SC4 Faceplate on SC3 It's a squeek!

[GrifterGuru]

So after running the lathe for a few hours today finishing up a job or two (multi-materials machined), I decided to finally mount the SC4 faceplate on the new 4" upgrade spindle.

You will have to excuse the lathe, I wanted to get these photos whilst i was still mucky, rather than clean myself and the lathe, only for me to get mucky again, though I did clean the work-area off and the lathe is unbolted as a result of needing to clean the work-area and the lathe getting ready for the cleanup it needs.

It's a bit of a squeeky fit. There is between 1/16" & 5/64" clearance between the outer edge of the faceplate and the edge of the bedway according to my eyecrometer, but it fits!

This is exactly what I wanted when I dropped the coin for the SC4 faceplate. It fills the usable area, giving maximum possible use of the available swing. It stands-off from the spindle enough that fixing to it will be easy with clear access to the rear side.

Whilst I will probably only ever use it on the rebuilt lathe (when it is finished) it is nice to know that it gives everything I was looking for.

Once the other lathe is rebuilt and running, I need to set this up on it, face it, then face the rear side because there is some runout in thickness on the rear of the casting. Not sure who the heck machined it before getting to the supplier it was purchased from, but it has, at some point, been in a 3-jaw chuck.

 

[ChazzC]

Squeaky is right! Why the concern with the back face of the plate? Is it so far out that it will affect the balance?

 

[GrifterGuru]

Squeaky is right! Why the concern with the back face of the plate? Is it so far out that it will affect the balance?

@ChazzC

Yup, it is out of balance due to the additional mass in one location, bad enough that at any decent RPM above 100rpm and it is rocking the entire lathe it is that far out of balance. The additional mass throwing it out of balance covers roughly 1/3rd the diameter on the rear face.

It is bad enough that even with the naked eye you can see the edge width run out and back again, so it definitely needs sorting out before it is used in anger.

 

[SouthernChap]

So after running the lathe for a few hours today finishing up a job or two (multi-materials machined), I decided to finally mount the SC4 faceplate on the new 4" upgrade spindle.

You will have to excuse the lathe, I wanted to get these photos whilst i was still mucky, rather than clean myself and the lathe, only for me to get mucky again, though I did clean the work-area off and the lathe is unbolted as a result of needing to clean the work-area and the lathe getting ready for the cleanup it needs.

It's a bit of a squeeky fit. There is between 1/16" & 5/64" clearance between the outer edge of the faceplate and the edge of the bedway according to my eyecrometer, but it fits!

This is exactly what I wanted when I dropped the coin for the SC4 faceplate. It fills the usable area, giving maximum possible use of the available swing. It stands-off from the spindle enough that fixing to it will be easy with clear access to the rear side.

Whilst I will probably only ever use it on the rebuilt lathe (when it is finished) it is nice to know that it gives everything I was looking for.

Once the other lathe is rebuilt and running, I need to set this up on it, face it, then face the rear side because there is some runout in thickness on the rear of the casting. Not sure who the heck machined it before getting to the supplier it was purchased from, but it has, at some point, been in a 3-jaw chuck.

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Eh, reliable clearance is reliable clearance.

 

[Supergleep]

What's the size of the faceplate? I'm shopping for one for my 7 x 14 mini lathe at the moment myself. Thanks for posting pics.

 

[GrifterGuru]

@Supergleep

The SC4 faceplate is approx 178mm or 7 1/16" across the face and uses a 3 stud fixing. As you can see from the phots it makes full use of the available "swing" of a 7x mini, which is exactly how it should be in my book. it is approx 16mm thick and overall stands off the spindle approx 35mm.

A stock SC3 faceplate is approx 160mm across the face and again, uses a 3 stud fixing. It is approx 9mm thick and stands approx 14mm off the spindle.

I would recommend upgrading the studs and nuts to 12.9 as I have done not only with this faceplate, but all my chucks as well. The original fixings are rather "soft" and can easily be damaged due to multiple removals/refittings and tightening/loosening cycles.

One thing I would suggest you do when you do get a faceplate is skim the face and mark the rear boss and the spindle to maintain the same location to maintain the "flatness" you have skimmed it into, specific to your lathe (yes, this does matter). I make this mark with an automatic centre-punch. Easy to see, hard to remove and always an easy way to keep the spindle to faceplate/chuck alignment at the least possible runout.

I actually have three faceplates... A C3, SC3 and SC4 variant. I posted some phots as a comparison on a separate post.

I have kept the C3 faceplate since it allows smaller items to be held on a faceplate, though it does and will require a "reverse" adapter from 4" nose to 3" nose. That said, with additional clearance the adapter will create, it will be fine.

See here fo the details >>> Details on C3 Vs SC3 Vs SC4 faceplates


As an aside, once my other lathe is finally rebuilt, I plan to skimm, then lightly grind the face of all the faceplates, to be true and flat to that lathe.

I do also intend to make some "T-slot style" nuts specifically for use with the faceplate, just to make life easier but that will have to wait until I get the mill I am waiting to order.