Compound on Otpimum 180X300 Vario does not rotate. Is it possible to do a aftermarket modification?

piscov

piscov

Active User
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Good night everyone,

I just bought a Optimum 180X300 Vario lathe. It's my first ever lathe and I have never worked one before.

After buying the lathe I noticed that this one does not have the option to rotate the compound, so it looks that I have no way of doing conic shapes... Is this correct?

Can I buy a aftermarket modification or can I modify it myself?

Best regards

Vasco
 
Re: Compound on Otpimum 180X300 Vario does not rotate. Is it possible to do a aftermarket modificati

A picture of the lathe and compound slide would really help us solve your problem with you. I am not familiar with this lathe. I will see what I can find on line for you also.

"Billy G"
 
Re: Compound on Otpimum 180X300 Vario does not rotate. Is it possible to do a aftermarket modificati

Bill Gruby said:
A picture of the lathe and compound slide would really help us solve your problem with you. I am not familiar with this lathe. I will see what I can find on line for you also.

"Billy G"
Click to expand...


Hi Billy,

Thank you.

here is a picture of the lathe and also the web page,

a28e6ef532.jpg

http://www.optimum-machines.com/products/lathes/d-180-x-300-vario/index.html

Hope this helps.

Best
Vasco

a28e6ef532.jpg
 
Re: Compound on Otpimum 180X300 Vario does not rotate. Is it possible to do a aftermarket modificati

Vasco;

I found this link to operating your lathe. There are 3 pages of videos. I hope one will help you. I will keep searching for you. Thank you for the picture, it will help.

http://www.veengle.com/s/Optimum 180x300 vario.html


"Billy G" :thinking:
 
Re: Compound on Otpimum 180X300 Vario does not rotate. Is it possible to do a aftermarket modificati

pdentrem said:
Are you trying to turn before loosening the hold down bolts?


http://www.optimum-machines.com/products/lathes/d-180-x-300-vario/index.html
Click to expand...


I am really a newbie on lathe's, so I dont know what are the hold down bolts... sorry.

I have a friend that has a Myford 7 lathe and is compound can be set to for instance 29º so that he can do a 60º thread or a conic shape. The compound even has the degrees marked. When he advances the compound the advance can be done in any angle he needs.

In my lathe I cannot do that. I can only advance the compound perpendicular to the piece I am turning. I can rotate the tool holder, tough. But that will not allow me to make a conic shape for instance ( unless I use a form tool).

Hope I am more clear now.

Best regards

Vasco
 
Re: Compound on Otpimum 180X300 Vario does not rotate. Is it possible to do a aftermarket modificati

sssfox said:
Try retracting the compound slide as far as you can.
It appears that there are two socket head cap screws on the base that allow you to rotate it, but you can't get to them unless you retract the slide.

I found them in the parts list, but the manual I found is in Spanish and I don't read Spanish.
Click to expand...

The bolts referred to above are the Hold Down bolts you are looking for. Loosen them and you can rotate the slide. Do not forget to tighten them again before you go farther.

"Billy G"
 
Re: Compound on Otpimum 180X300 Vario does not rotate. Is it possible to do a aftermarket modificati

I think your lathe is a cousin of my lath (a MicroMark 7x14). Others are correct, unwind the the compound until it is nearly all the way off, and you will see two screws. Loosen just a bit, adjust your angle, then tighten back down.

This is one of the most annoying parts of these lathes (having to remove the compound to adjust the compound angle). There is a mod you can do that gives you a cam-action lock, so you can adjust the angle "on the fly" but I would recommend getting more experience before you undertake it, as you can ruin your compound pretty easily if you make a mistake.
 
Re: Compound on Otpimum 180X300 Vario does not rotate. Is it possible to do a aftermarket modificati

The web page provided also mentions turning the tailstock up to 2.5 mm for taper-turning. Is that not what is meant by conic sections, or is the adjustment there insufficient?

Excuse my newbyness, I am learning as we go and saying what I think to be the case is a fast way of getting corrected or confirmed.
 
Re: Compound on Otpimum 180X300 Vario does not rotate. Is it possible to do a aftermarket modificati

praxim said:
The web page provided also mentions turning the tailstock up to 2.5 mm for taper-turning. Is that not what is meant by conic sections, or is the adjustment there insufficient?

Excuse my newbyness, I am learning as we go and saying what I think to be the case is a fast way of getting corrected or confirmed.[/QUOTE/]

Newbies are always welcome here. Yes, Conic Sections means Tapered Sections.

"Billy G"
Click to expand...
 
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