Troubleshooting a Metal Working Lathe
If
you have any experience working with lathes, then you will know that from time
to time they can break down, whether you have a wood lathe or a metal
working lathe. They both suffer form the same kinds of problems, so if you
are keen on metal working, and want to work out what the problem is with your
lathe without having to take it to a specialist, then you can look at several
parts of the machine to work out why your metal working lathe is not, well,
working.
Tool Sharpness
If
the problem appears to be one of poor cutting quality, or you are finding that
a piece of metal will not be cut entirely, and is ending up stuck on the blade
itself, then your problem may be a blunt blade. These tools can sometimes
become very blunt, so you should do your best to keep them sharpened, either by
replacing the blade, or sharpening then using a knife sharpener. Check your
blade's keenness by running a piece of wood through the lathe, and checking the
cut as it comes out the other side. If there is not a clean mark, then you will
need to sharpen the blade.
Lathe Tightness
Lathes
are highly complicated pieces of equipment, and they often wiggle, or move,
slightly during cutting. You can check this by holding a piece of wood in the
chuck jaws, and then marking a line using a sharp tool bit. Cut the wood a
little lower down, and then note if the marks are parallel. If the lower mark
is at all crooked, or dragging downwards, then you will need to tighten the lathe.
The blade may be too loose, so screw this more tightly into position first, and
then proceed to tighten the lathe and the chuck.
Motor Not Running
If
your lathe is not working, this may be due to a problem with the lathe's motor.
There are a number of reasons why lathe motors can stop working, including poor
lubrication, or a problem with the drive belt. Add lubrication through the oil
holes on the side of the motor, and check the drive belt for wear and tear.
These belts are made from rubber, so might well become split or cracked through
repeated use. You can replace the belt easily enough, and this should help the
motor to work again.
Stuck Chuck
There
is nothing more frustrating than trying to use your lathe, only to find that
the chuck has become stuck, and is no longer moving up and down to the
blade. Your only real option is to remove the chuck, and to do this you will
need to stop the spindle. Rather than throwing the whole lathe thing a
backwards motion, you should try holding the spindle teeth using a toothed
wrench, or a special device which grips the toothed edge of the spindle. This
will prevent it from moving while you release the chuck. Once you have freed
the stuck part, you can restart the lathe.
5 Metal Working Lathe Mistakes to Avoid
There’s
no doubt that a metal working lathe can be a very useful piece
of equipment in your workshop. If you do a lot of metal work, it’s almost vital
to own one because it vastly increases the range of jobs you can carry out.
However, a metal working lathe can be a dangerous piece of equipment. Not only
should you treat it with respect, but it’s important that you know how to use
it properly. There are several common mistakes people make with metal working
lathes.
1. Cutting Tool is Set to the Wrong Height
The
cutting tool on the metal working lathe has to be right on the center part of
the chuck. This will ensure it cuts properly. You need to be certain it’s
neither too low nor too high as this will affect the cut you make in the metal.
You also need to make sure the tip doesn’t heat too much as you cut the metal.
The simplest way to do this is start by having the lathe turn slowly so the
chuck isn’t rotating so quickly.
2. Not Knowing How to Move the Carriage
You
also need to understand how the carriage moves; it works along the tracks,
going both to and from the chuck while the cross slides moves towards and away
from the center of the lathe. You’ll need to master these as well as the power
feed handles. Rather than starting out using these on a piece of metal work,
learn to operate them properly at different speeds by testing them without
anything in the chuck.
3. Tailstock is Loose
There
aren’t so many uses for the tailstock of your metal working lathe so it’s not
something you’ll gain much experience with. However, you do need to make sure
that you lock down the tailstock before you feed the chuck into the moving
metal. To do this, you should tighten the screws. These will either be on the
tension lever or on the unit base, depending on the make of the lathe.
4. Using to Fast a Setting for the Cutting Threads
It’s
important that you understand how to use the dial that controls the cutting
threads. When you’re threading on metal, don’t use high speed because you’ll
have far more control at lower rpms. You need to adjust the dial appropriately
which means understanding how it works beforehand.
The
best thing to do is test different feeds and speeds and see what happens. Make
sure, however, that you keep the carriage of the metal working lathe free of
metal swarf.
5. Ignoring Safety
Safety
is crucial when you’re using a metal working lathe. Make sure you always wear
safety goggles (not safety glasses) when you’re using the equipment and that
your sleeves are buttoned so they can’t become caught in the lathe. Your
workshop should always be kept clean.
Keep
a small brush close to the metal working lathe and use this for cleaning metal
swarf from the carriage. Never use your hands because the metal is sharp and
can cut you. Keep a container handy for the metal swarf rather than just
sweeping them onto the floor where they could cut you, even through your safety
footwear.
Troubleshooting a Mini Lathe
A mini
lathe is a great tool to have if you have limited room, but would like
to pursue a woodworking hobby such as lathe turning. As with any other kind of
power tool, the lathe can stop working at any time due to problems with the
machine, and you may find yourself unable to turn the lathe back on in the
usual manner. Often with a very small lathe, it can take an expert to repair
the problem, but there are still some basic things that you can do in order to
avoid paying for a professional. On a mini lathe, this is much more complicated
than with other lathes, as it is so small, but if you have the time to follow a
few quick troubleshooting tips, then you will be able to fix your mini lathe in
no time.
Check the Motor
If
your mini lathe runs on a powered motor, then if the lathe stops working, you
are likely to find that the problem is caused by this motor. There are a number
of things that you can do to get the motor going again, including adding
lubricant to the engine, and replacing the drive belt of the motor. In a mini
lathe, these things can be very small, so take the time to find suitable
replacements before you begin removing any of the parts. Examine the motor
regularly for signs of wear and tear which could cause breakdown in the future.
Check the Blade
The
blade on a mini lathe may be much smaller, but it can still become blunt
through constant use. If you put a lot of wood or metal through the mini lathe,
then you are likely to find that you have increasing problems with the cutting
process, including pieces which are not properly cut, or which become jammed
against the blade. This is usually a sign that you need to replace or sharpen
the blade, so look for a replacement which is small enough to fit on your
lathe. Replacing the part should not be too difficult, although if the blades
are very expensive you may consider sharpening the existing one.
Check the Chuck and Spindle
Other
parts of the lathe may also be problematic, such as the spindle, which can
become broken or loose its teeth. When you are doing repairs, make sure that
you have the spindle in a good grip, either securing it using a specialist
spindle device, or keeping it in position in another manner. This will help to
prevent the spindle from breaking at a future point. You should also check that
the chuck part of your machine is not stuck. This part can easily become jammed
after it has been used for a while, and one solution is to force the chuck out
of the mini lathe using a pry bar, or similar. The chuck will then need to be
replaced.
Regards,
MR. JAGDISH PATHAK , MD
MR. RITESH PATHAK , DIRECTOR SALES
MR. RITESH PATHAK , DIRECTOR SALES
PATHAK MACHINE TOOLS PVT. LTD
“Pyaradham” NH-6 (Bombay Road)
Prosastha Howrah – 711 302
Tel: (033) 2669 0475 , Fax. (033) 2669 1144
E-mail: sales@pathakmachines.com ,
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