (yellow lamp is lit. I am not aware of any reset button.
The only thing I did that lead up to this condition was that I was moving the lathe and removed the motor to lighten the load.
Is there anything else I should be looking at that might be the cause of not being able to start the lathe????
Any input always welcome!
Dick

Re: machining in a small shop

#118045

charles wrote:
 >    Another tangential idea to the old sewing machine flip over design is the
 >    Sears Craftsman "Rotary Tool Bench."  I think this is an idea that might

Wow.  That thing's amazing.  Might work better on paper than in practice,
indeed!  But I can certainly see the attraction.  Comes with a free
cord winding mechanism!  ;-)

In addition to the tools in my shop, I have a disk sander, drum
sander, table saw, wood lathe, vertical and horizontal drill press,
and jointer, all in a very compact footprint, in the form of a 1952
Shopsmith.  I know a thing or two about convertible machines.  ;-)
(It spends most of its time as a wood lathe or disk sander.  I set it
up as a jointer one time, and it kind of scared the bejeezus out of me!)

But I gotta say, I'm lovin' this group's creativity!

paul
=----------------------
paul fox, pgf@... (arlington, ma, where it's 39.8 degrees)

Re: machining in a small shop

#118044

If you do something like store it on a bench to the side front to back, you could have a shelf surface above where the lathe is stored to provide some additional flat surface.? You would still have all the square footage of the workbench, just with some of it elevated.

Another tangential idea to the old sewing machine flip over design is the Sears Craftsman "Rotary Tool Bench."? I think this is an idea that might look a little better on paper than in practice (and might be a reason why it is no longer made.).? It is also designed for sort of smallish tools.? But a three-sided scheme could probably be made that would the lathe on one face, something else on another face, and perhaps the last face blank to just be more workbench surface when neither of the two machines are being used.

I'm thinking that it might be about the same work to make a three-position rotary as a two-position flip (or something that raised and lowered the lathe with an insert to fill the hole when lowered)..? And that would provide a home for another machine perhaps infrequently used.? The weight imbalance would be an issue to deal with, or at least be very careful with.

Charles E. "Chuck" Kinzer

On Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 11:50:46 AM PST, Paul Fox <pgf@...> wrote:

mike wrote:
> ... Could ya make a
> cutout in one of the work benches with the lathe mounted to it & when
> not in use ya turn it over & the lathe is now mounted upside down under
> the bench top . ...

Ha!? That's great!? It's particularly amusing to me, since my main reason
for getting a lathe is that I collect and restore antique sewing machines,
and they sometimes need parts or screws that can't be found anymore.? And
sewing machines very often are stowed in their cabinets by sort of flipping
them upside down, just like you describe.? It would be perfect.? :-)

But I suspect there are easier ways.? Arthur suggested wheels -- very
true, and much of my stuff is already on casters so I can move it
around.? If I can find a place to park a small bench with the lathe on
it, that might well be the answer.? (There's one particular sewing
machine that might be a good candidate for sale in that case -- it
occupies a prime spot under the cellar stairs.)? And also as Arthur
said, having a cabinet under the lathe for all of the lathe-related
stuff would be smart.? Hadn't thought about that.

paul
=----------------------
paul fox, pgf@... (arlington, ma, where it's 41.9 degrees)

Re: machining in a small shop

#118043

Charles, thanks for all your thoughts on chip cleanup.  Sounds like the
problem is about what I thought it would be.  A problem, for sure, but
not insurmountable.  There's already a rug on the way out of the shop,
but since that's in the laundry area, it's probably not the right one to
embed chips in. ;-)  Guess I'll need to get another one, closer to the
work area.

Regarding my "long swirls" of swarf comment -- I guess I've had a
misconception for some time.  I thought I'd heard/read that when
drilling metal, you can tell your speed is good because you'll get
those long spirals.  Clearly I need to relearn that!

paul
=----------------------
paul fox, pgf@... (arlington, ma, where it's 40.7 degrees)

Re: machining in a small shop

#118042

mike wrote:
 > ... Could ya make a 
 > cutout in one of the work benches with the lathe mounted to it & when 
 > not in use ya turn it over & the lathe is now mounted upside down under 
 > the bench top . ...

Ha!  That's great!  It's particularly amusing to me, since my main reason
for getting a lathe is that I collect and restore antique sewing machines,
and they sometimes need parts or screws that can't be found anymore.  And
sewing machines very often are stowed in their cabinets by sort of flipping
them upside down, just like you describe.  It would be perfect.  :-)

But I suspect there are easier ways.  Arthur suggested wheels -- very
true, and much of my stuff is already on casters so I can move it
around.  If I can find a place to park a small bench with the lathe on
it, that might well be the answer.  (There's one particular sewing
machine that might be a good candidate for sale in that case -- it
occupies a prime spot under the cellar stairs.)  And also as Arthur
said, having a cabinet under the lathe for all of the lathe-related
stuff would be smart.  Hadn't thought about that.

paul
=----------------------
paul fox, pgf@... (arlington, ma, where it's 41.9 degrees)

Re: machining in a small shop

#118041
Edited

Sound like work just fine.
Watch length to short and may give problems with dills and boring . Need at least 12" between chuck face and tail stock.

Dave

FYI I have 14" between chuck face and tail stock works great.

Re: machining in a small shop

#118040

Think wheels.? I have my mini lathe on a HF cabinet that provides storage for all the accessories that one tends to accumulate.? 3d printer mounted on a rolling cabinet from Home Depot that provides storage for all the stuff that you accumulate with that discipline.? My other large power tools (bandsae, RAS) are mounted on castors.? My work bench is also a fold away type.? Anyways, keep in mind you aren't buying just a mini lathe - you are buying/making a lot of other stuff that you will be using with the lathe.

On Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 09:57:04 AM PST, Paul Fox <pgf@...> wrote:

My small shop is decidedly mixed-use:? wood work (manual, plus

occasional CNC milling), some electronics (Raspberry Pi type stuff),

general homeowner workbench use, and, hopefully someday soon,

machining.

So, in thinking about getting a mini lathe, I'm trying to think about

how it will fit into my shop, in various ways.? And I'm sure other

folks here have had the same issues.

The first is simply space:? my shop is "cozy".? I think it's about 12'

x 12' out of a longer room that also holds our furnace and laundry

machines.? I have two workbenches, a band saw, a grinder/sander, and a

drill press in that space, and some low cabinets which currently hold

my CNC mill at chair height.? The lathe will live either where the CNC

mill is now (but currently that would mean sitting and/or leaning to

use it, rather than standing), or on one of the work benches (but that

means losing the other uses of that bench while doing lathe projects).

It might also be able to live crosswise at the end of one of the

benches, since the benches are about as deep as the lathe will be

wide, but I'm not sure how practical that will be.

Thoughts on any of that?? Is sitting in front of a lathe a no-no?? It

works for the CNC mill, but they're somewhat different animals.

Second, other than hand tools and drill press, the lathe will be the

first metal machining equipment I've introduced to the shop.? Clearly

I'll want a good cover for the lathe when it's not in use, since it will

basically be a magnet for sawdust and dryer lint, otherwise.

But it will also be generating a lot of chips and swarf.? How

controllable is that?? Is a "dust collection" solution possible?? I

assume most of the chips land under the lathe, but how much get

launched several feet away?? My shop vac doubles as dust collector

for the bandsaw and mill, and since I wanted really good dust

collection, it's a Fein, and has a bag.? But its hose is just 1-3/8".

That's okay for sawdust, but I'm picturing it jamming up with long

swirls of swarf if I use it around the lathe.? Will it be at all

useful?

What tricks/techniques do you all use for controlling machining mess?

(I've been watching a bunch of YT videos, and was really hoping

Blondihacks had covered this -- it would be right up her alley.? But

haven't found anything, really, by her or anyone else.)

And finally -- a lathe storage question.? Floor space is at a premium

in my cellar, not just in the shop, so if I want to move the lathe

elsewhere (to free up its workbench, or to use the CNC mill instead),

it occurs to me that storing the lathe on end might make finding space

easier.? Can that be done?

I know -- too long, too many questions in one post.? Sorry!

paul

=----------------------

paul fox, pgf@... (arlington, ma, where it's 41.9 degrees)

Re: machining in a small shop

#118039

I would think that if yer gonna try to store a mini lathe on end that is should be mounted to a solid base for horizontal use that can double as part of what would be needed to hold it vertically . Could ya make a cutout in one of the work benches with the lathe mounted to it & when not in use ya turn it over & the lathe is now mounted upside down under the bench top . Does that make any sense to anyone . Ya don't want to have to go through a big hassle every time ya want to use the lathe or the bench top .

animal

Show quoted text

On 12/30/23 9:56 AM, Paul Fox wrote:
My small shop is decidedly mixed-use:  wood work (manual, plus
occasional CNC milling), some electronics (Raspberry Pi type stuff),
general homeowner workbench use, and, hopefully someday soon,
machining.

So, in thinking about getting a mini lathe, I'm trying to think about
how it will fit into my shop, in various ways.  And I'm sure other
folks here have had the same issues.

The first is simply space:  my shop is "cozy".  I think it's about 12'
x 12' out of a longer room that also holds our furnace and laundry
machines.  I have two workbenches, a band saw, a grinder/sander, and a
drill press in that space, and some low cabinets which currently hold
my CNC mill at chair height.  The lathe will live either where the CNC
mill is now (but currently that would mean sitting and/or leaning to
use it, rather than standing), or on one of the work benches (but that
means losing the other uses of that bench while doing lathe projects).
It might also be able to live crosswise at the end of one of the
benches, since the benches are about as deep as the lathe will be
wide, but I'm not sure how practical that will be.

Thoughts on any of that?  Is sitting in front of a lathe a no-no?  It
works for the CNC mill, but they're somewhat different animals.

Second, other than hand tools and drill press, the lathe will be the
first metal machining equipment I've introduced to the shop.  Clearly
I'll want a good cover for the lathe when it's not in use, since it will
basically be a magnet for sawdust and dryer lint, otherwise.

But it will also be generating a lot of chips and swarf.  How
controllable is that?  Is a "dust collection" solution possible?  I
assume most of the chips land under the lathe, but how much get
launched several feet away?  My shop vac doubles as dust collector
for the bandsaw and mill, and since I wanted really good dust
collection, it's a Fein, and has a bag.  But its hose is just 1-3/8".
That's okay for sawdust, but I'm picturing it jamming up with long
swirls of swarf if I use it around the lathe.  Will it be at all
useful?

What tricks/techniques do you all use for controlling machining mess?
(I've been watching a bunch of YT videos, and was really hoping
Blondihacks had covered this -- it would be right up her alley.  But
haven't found anything, really, by her or anyone else.)

And finally -- a lathe storage question.  Floor space is at a premium
in my cellar, not just in the shop, so if I want to move the lathe
elsewhere (to free up its workbench, or to use the CNC mill instead),
it occurs to me that storing the lathe on end might make finding space
easier.  Can that be done?

I know -- too long, too many questions in one post.  Sorry!

paul
=----------------------
paul fox, pgf@... (arlington, ma, where it's 41.9 degrees)

Re: DC power supply grounding

#118038

The fuse can only protect when there is only one path for a return current and fusing N does not protect L from returning on GROUND. Yes, it does matter where the fuse is.

Show quoted text

On Sat, Dec 30, 2023 at 9:44?AM Chris Albertson <albertson.chris@...> wrote:

The purpose of a fuse is to protect the wires and prevent a fire.? In that case it does not matter where the fuse is. ?

--
Buffalo John

Re: machining in a small shop

#118037

I don't see any reason you can't store a mini-lathe on end.? (Unlike some larger lathes, it doesn't have any "oil bath" areas where oil could run out.)

Regarding clean up, usually it is common to just use a brush(es) to brush everything to a point and sweep it into a dust pan or container.? Yes, most chips fall down.? But some will inevitably go elsewhere, especially on the floor, onto the bottom of your shoes, and tracked elsewhere if you aren't careful.? (I just have an old piece of regular carpeting from where my machine tools are to a door into the house and it works nearly perfectly for the "shoe" problem.)

I think it is exceedingly uncommon, if ever, to use "dust collection" with a lathe except in an industrial setting where a hazardous material like pure beryllium is being machined.? Usually, the chips aren't very dust-like.? And if using any cutting oil, also damp.? Machining cast iron will produce something that is closer to "dust", but still not that fine.? I would not relate it to the dust produced in woodworking.

For small lathe, it can be handy to have a little removable tray that just fits under the full length of the ways.? Most chips will end up there and it is easy to remove and dump, and then, by brush or vacuum, clean the little that is left around the area and on the lathe.? These lathes come with a chip pan which the lathe is bolted to, but you don't need to use it.? Sort of a judgement call in my view.? On a larger lathe, you may be using a lot of oil, or coolant, and need something to catch it.? That's not typical on a mini lathe.

You can certainly use a vacuum device if you want.? But you mentioned "long swirls of swarf" which I think are more commonly called "stringy chips."? That suggests another topic which is that you should NEVER be producing long stringy chips.? They are a hazard as they can suddenly wrap around and grab something like fingers and instantly pull them into the spinning chuck and workpiece.? In fact, in some machine shops, producing stringy chips can be a firing offense.? They are way to control chip production, especially having a "chip breaker" feature ground into the tool.

If you want to store the lathe front to back on a workbench when not in use, you might be able to put the lathe on wood or MDF piece bolted near the end of the bench (left or right) where you want to store it front to back.? Then it could just be swiveled to normal position? ?Then swiveled back to the storage position, and as a bonus be held down to the bench, at least at one end..