Lathe dilema

[Lee GouldingParticipant @leegoulding74917]

 

Hi All im looking at the Warco WM290VF and the Toolco 1130G lathe but my dilema is that toolco who have responded well by email have advised waiting around 6 weeks to get the brushless motor version which must be the WEISS WBL290F

The problem is I'm in the middle of doing up my workshop and could do with getting one quick to build around it as I have left putting the door on to get the lathe in so my question is is the brushless motor version worth the wait? Thanks

Also would like to add that warco said they would send me a quote and never have.. guess they don't want the business

 

 

 

 

Edited By Lee Goulding on 30/05/2017 23:43:26

Edited By Lee Goulding on 30/05/2017 23:45:17

[Lee GouldingParticipant @leegoulding74917]

Which lathe

[Niels AbildgaardParticipant @nielsabildgaard33719]

The brushless DC version is not worth to wait for .An inverter system 3 phase AC is the way.My lathe has a VFD and I can cut thread in direct drive.My milling machine from Weiss has brushless DC and cannot cut anything really slow.

[Thor 🇳🇴Participant @thor]

Hi Lee,

If you buy the Warco WM 290V you get a lathe with a 3-phase motor and inverter. I have a similar lathe (different paintwork) and I do like the inverter drive. A brushless DC motor seems to have more torque at lower speeds than a brushed DC motor, so if you don't want an inverter drive a brushless DC motor would be my choice.

Thor

[John RuddParticipant @johnrudd16576]

Toolco's current offering is the 1130 GV which is a 3 phase motor driven lathe with inverter….

I bought the dc brushed version from SPG ( SP2129) and added my own motor and vfd and still came in cheaper than Toolco, plus the SPG lathe came with a stand not as an extra.

[Lee GouldingParticipant @leegoulding74917]

Hi

Thanks for all the input guys and still a mixed bag of opinions with brushless or VFD.

Not sure still 😀

[Lee GouldingParticipant @leegoulding74917]

I contacted SPG about the SP2129 and they said August/September until they have anymorein stock.

Would you consider buying direct from WEISS or have you any idea where to get a similar spec lathe from.. thanks

Edited By Lee Goulding on 31/05/2017 09:39:06

[mark smith 20Participant @marksmith20]

GM tools had two of these in with one left , probably a better lathe.Can`t vouch for the condition though.Says gap bed but i cant see the gap strange!

http://www.gandmtools.co.uk/shop/warco-gh-1330-gap-bed-centre-lathe-tooling-3ph-80204263/

Edited By mark smith 20 on 31/05/2017 09:42:00

Edited By mark smith 20 on 31/05/2017 09:47:02

[Lee GouldingParticipant @leegoulding74917]

Hi Mark

I saw that and does look a good lathe but not really sure cos I'm new to lathes and not sure how much more I would have to do to get it to single phase and variable speed and I would need to collect it which is a big headache for me

What you think?

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Posted by mark smith 20 on 31/05/2017 09:41:09:

GM tools had two of these in with one left , probably a better lathe.Can`t vouch for the condition though.Says gap bed but i cant see the gap strange!

**LINK**

Edited By mark smith 20 on 31/05/2017 09:42:00

Edited By mark smith 20 on 31/05/2017 09:47:02

​There is a gap there, click on the 4th pic down, move cursor to main pic which then magnifies the pic, there is a joint there.

George.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

One thing to look at is what are the speed ranges for the various motors. Will the VFD one require more frequent belt swapping due to less overlap between the two ratios. I run my 280 DC brushed in the slower range all the time which gives me 50-1100rpm. which I find more usefull than 100-2000,

If I'm remember rightly the VFD ones run something like 30-400 and 150-2000 so you may find you are swapping belts a lot more as there is less overlap between the two.

Another point to look at is what chuck mount do they use, nutted from behind, keyhole plate or D1-3 with the D1-3 being the most desirable.

[mark smith 20Participant @marksmith20]

Posted by mechman48 on 31/05/2017 10:14:16:

Posted by mark smith 20 on 31/05/2017 09:41:09:

GM tools had two of these in with one left , probably a better lathe.Can`t vouch for the condition though.Says gap bed but i cant see the gap strange!

**LINK**

Edited By mark smith 20 on 31/05/2017 09:42:00

Edited By mark smith 20 on 31/05/2017 09:47:02

​There is a gap there, click on the 4th pic down, move cursor to main pic which then magnifies the pic, there is a joint there.

George.

Hi George, yes your right ,im used to seeing a wider gap so couldnt see it..

[mark smith 20Participant @marksmith20]

Posted by Lee Goulding on 31/05/2017 10:01:16:

Hi Mark

I saw that and does look a good lathe but not really sure cos I'm new to lathes and not sure how much more I would have to do to get it to single phase and variable speed and I would need to collect it which is a big headache for me

What you think?

Hi Lee, i dont really have experience of whats inside the warcos. I dont know if you can just purchase an invertor and the motor present is already inverter friendly or not. Or if fitting an inverter would cause the lathe to be underpowered due to converting to 1PH

So others may advise.

It is a bigger heavier lathe at around 600 kg, which isnt really that heavy but may be a problem for you and your workshop.

Mark

Edited By mark smith 20 on 31/05/2017 10:34:33

[Lee GouldingParticipant @leegoulding74917]

Ok thanks for that info I think I follow what you mean 😀

[Lee GouldingParticipant @leegoulding74917]

Hi Mark

The lathe is going to be used mainly for brass and accurate wood boring and turning but do require a lathe with a 38mm spindle bore

What would be your preferred lathe for that?

Thanks

[mark smith 20Participant @marksmith20]

Hi Lee, if your making cues , which you mentioned in a previous thread , i think any half decent metal lathe will be accurate enough and more accurate than a wood lathe .

A 38mm or 1 1/2 bore headstock is useful for some clearance and a longish bed . If that is the only work your planning on doing i think you have a lot of choice and honestly don`t see the need to speed so much on the machine.

A good used machine would be sufficient .

Also with wood ease of cleaning is something to think about as the dust gets everywhere. Inverters also dont like dust which is also something to think about.

[John RuddParticipant @johnrudd16576]

Jason,

My SPG lathe uses the D1-4 method for chucks-faceplate attachment.

Also, fitting a 3 phase motor and vfd in lieu of a dc motor is more advantageous. It is more efficient and far more reliable. Just read through the various topics on the issues folk have had with lathes fitted with dc motor drive trains, from the humble little mini lathe right through to the 280 series offered by other vendors.

[Nik GParticipant @nikg]

I received my Warco WM290VF two weeks ago, this was approx. 2 weeks after initial order. Communication was non existent from them, with me chasing for delivery timescales etc.

On arrival I had issues with the cross feed, carriage feed which I believe was due to a knock during transportation. Warco were easily contactable and helpful in suggested possible fixes to be tried prior to return. Disassembly resolved the issue for me.

Yet to really use in anger but all seems good so far.

Would of preferred a D1-3 Chuck as the undoing of bolts on the chucks can be a pain and I also wish it came with a quick change toolpost. But about to modify the carriage myself to accept one. Warco is out off stock and has been for sometime

 

 

Edited By Nik G on 31/05/2017 12:03:29

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Thanks for the chuck mount info John I was not 100% sure if it was D1-3 or D1-4 that SPG did and would be nice to have. The last Warco 290 that I saw at Ally Pally earlier this year had the keyhole plate which would be a half way house but still better than the loose nuts.

When I bought my 280 about 8 years ago the electrics were regarded as more of an issue and I said at the time if they played up I would go for a VFD setup but as I've not had issues with it have just left alone.

[MWParticipant @mw27036]

Has anyone tried to convert a belted lathe to a gearbox style start with quick change speeds/ratios?

Michael W

[Lee GouldingParticipant @leegoulding74917]

Hi All and thanks for the replays most useful information

[Lee GouldingParticipant @leegoulding74917]

Mark Smith 20

So would you say wait for the Toolco brushless motor of the 1139GV or just get the delta drive one that's currently available

Thanks

[mark smith 20Participant @marksmith20]

Lee its your money, but as i said if you are only planning on making cues and not doing any fancy metal turning,i personally wouldnt spend so much. I dont really know much about these warco lathes and myself only use a 1960`s southbend 9a with a miserable3/4" bore. Im also of the 240v 3phmotor/ inverter camp and dont really like dc motor that much for lathes.

[John RuddParticipant @johnrudd16576]

 

Toolco dont do a brushless version……..

These lathes either have a dc brushed motor or they have a 3 phase inverter driven motor…..

Ensure the seller knows what you want, and you know what you want….

It could turn out to be a costly mistake…

Edited By John Rudd on 31/05/2017 18:39:45

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

The WEISS WBL290F Lee mentioned does seem to be fitted with a 2HP DC Brushless motor. DC Brushless motors have moderate control and torque advantages compared with a 3-phase / VFD combination but I wouldn't wait 6 weeks for one if I was in a hurry. I'd say Lee won't be disappointed if he buys a VFD lathe.

Depends rather on what you're doing but my hobbyist order of preference for powering a lathe would be:

1. DC Brushless
2. VFD 3-phase
3. 3-phase (assuming supply available)
4. DC Brushed
5. Single-Phase AC
6. Treadle

Options 5 and 6 are the only ones I'd avoid. Other opinions may be expressed!

Dave

[Author]

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