Hello from new meber with an Axminster SC2 300 problem

[rob smith 4Participant @robsmith4]

[rob smith 4Participant @robsmith4]

Hi. Not exactly a model engineer but recently purchased a used SC2 to make some small parts for various projects.

All has been going fine but now I've lost drive to the spindle.

I was machining a small part that was a dual metal construction (quite a hard liner) and as the tool hit the central liner the chuck stopped dead.

I've inspected all the gearing which is fine but the belt that drives the spindle seems to be only connecting intermittently with whatever drives the spindle.

Assuming a drive cog on the spindle now has rather a few teeth less than it previously did.

Has anyone encountered this problem and did you manage to overcome it? I plan to speak to axminster when they re open Monday.

Thanks Rob

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

My Mini-lathe similar to the SC2 had a toothed rubber belt, if yours is the same maybe the belt has lost teeth? Turn the lathe over by hand and inspect the inside of the belt for damage. Cheap and easy to fit a new belt.

Does the lathe work on the other speed setting? (Hi/Lo lever at rear) If it works on one speed but not the other could be the gear inside the headstock is broken. Here's what I did to mine by crashing the tool-post into the chuck at high-speed.

This is more difficult to fix but not rocket science. Described here if the worst comes to the worst.

I don't think mini-lathes have shear pins but check anyway. Shear pins are designed to break during an overload and only have to be knocked out and replaced to get the machine going again. If they don't break cleanly you can get intermittent drive, test by holding the chuck whilst turning the motor by hand to see if anything in the drive chain slips.

Dave

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 17/05/2020 14:47:27

[John BaronParticipant @johnbaron31275]

Hi Rob, Guys,

A similar thing happened to my mill, the plastic gear got some teeth knocked off.

I made a steel gear to replace it !

[Nick Clarke 3Participant @nickclarke3]

Don't consider a 2 speed gear to be an issue – Like my SC3 the SC2 doesn't have one so your thoughts regarding the belt and cogs are probably in the right area.

I know Axminster are a perfectly good firm to deal with and will certainly deal with your issue tomorrow. However in the mean time you may wish to have a look at ARC Eurotrade's website as they illustrate many of the spare parts so you can compare how yours look now with how they are supposed to look before you talk to the supplier tomorrow!

[rob smith 4Participant @robsmith4]

Posted by SillyOldDuffer on 17/05/2020 14:45:21:

My Mini-lathe similar to the SC2 had a toothed rubber belt, if yours is the same maybe the belt has lost teeth? Turn the lathe over by hand and inspect the inside of the belt for damage. Cheap and easy to fit a new belt.

Does the lathe work on the other speed setting? (Hi/Lo lever at rear) If it works on one speed but not the other could be the gear inside the headstock is broken. Here's what I did to mine by crashing the tool-post into the chuck at high-speed.

This is more difficult to fix but not rocket science. Described here if the worst comes to the worst.

I don't think mini-lathes have shear pins but check anyway. Shear pins are designed to break during an overload and only have to be knocked out and replaced to get the machine going again. If they don't break cleanly you can get intermittent drive, test by holding the chuck whilst turning the motor by hand to see if anything in the drive chain slips.

Dave

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 17/05/2020 14:47:27

I'd pretty much imagine that this is what's happened with mine too.

When turning the belt by hand it only catches part of the way round and spins the chuck a little then nothing till it comes rond again and catches what I imagine are the few teeth that are left.

Looks like some spanner time is in order

[rob smith 4Participant @robsmith4]

Posted by Nick Clarke 3 on 17/05/2020 15:13:44:

Don't consider a 2 speed gear to be an issue – Like my SC3 the SC2 doesn't have one so your thoughts regarding the belt and cogs are probably in the right area.

I know Axminster are a perfectly good firm to deal with and will certainly deal with your issue tomorrow. However in the mean time you may wish to have a look at ARC Eurotrade's website as they illustrate many of the spare parts so you can compare how yours look now with how they are supposed to look before you talk to the supplier tomorrow!

Thanks

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Hi Rob,

Your SC2 doesn't have the 'high/low' gear, don't waste time/money trying to replace it.

It could be one of several causes, it could be as simple as the motor having shifted on its mountings and the drive belt is now too loose. Less likely the keyway on a belt pulley has stripped out, so it is only occasionally catching.

Neil

[rob smith 4Participant @robsmith4]

Just flicked the gearing over from high to low.

Running perfectly, so just the high gear issue

[larry phelan 1Participant @larryphelan1]

Dave S-O-D ,Never knew you did things like that ??????

I thought I was the only one like that around !

You have made my day .

[Ketan SwaliParticipant @ketanswali79440]

Posted by rob smith 4 on 17/05/2020 16:08:31:

Just flicked the gearing over from high to low.

Running perfectly, so just the high gear issue

Then, is it a brushed motor C2?…. becasue the brushless motor SC2 does not have ahigh to low geariig.

Ketan at ARC.

[rob smith 4Participant @robsmith4]

I really don't know to be honest.

It has a high / low speed range lever at the rear.

Its not having any of it on the high setting but works perfectly well on the low setting.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by rob smith 4 on 17/05/2020 16:08:31:

Just flicked the gearing over from high to low.

Running perfectly, so just the high gear issue

In that case it's not an SC2…its probably a C2-300.

This is an Axminster SC2 – no High/Low lever.

Important to know as the SC2 has a brushless motor and the C2 has a brushed motor and that has implications if you ever have electrical issues.

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Ketan beat me to it by 5 minutes 7 seconds…!

Neil

[Stuart Smith 5Participant @stuartsmith5]

It sounds like the plastic gear in the headstock has lost a few teeth on the low range gear.

It happened to my cj18a mini lathe but just 2 teeth broken. It ran ok in high range but was knocking in low range.

You can get steel gears as replacements which is what I did, but some people regard the plastic gears as a useful weak point .

Stuart

[rob smith 4Participant @robsmith4]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 17/05/2020 21:37:03:

Posted by rob smith 4 on 17/05/2020 16:08:31:

Just flicked the gearing over from high to low.

Running perfectly, so just the high gear issue

In that case it's not an SC2…its probably a C2-300.

This is an Axminster SC2 – no High/Low lever.

Important to know as the SC2 has a brushless motor and the C2 has a brushed motor and that has implications if you ever have electrical issues.

Neil

Hi Neil

Looks like O described it wrong

Its the C2A

And most certainly has the lever at the rear.

Also has the digital readouts on the cross slide

[rob smith 4Participant @robsmith4]

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Read what's on the front lable Sieg C2A

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