Atlas Lathe

Most encoders don't have absolute position encoding. That requires multiple tracks to generate binary (or more likely, gray code, which is designed so only one bit changes at a time, so it is harder to miss something).

Most rotary encoders on spindles have only two tracks -- one has only one hole, to show the index point, and the other has as many holes as needed for the resolution. If you are counting pulses, reset to zero every time the index passes. Yes, I have some encoders which give binary data, but they are a bit fragile to use on a machine tool, and in particular, they depend on a single long filament lamp to illuminate all the tracks and sensors. Those lamps are made of unobtanium, so if you design and build a tool using one, and the lamp dies, you have to re-do the design. (Yes, you probably could do it using LEDs instead of a lamp, but still getting that narrow line of illumination will be tricky, especially inside the small housing provided.

Better to have the two track encoder (index and count), and set up a quadrature detector, so you can count the counter up or down depending on which direction the spindle moves in at the moment.

Good Luck, DoN.

AVAGO makes a lot of solid state sensors. I think they are the old semiconductor division of HP.

i had a pile of salvaged encoders from motors industrial high speed printers ant mainframe tape drives, but I'd have to look for them. Some used a lamp, while others were LED. Some end up on the surplus marked, as well. I would pick one that I had extras of, if I use either used, or surplus.

An edge-lit strip of plexiglas would give you that "ribbon of light", long as you want. Could use incandescent or LED for the light(s).

Stan

With LED giving the longer life. The question being how much LED illumination would be needed to get the intensity the sensors want. The long filament lamps were run at a lower voltage so their life is longer. So probably an IR LED would work quite well there.

Enjoy, DoN.

I have an Atlas 10 by 36 lathe and have bought many parts and accessories for it on EBay, including a full set of gears. It is a good lathe. I paid $600 for the basic lathe. Now I have about everything for it. It sure comes in hancy for me.

As someone else said, for thje price, GRAB IT!

PopPop

A lot may depend on how the gears got damaged. Did it fall off a truck going 60 mph?

If simple cause and effect, my $50 would be smoking coming out of the wallet!

Paul

I was too sick this week toget back to him. He said he may want to buy a rebuilt 225 slant six that's sitting in my garage. If he does, it'll pay for the lathe and the gears, plus some basic tooling.

He finally told me it is supposed to be 10" * 36".

What lathe do you have now?

jsw

None.

O.K. I think that one could be obtained with a quick-change gearbox for threading, or the basket-of-gears change gears approach. I prefer the former, because it makes it more likely that speeds will be changed as appropriate for turning instead of leaving it at the last thread pitch setting used because of the mess and pain of building the right gear train for each application.

Which gears are damaged is important. It is easy to replace the change gears on the basket-of-gears type, somewhat more difficult on the quick change, and quite expensive to fix if it happens to be the bull gear and back gear.

But the price sounds good -- assuming that the ways are not badly worn, even if the Bull gear and back gear are damaged. If it is basket-of-gears, you hope that most of the change gears are still around and included. You may have to haunt eBay to find some replacements.

Good Luck, DoN.

Then it will be a great advance for you if it works at all.

jsw

I won't sell it or trade - but I have an Atlas lathe book.

I can help on some stuff if you get it.

Martin

Yes, A lot better than trying to do things with hand tools, or in a drill press.

Thanks. :)

Sounds like your basic TH42. PDF docs are all over the place for those. I have everything ever published for an Atlas in PDF format. Just drop me an email and I'll load you up.

have everything ever published for an Atlas in PDF format. Just drop me an email and I'll load you up.

Thanks. I got some on Ebay, but I'm still waiting to pick up the lathe. I'll let you know what it is when I finally get it. Your PDFs may be cleaner than what I bought. :)

The owner has it stashed behind a workbench, and it will be a half day's work for him to get it out. Just my luck that he's got too much business at the moment. :(

have everything ever published for an Atlas in PDF format. Just drop me an email and I'll load you up.

Im sure those of us that like you a lot..can provide some tooling and whatnot

Gunner

One bleeding-heart type asked me in a recent interview if I did not agree that "violence begets violence." I told him that it is my earnest endeavor to see that it does. I would like very much to ensure

- and in some cases I have - that any man who offers violence to his fellow citizen begets a whole lot more in return than he can enjoy.

- Jeff Cooper

have everything ever published for an Atlas in PDF format. Just drop me an email and I'll load you up.

Thanks. :)