Need a new one

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jcm71

jcm71

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Joined
May 5, 2011
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Chattanooga, TN
My Delta 46-460 speed controller crapped out 1/2 way through finishing a pen. (Tried to reverse and it wouldn't). Now it gives off smoke and fumes, so I guess that's it. With speed controllers going for $268 or so, I guess I'm in the market for a new midi-lathe. (I paid $400 for the lathe, used two years ago). Finished the pen (Majestic Jr in Thuya Burl) up on my Shopsmith. What a step backwards. :frown:
 
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BURLMAN said:
My Delta 46-460 speed controller crapped out 1/2 way through finishing a pen. (Tried to reverse and it wouldn't). Now it gives off smoke and fumes, so I guess that's it. With speed controllers going for $268 or so, I guess I'm in the market for a new midi-lathe. (I paid $400 for the lathe, used two years ago). Finished the pen (Majestic Jr in Thuya Burl) up on my Shopsmith. What a step backwards. :frown:
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear about your speed control. Can the lathe be re-adapted to use an AC motor? I don't know anything about your Delta. I am not sold on VS lathes. There are several reports on this site about VS failure. I would prefer a reeves drive. I have had commercial machinery using the reeves drive that worked very well knowing that they do need bit of maintenance on occasion. Hope you can get it worked out satisfactorily.
 
Rockytime said:
BURLMAN said:
My Delta 46-460 speed controller crapped out 1/2 way through finishing a pen. (Tried to reverse and it wouldn't). Now it gives off smoke and fumes, so I guess that's it. With speed controllers going for $268 or so, I guess I'm in the market for a new midi-lathe. (I paid $400 for the lathe, used two years ago). Finished the pen (Majestic Jr in Thuya Burl) up on my Shopsmith. What a step backwards. :frown:
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear about your speed control. Can the lathe be re-adapted to use an AC motor? I don't know anything about your Delta. I am not sold on VS lathes. There are several reports on this site about VS failure. I would prefer a reeves drive. I have had commercial machinery using the reeves drive that worked very well knowing that they do need bit of maintenance on occasion. Hope you can get it worked out satisfactorily.
Click to expand...

Les,
You and I may be a breed apart.:biggrin:.. even though mine is down now waiting on parts, and it's been a nuisance here lately, I like my Reeves drive too... we may be the only two out of a bunch... :eek:

John,
At the cost of the controller vs the cost of a new lathe wouldn't it be more economical to fix the currant one?? I don't know what the price on a new Delta might be, but the Nova runs about a grand ++ ... the Jet 12-20 would be an equivalent (I think) and it runs close to a grand.... just my thoughts and none of my business... 'course if you "NEED" a new lathe, who am I to steer you away... :biggrin:

if you need to finish up a bunch of pens, bring them up my way and you can use my little Jet1014... it's not EVS, but hasn't failed me yet.
 
Les, Chuck,
Good questions, both, and as of yet I am undecided (much like my soon to be defunct riding lawn mower( another post)). What's better?? A $268 replacement part for a $400 initial investment, or $700 plus for a brand new product with a 5 yr warranty?? And here it is at the beginning of show season.
 
No need to throw the baby out with the dirty bath water
look into Dart DC drive
Can be had for under $100 on ebay
 
I was thinking the same thing.. what HP is the motor? Is it a single phase or three phase? I know you can buy variable frequency drives fairly cheap if you know the motor info. I would call someone like Automation Direct and ask for help. You might even be able to make your lathe BETTER than before for a decent price
 
I think I have found the problem in my speed controller. The culprit is an IRFP 140N transistor, which is what arced and sparked. Unfortunately, the arcing damaged the lettering on the front of the transistor. I'm sure about the IRFP and the N. Taking a guess on the 140. I cleaned the charring as best I could. When I wet the charring with alcohol or acetone I can make out what I think is a 140 before evaporation. Hopefully I can find a replacement and get it soldered in.
 
Rockytime said:
BURLMAN said:
My Delta 46-460 speed controller crapped out 1/2 way through finishing a pen. (Tried to reverse and it wouldn't). Now it gives off smoke and fumes, so I guess that's it. With speed controllers going for $268 or so, I guess I'm in the market for a new midi-lathe. (I paid $400 for the lathe, used two years ago). Finished the pen (Majestic Jr in Thuya Burl) up on my Shopsmith. What a step backwards. :frown:
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear about your speed control. Can the lathe be re-adapted to use an AC motor? I don't know anything about your Delta. I am not sold on VS lathes. There are several reports on this site about VS failure. I would prefer a reeves drive. I have had commercial machinery using the reeves drive that worked very well knowing that they do need bit of maintenance on occasion. Hope you can get it worked out satisfactorily.
Click to expand...

Reeves drives on hobby wood lathes are a long, long way from commercial machinery drives. Cheap die cast parts, cheap thrust bearings, and poor fits make for noisy drives and often not the same speed range as electronic variable speed drives. I owned a bigger reeves drive Delta years ago, 1986 actually. Swore off reeves drives after that experience and bought a Oneway. Would not go back!
 
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