AXA on Atlas 618?

[skyboltone]

Is an AXA just too big for a 6" lathe or just right? After reading a few days here I now know that I should have sold my wife and bought a Hardinge or Clausing tool room lathe. I've hooked them up before (electrician) but you know; I'm just never going to turn anything over a couple inches in diameter.

For now anyway.

So I want to make my little toy lathe the best that it can be. So, nice QR tool post, steady rest, palmgren 250, and I've got a VFD and a 1/2 hp 3 phase motor (and a rotary coverter for the rest of my 3 phase stuff) unless you guys think that's stupid.

I've got the South Bend Book by the way. 1958 edition.

One of the first things I'm going to make is an extension for the motor shaft of my DeWalt MBF radial arm saw so I can put a 3/4" dado on there. So as we move along I'll take a million pictures and ask questions. etc. If anybody has electrical issues or tube amp issues or classic radio issues let me know. I'm here to help.

Dan

Thanks in advance
Dan

[macona]

Way to big. Look at one of these:

http://www.littlemachineshop.com/pro...ory=-419988835

or one of these:

http://www.littlemachineshop.com/pro...ory=-419988835

[rockcombo]

the AXA size is too big , try the OXA tormach set or the atlas set little machine shop has for sale , I am using a Dalton lathe with the OXA Tormach set and it works quite well .
Brice

[skyboltone]

Man I'm glad I asked first. I was about to pull the trigger. The wedge holder at Little Machine Shop looks like the one AJAX is selling on Ebay in AXA size.

Thanks fellers
Dan

[Black_Moons]

a VFD might be a little overkill for a lathe that size, Lots of people install treadmill motors onto drill presses (DC with a controller board) for 1/2HP~ or so variable speed, Maybe that would be cheaper?

[Tony Ennis]

It's hard to see how a VFD and 1/2 HP 3ph motor can be a wrong choice. Overpowered? Maybe a little. Doesn't hurt anything and if you replace the lathe with a somewhat larger one, you'll suddenly look pretty darned smart.

[J Tiers]

The Palmgren 250 you mentioned is also way too big for that. It weighs more than the headstock + tailstock + carriage, probably.

You might check the 150, it is smaller, but likely also too big.

[Al Messer]

Try to locate a milling attachment that Atlas made to be used on the lathe. I had one with my Atlas and it was a great attachment to use.