WARCO WM-250 lathe family and WM16 mill – 001

[Mike guitarParticipant @mikeguitar]

Yes Jason I noticed the two washers were a different thickness and to be honest a bit misshapen I used different size d washers from those supplied, interestingly I have a friend who runs his lathe with the banjo always out of mesh, mind he does have several other lathes and doesn't use his warco for threading, I did consider only connecting my gears when threading but then remembered I've got power cross feed!!!!!!!

Edited By JasonB on 19/08/2014 15:33:22

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

I set my 250 up using A4 writing paper – .003" and the noise much improved, I also sprayed the drive gears with motor cycle chain lubricant.as this has better 'cling' quality than ordinary grease .. more improvement… pics in my album. I haven't needed to do any threading as yet just used dies & tailstock die holder so my set up is as factory set & so far, touch wood, I have not had any major probs.

George

p.s.  mea culpa, haven't got pics in album!

Edited By mechman48 on 17/08/2014 10:04:20

Edited By JasonB on 19/08/2014 15:32:23

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Have found the pic for setting up the backlash…

Have also included my fitting up of X drive using 12v wiper motor & aluminium plate & bar…

Modified motor shaft…

used spare socket set universal joint for coupling…

Fabricated Ally' sheet cover…

So far it works ok, am contemplating using 24v motor instead, have got vid of it operating in my you tube folder ..if I can figure out how to link to it…?

Had posted these in an earlier post but have put it here under the common thread ..

Cheers

George

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Try the link … it worked  for me so…

**LINK**

 

George

 

Edited By mechman48 on 20/08/2014 18:04:55

[Mark P.Participant @markp]

Hi all, anyone know where to get decent carbon brushes for a WM16? The ones from Warco seem to wear quickly I have got through yet another set, it doesn't get that much use maybe a few hours a week. I am planing to fit an AC motor with a VFD when funds (and SWIMBO) allow but not for the foreseeable future.

Mark P.

[Chris Jones 3Participant @chrisjones3]

Hi all,

My WM250 motor emits a noticeable hum (100Hz ?) when running at any speed which I took to be a characteristic of the thyristor motor speed controller (rise time of voltage when thyristors fire causing laminations in motor to vibrate).

When I took delivery of a WM16 mill (similar motor, identical controller) it proved to be whisper quiet, the gears making the only noticeable noise.

Anybody got any ideas?

Cheers – Chris.

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Got me beat Chris, probably 'cos I've never heard anything on mine… ? not being electrikery minded either I am unable to proffer any ideas

Cheers

George.

[Rik ShawParticipant @rikshaw]

Hello Chris – I have the same machines with the same characteristics. The mill, like yours, is quiet but the lathe has that constant drone/hum like yours. I believe that Warco may have identified this and other problems (especially poor torque) and now ship theses lathes with a different motor/control. When did you buy the lathe?

If your post leads to enlightenment from others I would find the replies of interest.

Rik

[Chris Jones 3Participant @chrisjones3]

Hi both, thanks for the responses, it looks as though it shows up on some machines & not on others. I suspect it could be loose laminations in the motor. I think I will take mine off and check the through bolts, if there are any? My lathe dates from early 2012, I wish I had phoned Warco when I powered it up, but you tend to think all the machines are the same. Coming from an electronics background I can explain the reasons for it happening but would have expected Warco not to pass them unless they come up to scratch.

Rik, you mentioned poor torque, well I have been a bit suspicious about the torque on my machine. It seems to stall very easily, a pity there are no figures available for comparison.

Judging by the uninspiring response I received last week from the Warco 'technical queries department' on another matter I don't think they will be very helpful.

Lets see if any others experience the same thing.

Chris.

[Mike guitarParticipant @mikeguitar]

Chris and Rik, I have the 250 with the ac delta drive induction motor and up to now I've not had any motor slowing or stalling under heavy load, the only noise is of course from an electronics bay cooling fan which

runs all the time from power up but of course this is not objectionable, also I'm from an electronics background so Interested in electronics side of control etc,I've heard several of the dc motor lathes and they all had the hum. I think the ac motor version uses mosfets in the delta control mode, nice quiet operation….so far….

[Chris Jones 3Participant @chrisjones3]

Hi Mike,

Yes, I would have liked the induction motor version but in 2012 it was the DC motor. I am considering getting a 3 phase induction motor and VFD and bolting it on so to speak! (never that simple though is it!)

What are the lowest and highest speeds you get with your setup in low range?

[Chris Jones 3Participant @chrisjones3]

Hi all, I'm not sure if this has been posted here before but If you want a good manual for the WM16 mill, the Optimum BF20 seems to be identical and can be found here http://www.g0704.com/bf20_vario_gb.pdf

You might notice but the link is via the g0704 mill from Grizzly but the Grizzly machine has a R8 spindle whereas the Optimum manual & parts list clearly refers to the MT2 taper as per the WM16.

If you do download it and print it, I find it suddenly slows down when it gets to page 15, just be patient and wait a couple of minutes and it gets going again.

Chris.

[Half centreParticipant @halfcentre]

I posted this earlier – I think in the wrong place, so I am trying it here –

I was wondering if anyone had any useful tips when tramming the WM16. After using the DTI and finding the correct head position, when you tightening the 2 head lock nuts it pulls the head around spoiling the setting. I end up trying to compensate for this ‘pull’ by setting the tram over to one side by the amount the head will pull. The whole process can be a little frustrating as it is difficult to guess the amount to offset the tram. It can take quite a few attempts before you get it right.

I made and fitted an extra steady for the left hand side of the head to match the one supplied on the right – this helps a little.

Any ideas gratefully received

Martin

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Hi Martin

I fitted two locking plates to my WM16 head, see pics in my album; after easing back on the locking nuts I trammed the head on plate glass & minutely adjusted the head via the two plates/blocks then locked the head nuts & checked again, then did a check on the table direct… no movement…. so aligned. Hope this helps. One avenue to look at is maybe the cast surface where the lock nuts rest are very rough & if you have steel washers behind the nuts these will then tend to 'ride' on the imperfections of the casting…. try removing one lock nut at a time & smoothing off the casting where the washer sits & / or replacing the steel washer with brass or thicker aluminium ones to take up any roughness… worth a try .

George.

[Half centreParticipant @halfcentre]

Thank you very much George – certainly worth try

Martin

[Mark P.Participant @markp]

Hi all, anyone any ideas on how to true up the column on a WM16 mill? I seem to have a .25mm fore and aft lean on the column. Left to right is great no deviation at all.

Mark P.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Scrape the base of the column? A long, slow, messy job when I did it on my old-style X2.

Neil

[Mark P.Participant @markp]

Thank you Neil, I will really enjoy doing that!

[Rik ShawParticipant @rikshaw]

Hello Mark – Mine is even worse than yours but its going to have to stay as it is. I decided a while ago that onerous rework on machine tools was eating up valuable time – now at 68 I stick to stuff I enjoy doing. There's nearly always a work round anyway and even if there is not a good kick can do wonders for ones karma.

Rik – Ommmmmmmm

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

My X3 has a 5thou shim under one side of the column where it bolts to the base

Edited By JasonB on 04/10/2014 17:07:59

[Mark P.Participant @markp]

Well decided that scraping is out, took a leaf out of Jason’s book and poked a bit of shim under the column. Result very acceptable .01mm lean, I think that will do!

[john kennedy 1Participant @johnkennedy1]

Can anyone please confirm the belt section for the WM250 lathe. I believe it may be M section ?

Since I converted to a VDF and using a longer 'Z' sect belt it has started to ride off the spindle pulley and twist. This causes vibration which is getting worse as the belt deteriorates. .. Thanks, John

Edited By john kennedy 1 on 15/11/2014 09:57:42

[Rik ShawParticipant @rikshaw]

John – I don't know anything about M section but I have just run the vernier over my 250 belt and it is approx. .284" wide at top x .058 at bottom (very approx.) x .223 deep.

Rik

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

My 280 has a Gates 7M825 Polyflex belt if that helps, this would be about right for Riks size as they are 7mm across the top nominal

 

Edited By JasonB on 15/11/2014 13:05:19

[john kennedy 1Participant @johnkennedy1]

Thank you both for your replies. Looks like it is Gates 7M Polyflex

http://www.bearingshopuk.co.uk/belts/polyflex-belts/7m1320-gates-polyflex-belt/

Not cheap but I'm sure it'll be worth it.

Thanks again .. John

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