Myford ML2 Drive

This topic has 10 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 21 April 2018 at 11:15 by Brian Wood.

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19 April 2018 at 19:10 #350755
Paul Bishop 4
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@paulbishop4
Evening everybody. Bought an ML2 to restore. Not too bad condition. Has flat belt drive on spindle. I've bought a second hand 3 phase motor which I'm going to put a vsd on. As flat belt pulleys are like hens teeth, what are your thoughts on using an A type V pulley and a 12mm Fenner power flex type belt on the centre of the spindle flat pulley? I know its not an ideal solution but considering the fastest speed recommended for the ML2, I think it would be ok. Searched and searched but nothing I can find. Thanks for any responses in anticipation.

Edited By Paul Bishop 4 on 19/04/2018 19:10:53
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19 April 2018 at 19:10 #18905
Paul Bishop 4
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@paulbishop4
19 April 2018 at 19:20 #350756
John Rudd
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@johnrudd16576
So why not make your own flat belt pulley? Cast iron or aluminium…..

Assuming you have access to another lathe…
19 April 2018 at 20:05 #350763
Paul Bishop 4
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@paulbishop4
I would John if A) I was skilled enough B) If my other lathe had a big enough chuck. Was hoping my fix would suffice until I managed to source either the motor pulley, or the v belt pulley for the spindle
19 April 2018 at 20:13 #350764
Georgineer
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@georgineer
Vee-flat drives using a conventional V-belt are an accepted way of driving – my ML4 has a flat countershaft pulley and a vee pulley on the motor, and it has worked without problems for nearly 50 years. However, I suspect that using a cogged belt like the Powerflex would cause vibration issues as the cogs make contact with the surface of the flat pulley.

George
19 April 2018 at 20:28 #350768
Paul Bishop 4
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@paulbishop4
Maybe I'll try a normal v belt first. Do you notice much wear on the belt?
19 April 2018 at 23:17 #350794
Michael Gilligan
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@michaelgilligan61133
I would put a poly-vee pulley on the motor, and let the poly-vee belt drive the flat pulley on the lathe.

… It has worked for me in the past, and is common practice on washing machines & tumble driers.

MichaelG.

.

[yes, I know; the diameter, and therefore the length of wrap, is much greater on the domestic appliances]
20 April 2018 at 02:37 #350797
Hopper
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@hopper
+1 on Michael G's suggestion for Poly V belt running on flat pulley. I replaced the flat belt on my old Drummond M-type, similar machine to the ML2, with a poly V belt and it runs on the old flat pulleys very, very well. No slippage problem at all. You can probably get a poly v pulley from a car wreckers' yard off a car air con compressor etc that could be adapted. Or just turn one up from ally.
20 April 2018 at 08:54 #350814
Martin Johnson 1
Participant
@martinjohnson1
Back in the day (about 50 years now) I had an ML2 driven direct from a 1450 rpm motor by flat belt onto the headstock. Absolutely dire!

I built a countershaft unit hinged at the back of the bed with motor hanging off the rear, V belt drive up to countershaft. I modified the lathe to V belt pulleys by turning the cast iron flat belt pulleys off to leave a parallel sleeve, then loctited a multi step picador pulley onto the remaining sleeve. It worked OK. I later grafted a clutch onto the countershaft which saved a lot of motor stop / starting.

If I was doing the job today, I would use Poly V belts, J section, you would only need 4 groove pulleys and they could easily be turned into the existing cast iron pulley. You will need to beg / borrow / steal another lathe to the turning though.

A little warning – my ML2 had the cross slide feed screw graduated at 80 thou., but the screw was actually 12 tpi giving 83 thou advance per turn. This caused quite a few scrappers until I worked out what was happening and made a 12.5 TPI screw and tap. In hindsight, I should have made it 20 TPI, and re-made the micrometer collar with 50 divisions.

Hope that helps.

Martin
21 April 2018 at 10:23 #350964
Paul Bishop 4
Participant
@paulbishop4
Thanks Martin. I've now ended up with 2 ML2's, so going to experiment. I have a (shock horror) chinese lathe so should be able to make parts on that for now for the ML2.

I'd like to put a countershaft system on. I have to see if I can attach to the lathe, or else mount behind the lathe. Fun to be had. Solution challenges come to mind.
21 April 2018 at 11:15 #350975
Brian Wood
Participant
@brianwood45127
Martin,

The 12 TPI tool slide feed screws were also a feature on the ML4 lathes, Myford in their wisdom at the time thought that was 'close enough' for most work; I quote from the handbook issued with the lathes.

Regards

Brian
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