Thoughts on a Sharp 1440g and 1440gvari lathe
- Thread starter joehunt
- Start date
What's the price difference between the vari and the straight drive model?
And what do you have for power available? Got 3 Phase already? Will the vari speed unit run on single phase power?
Worth pondering those particular points, I think.
I would suggest considering the G and then put a VFD on it later too, as an option. That would give you a larger range of speeds to work with, and still have the dial-a-speed option on tap as well.
From the looks of the flyers, they took off the speed selector and left the High-Low selection on the varispeed model. So, removed about half the speed selection gears in the headstock. Fairly elegant solution from a manufacturers point of view. Same lathe, just changed out the gears for a VFD.
Cheers
Trev
And what do you have for power available? Got 3 Phase already? Will the vari speed unit run on single phase power?
Worth pondering those particular points, I think.
I would suggest considering the G and then put a VFD on it later too, as an option. That would give you a larger range of speeds to work with, and still have the dial-a-speed option on tap as well.
From the looks of the flyers, they took off the speed selector and left the High-Low selection on the varispeed model. So, removed about half the speed selection gears in the headstock. Fairly elegant solution from a manufacturers point of view. Same lathe, just changed out the gears for a VFD.
Cheers
Trev
The VFD would be very handy. I wish I had one, forever changing speeds in gun work. Funny they charge more for VFD because you only get half the gears. Don't let the 600V 3P stuff scare you off. I have 220 1P, phase converter and a step up transformer and it runs great as does my surface grinder and my mill did as well.
with a rotary ..your idler motor is about twice the size of your work motor ( if its hard starting equipment that your running ...stuff under load )
very good to go 3phase.. you'll be shocked how cheap you can buy brand new surplus motors ...
very good to go 3phase.. you'll be shocked how cheap you can buy brand new surplus motors ...
Mine runs off a 40 amp pony panel. My lathe is 5hp but because it is turning gears etc I need a 10hp converter for start up. A mill only turns the spindle so a 5hp mill will run with a 5hp converter. My shop is one man so I only run one machine at a time but as you add more running motors you can actually exceed the capacity of the converter okay. There is loss from running the converter but I think it's only about 5%, maybe less.
Nice to be able to consider such tools as a Hobby, innit?
When you consider that, before the Far East started selling machine tools in to the North American market, a lathe like that would sell for near the price of a small house, it truly is a LOT of capability for the dollar!I have a hard time figuring that you would be disappointed with either of those two models. They are a really nice size to be an 'only' lathe in a small shop.
About the only other things to add to really rock the house, would be a DRO, and a 5C collet closer, whether it's a lever operated, or a chuck, like the Bison ones. The DRO makes your life all that much easier, the collet chuck makes working on small parts very close to the spindle a right breeze, because there is no spinning chuck jaws to watch for. You do not need a huge selection of collets to start out, just some basics to match the size if stock you will have, and it makes making custom screws pretty easy.
Cheers
Trev
Worth keeping in mind there's 2 different companies that label machines with the Sharp name. Being in BC you're probably talking about Sharp machine tools.
In my area it means Sharp Industries from the US.
As to 3ph, you can usually buy them wired for 220V instead of 600 and not need a transformer. I run Phase Perfects converters(the best) but rotary converters are ok and less $.
I do like VFD's on some machines, it would be fine for a 14x40 and gun related work.
In my area it means Sharp Industries from the US.
As to 3ph, you can usually buy them wired for 220V instead of 600 and not need a transformer. I run Phase Perfects converters(the best) but rotary converters are ok and less $.
I do like VFD's on some machines, it would be fine for a 14x40 and gun related work.
Nice to be able to consider such tools as a Hobby, innit?
I have a hard time figuring that you would be disappointed with either of those two models. They are a really nice size to be an 'only' lathe in a small shop.
About the only other things to add to really rock the house, would be a DRO, and a 5C collet closer, whether it's a lever operated, or a chuck, like the Bison ones. The DRO makes your life all that much easier, the collet chuck makes working on small parts very close to the spindle a right breeze, because there is no spinning chuck jaws to watch for. You do not need a huge selection of collets to start out, just some basics to match the size if stock you will have, and it makes making custom screws pretty easy.
Cheers
Trev
They come with a DRO installed.
Nice! Once you get used to using a DRO, it pretty much spoils you for going back to living without. Esp. if you end up dealing with any metric parts or stuff with mixed Inch/Metric dimensions!
Cheers
Trev
