วีดีโอ

Yes, clever that! See my other video in this playlist "threading demo". Regards, John.

Hmm. Five microns is pretty ambitious! Good luck with that on a mini lathe. I'm not quite sure what, if anything, you're asking, but most mini lathes like mine have a spindle taper to fit a Morse No 3 chuck and that's what I have fitted in this sequence. It gives a better grip on small round stock without the possibility of the workpiece getting marred by the three jaw serrations. John

Thanks, you too!

Thanks, Colin. Same to you. Hope we can get together in the New Year sometime.

Hi, I used a kit from Stepperonline through eBay: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/204621427033. That’s a 3Nm closed loop stepper motor/driver/power supply bundle. Power seems adequate for a mini lathe and is the same rating as I used on my previous lathe (a 9 x 20 Asian clone) that utilised the Clough42 system. For the mini lathe, I purchased the pre-wired encoder from the French ELS supplier, which is 600 pulses per revolution. John

I didn't actually do any "programming". I just used the 'config.h' file that James Clough supplies from GitHub, with the necessary alterations to the variables to match my setup on that particular lathe, for example changing the lead screw pitch to metric etc. From that point of view, the (French) ELS shown in my later videos, fitted to the mini lathe is far simpler as it involves no "poking around under the bonnet" and merely uses the on-screen parameters function. Once set correctly, they need never be altered. Had the Clogh system been available in the UK, I probably would have gone for that, but, having found and used the ELS unit, I'm more than happy that I chose that one. (And it's FAR cheaper, too!) John

Thank you. Unfortunately, I don't have the lathe any more, so I'm not able to do any development on it.

@@RustyInventions-wz6ir Thank you. It started out as a fun project but quickly developed.

@@RustyInventions-wz6ir Thanks. Nice to know someone appreciates the time it takes to make these videos for no reward!

@@waynepetrevan The warning, if any, is needed is implicit in the video. You are free to spend your money how you wish. I've chosen to spend my money on this motor, and the fact that it failed after a short while is just unlucky in my view. As to using a mill with dro for indexing - I heartily agree and that's how I'd do it if I had still had my mill - but I haven't.

Your hearing is obviously far more acute than mine. I wouldn't know what it was supposed to sound like, even if one of my hearing aids wasn't broken!

Good luck with that! That's nearly 3 H.P! I just hope that your lathe is a good deal bigger than mine. John.

@@bizzibeeworkshop it's a bit bigger but for a 3hp spindle is still a bit small. I at least want to try

Thanks, Colin. The anti-backlash nut is going to be fiddly due to its size. I'm not used to working on bits of material that small. I'm thinking of 3D printing the major parts and turning the actual nut bits as a glued-in sleeve. John.

All the print files are on Thingiverse. Specifically, the modified front panel is at: www.thingiverse.com/thing:6651632 The others are to be found at: www.thingiverse.com/bizzibeeworkshop/designs John

I must admit that I don't follow your assertions. The supplied spindle motor is 750W (1 H.P.), which is more than adequate for the needs of this little lathe. I don't know the equivalent power and/or torque of the NEMA23 stepper motor, but has proven perfectly suited to driving the lead screw, via a 2:1 reduction ratio. I used the same stepper on my previous lathe, a generic 9 x 20 Asian lathe, and it continues to give good service in the hands of its new owner. Thanks for your interest and comments, however, but I will continue to plough my own furrow. John

@@bizzibeeworkshop no worries i thought it was and looked like one of those large 32 ones if its a 24 then its ok just looks giant compared to the lathe that must be what throws me off.

Hello. I'm happy to share them with you. Email me your email address at BizziBeeWorkshop@outlook.com and state the format you would prefer - STL, STP or 3mf. John

I've also now loaded the files onto www.thingiverse.com. Enter "Mini Lathe ELS conversion parts" (without quotation marks) into the search box and the design should appear.

@@bizzibeeworkshop Ok , Thank you very much

I! Don't! Know! What! You're! On! About!

So when ! Did you ! Robb ! The Bank ! To buy ! This ! Then ! ?? ​@@bizzibeeworkshop

SO WHEN ! Did you ROBB THE BANK! TO BUY THIS THEN !?? ​@@bizzibeeworkshop

​@@bizzibeeworkshopYOU !! SCUMMY ! BANK ! ROBBER !!

So when did you Robb the BANK ! To Buy ! This Then !??

Thank you - I appreciate you taking the time to comment.

I'm afraid life's too short for me to make one myself. I bought an off-the-shelf version from this vendor: electronicleadscrew.eu/ He has a TH-cam channel which describes and explains the two versions available. If you don't understand French, a couple are dubbed in English or use subtitles for some "interesting" translations. www.youtube.com/@electronicgearbox/videos John

Yep, no bother, I'm in gardening mode at the moment, not my favourite pastime !

Thanks, Colin. As you know, I’ve been a bit preoccupied these last couple of weeks - I'll be in touch re: milling soon.

Gracias por tus amables palabras y mis mejores deseos para ti también.

Hello, Colin. It's the 1-axis els which you can find at electronicleadscrew.eu. He now also supplies a 2-axis version that looks even better. See my first video or his various demos on here.

It's a brazed carbide tip and no amount of honing is going to resurrect it, I'm afraid. Add to that I I don't have a mill any more , and it would be a pointless exercise. I did keep the boring head, though, just in case I got another one. John

Thought I'd replied, Colin, but it appears not! I fully agree with your comments re the lathe quality issue. You get what you pay for, of course, and I still don't know how they produce AND ship these things at the price point that they do. John

It's a blatant copy of a number of commercially available designs. No credit to me at all! John

Only just seen this, Colin. Have a look at the latest video. I think that the final few microns could well be down to the quality of the lead screw thread

I've been giving this a lot of thought. The saddle travel on my lathe is very sticky. I originally put it down to it being poorly set up. Now I think it may be that I haven't cleaned the anti-rust protection on the bedways etc sufficiently well, so intend to have another go at that to see whether I can improve the situation. Certainly when under power, the saddle makes awful noises and I feel the need to maintain pressure on the half-nut lever. The "thread tempo" refers to the length of time the els allows to retract the tool when carrying out semi-automatic threading. In the picture in the pdf manual, it is set to 15 seconds. John

That's what I hoped but I have run the test at various places along the leadscrew, several times in each position. No difference. More investigation required. But not until I've finished the installation. John

@@bizzibeeworkshop It could be cosine error if the indicator isn't perfectly in line with the carriage, but 0.1mm seems like a lot to be off by

I'm not sure what you mean by "box lids". I use Alibre Atom software for my 3D CAD designs, which for 3D printing I export as STEP files. Other people's designs - from Thingiverse, for example, are usually STL or STEP files which can be imported to Atom or, more occasionally, Fusion 360, which I find is useful if you want to modify existing STEP/STL files. All my own designs are kept on my home computer but could be available to anyone interested, by email. John

Hi I am referring to the enclosure box that houses the stepper controller and the power supply. It would help me no end if I had this file as I am no expert in 3D cad.

@@BigbigjimboI see. That's a commercially available plastic enclosure that I purchased from eBay: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254510997123?var=554194563195 On my previous lathe, I used a metal enclosure which was larger than this one and consequently much more expensive. Time will tell whether the plastic one will give problems with RF interference. John

Hi. I had a quick look at that one, but the gaudy yellow panel with hieroglyphics and (to my mind) poorly laid out buttons put me off, and I didn't pursue it any further. Each to his or her own, I suppose.

Hello. I certainly can it's: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/314214813802 Although the price has increased by GBP10.00 since I placed my order! As an aside, the tracking still says it only got as far as the Chinese export point and has been returned to the sender when it's clearly installed on the lathe.

@@bizzibeeworkshop Thx! I ordered a generator from China and just got a notice that It will be delivered today. I've been using it for a week....

Thanks for the offer. I will bear that in mind if my designs don't work out. As you appreciate, the requirements are very much machine-specific, and I've been through a number of iterations to get the encoder mount just right. All hinges of the delivery of the stepper motor drive belt, before I can finalise the mount for that. John

@@bizzibeeworkshop no problem it is the same machine so should work so if you require them I will find a way to send.

Thanks, Colin. I'm not so sure about the "wizard" bit, if you could see the contents of the failed attempts bucket! It's certainly a lot quieter, as you say, Regards, John

Thank you. I hope the rest of the build lives up to your expectations. John

As I said in the video, it's mostly the all-metal change wheels that are generating the racket. These are an "upgrade" to the normally supplied nylon gears which, of course,a lot quieter. I had no choice in what was supplied and as I'm part way through the ELS conversion, they'll all be removed anyway. It's not a problem for me, I'm glad to say. If it gets unbearable, I'll just take out my hearing aids and plough on regardless! John

@@bizzibeeworkshop Ok good to hear that,anyway the gears will wear in if you stick by them and you can bare the noise.Good luck with your future projects.

​@@Andy-x3e4zif you don't use it ! Then Noise ! Is Not ! A Problem ! At All !

Well Don't ! Use it then ! And No Noise ! Whatsoever ! For Peace of Mind ?

No. I may well purchase one in the future, but currently have no use for one. I had 3-jaw and 4-jaw s/c chucks for my old lathe as well as a 4-jaw independent chuck and a 6-jaw s/c one. The latter was the one which I used the most. John

I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean. If it's a reference to a cocktail mixer, you're probably right. But as I don't drink cocktails, I can only imagine! John

It's certainly noisier than I would like, but as I said it's mostly down to the replacement metal gears in the drivetrain to the leadscrew. The parts for the ELS have arrived, so I hope to have that up and running, soon. Then I'll be able to remove the gears and just have the belt drive from the motor to the spindle. John

Well don't use it ! Then !

I have been in touch with the suppliers and they assure me that it's absolutely normal. In the meantime, I'll be using the forward-off-reverse switch to control the chuck rotation. If all else fails, I'll just have to fit a 3-phase motor and vfd. John

Well IfF ! You Don't use it ! Then NO NOISE ! WIIL ! COME FROM IT !! GOOD ! HEYY !

I think that these mini lathes have a poor reputation from a while ago. The whole package isn't bad for what I paid for it, so I'm not about to condemn it out of hand - at least not yet! John

Hi, Colin. I'm currently printing a trial mounting bracket for the lead screw stepper motor. I'm trying to mount it at the tailstock end of the screw; only problem is there is only about 10mm of 8mm dia. thread to attach the pulley to. I’m sure I'll work something out, though. By the way, I'll be in touch next week to arrange to bring that collet chuck over to you. Regards, John

Thanks for the comments. They are appreciated. John

You are entitled to your opinion, though, in my defence, I did mention that it was designed in response to a request for an alternative solution to the "normal" crank pin arrangement, not a "better" way to make it. Additionally, it also provides the "quick return" stroke that is built into the shaper motion on which it is based. John

Well, sliding surfaces, especially those near the actual metal removal area, will get fine swarf in them so I don't think this alternative is a better solution.....why re-invent the wheel and incidentally there is no back support to the file @@bizzibeeworkshop

Although I've now sold the lathe along with all my other machines, it would certainly be the first thing that I would fit to another lathe, should I ever buy one. Never say never! John

You're probably right but they would, in my eyes, only be a marginal aesthetic improvemnent on the springs. And I'd have to buy them! Thanks for the suggestion, though. I've sourced some springs for pocket money, so I'll try them and fit consumable "washers" top and bottom if they show signs of wear. John

I agree, Colin! But then I would, wouldn't I? It's just that I'm used to greater precision than I can acheive with plastic at the moment. Who knows what the future will bring? John P.S. I'll be contacting you later this month to arrange that workshop visit, if it's still on the cards.