Vibration isolator ? Yes or No.

[woodchucker]

I’m not familiar with the Clausing configuration. Is there a chance of the motor mount flexing independently from the driven pulley thereby causing vibration? Otherwise you may actually be decreasing rigidity and adding something that can vibrate (imagine chatter causing some initial vibration). The v-belt itself can absorb a small amount. More I’d want to identify the source, pulley balance being my first suspect.

Editted to add : just saw your belt post

Right now, I don't have any vibration that I notice. But my belts being toothed make a lot of noise. the original Clausing shows vibration dampening rubber, so I was thinking of adding a beefier system back, over my cut up tire tubes. I don't know if it helps, but was wondering if it's worth it.
As you can see here, they had it in their design and production

 

[Flynth]

I agree with pulsing, my lathe is 220v. and pulsing is present, but I strongly feel it is from the gear train. If I ever get another lathe it will have a belt driven spindle. But what if you do have a 3 phase driven lathe and are using a rotary phase converter, is pulsing felt or showing up in the work . Thanks, Charlie.

My old lathe has a 3 phase motor and a geartrain. There are 3 V belts (no teeth) that connect the motor to the headstock. No vibration dampening on the motor. Also there is a clutch so a number of headstock gears are rotating all the time the motor is on.

I never noticed any pulsing from the gears. It is an old slightly worn lathe with non ideal spindle so it's difficult to say if gear noise is showing in the work. I never noticed any repeating pattern.

However, the belts are a source of noise I would love to be able to do something with. Belts are quite long (1.5m if I remember correctly). And the noise is more like a fan than anything else (I think they rattle in the middle and the noise is made by the air they hit) rather than anything high frequency.

 

[Charles scozzari]

I think the major factor in gear train vibration is the initial cost and quality of the larger (1440 ) lathes. Myself included, you get what you pay for. I don't have the time but I did consider removing the gear train and driving the spindle with a belt pulley with a speed control module on a D.C. motor. It really wouldn't be that hard. I actually got really nice finishes with my 618 Atlas lathe ( sold it many years ago ) and I still use my 9" Logan for my smaller work. Again belt driven. Thanks for your reply. Charlie.

 

[woodchucker]

Here's a quick video of the noise I am experiencing from the belts. I think the teeth on the belt make the noise, and they intern MIGHT create vibration. I don't see the vibration, but based on the noise, I can only assume there is some.
View attachment PXL_20230402_150101215.TS.mp4

 

[Charles scozzari]

Try running the machine with the head at 90 degrees to see if it has any effect.

 

[Cadillac]

I’d take one belt off at a time and see what changes. Sounds like their too tight to me.

 

[woodchucker]

Try running the machine with the head at 90 degrees to see if it has any effect.

you are saying tilt the head parallel with the table?

 

[woodchucker]

I’d take one belt off at a time and see what changes. Sounds like their too tight to me.

yes, it gets better loose, but it slips like crazy, even on startup the spindle takes a while to come up to speed. Just a little pressure relief causes that. And if I go to low gear even that tight, the motor's small pulley still slips that tight. In my mind the sheaves are too small, they should have been upsized in the ratio.

 

[matthewsx]

Are you seeing anything on the parts you make? Noise will probably lessen as the belts wear in, I wear hearing protection whenever needed.

John

 

[woodchucker]

Are you seeing anything on the parts you make? Noise will probably lessen as the belts wear in, I wear hearing protection whenever needed.

John

The belts are probably from 2017, so I doubt it. As far as vibration, my only concern was, should I. I am not having a noticeable problem. I think the belts don't help.