Well there be a formal training for using the metal lathe? If not does anyone mind teaching the basics?
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I would be really interested in that, too.
- Jesse
At some point there will be. It’s just a matter of someone setting up a class.
Is there a lower size limit when using the lathe? Most of pieces I would be turning would real fit on a mini metal lathe like a 7 X 12.
Anything that can be held securely.
Any progress on this? I don’t have the free time to maintain a membership, but I do need to build something that takes a metal lathe and will do one month just to do that. So joining won’t do me any good if I can’t use the lathe.
Tim,
Have you watched any of the MIT instructional videos from the Wiki yet? The last three videos cover the manual lathe and there is the manual for the Colchester lathe.
Once you feel comfortable with the controls, ask someone if they can help you out. Since there isn’t a formal training class, I think that would be your best bet. But I am in the same boat. I just haven’t had the time to get to the lathe yet.
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Yeah, I’ve watched all of the training videos and read the bantam user manual, so I should be fine. I went to an open house the other day and found out the training wasn’t required; I was going off of the wiki, which says a class IS required. Unfortunately, I haven’t had time to even join yet. My wife says I have to finish our crown molding first. 
I have 3 (at least) doorknobs that have broken internally. I honestly think they are broken before I even try to get them apart, as the rosette covering the mounting plate is supposed to just be held on with an o-ring. I don’t see how it could bind as hard as it does without already having expanded somehow. When I try to get them apart, the mounting plate shatters into bits of potmetal, often with the outer ring still bound inside the rosette.
Anyway, the company went out of business and I can’t find internal hardware that matches the size, so I’m going to turn new mounting plates out of aluminum. All of the doorknobs in the house match, and I can’t afford to replace them all. But having a machine shop make them for me would cost me more than 50 bucks, and this way I get to learn to do it myself, even if I can’t continue the membership afterward.
Good luck with the door knobs! As for the crown moulding, caulking is your
friend.
While I have some experience with much smaller lathes, I too would be interested in either a training class or a walkthrough on this machine. Barring that, I do have some questions about what tooling is available and where I might find it.
Specifically,
I noticed that the machine has a three jaw chuck installed. Is a four jaw chuck available? Is a faceplate and dog system available? Follower rest, indicators?
The quick change tool posts seem to have indexed tooling installed, would there be any issue if I also used HSS home ground tool bits / barring that where are new indexed inserts (or what model is needed)?
There has never been a lathe training class, and I don’t foresee one any time soon. I’ll be happy to show you how the Colchester works, but I don’t know when I’ll be up there next.
We do have a 4 jaw, it’s currently under the table. What we don’t have is a chuck key that fits the cam lock: one has been purchased but is on back-order. There is also a key for it on order that should allow the jaws to be opened all the way (or removed and reversed).
There is no face-plate, nor lathe dogs or arbors.
You’re welcome to use your own tooling. The quick change holders we have are in the drawer which is currently sitting to the left of the lathe. The tooling we have is in the red bins on the table. If you use DMS tooling, put everything back when you’re done. (This seems obvious, but I am constantly finding tooling left on the lathe, in the drawer, and the table, inserts left on the tooling, etc…)
Also, if you break anything please update Machine Shop Tasks - Dallas Makerspace so I can purchase a replacement.
And, of course, clean up all chips, oil, etc from the lathe and surrounding area when you’re done.
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Okay, cool. The main reason I asked for the training is that the wiki page says it is required. I just went ahead and edited the wiki page to remove the indicator that a class was required to operate the Colchester. Thanks for the information and help!
Walter
What wiki page?..
https://dallasmakerspace.org/wiki/Tools
It showed that the Colchester required a class.
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Looks like it has been updated now. No class required. But make sure you follow the shops rules that if you don’t know exactly what you are doing, stop and ask.
Could we just make one? I will see if I have some suitable bar stock left. Would we want it to be steel? If we could make it to use the four jaw for all these projects then we can get some stuff done and get on to other projects. I know I have one up coming project that would help with a four jaw. If I find some stock suitable and label it is there a committee box I can keep it in during sessions?
Yes. I had made one, but it disappeared. Feel free. The D1 cam locks need a 5/16 key, and the chuck itself uses a 3/8. The diameter of the chuck key needs to be 3/4 or smaller to allow the jaws to completely come off. Not sure how long, 5" ought to do it.
I’m looking foward to learning machining. I have had an interest in it for a long time but disn’t have money or space for a lathe or mill.