Overview
The L-1 was created for the artisan turner desiring a near ultimate machine, where
cost is not the primary issue in the purchase. The shortbed design provides unmatched
access to the work, and using the largest bowl gouge will cause no interference with
the machine. The overall design philosophy was to build a machine which filled the
needs of creating art and craft size objects.
The L-1 is not intended to be a low-cost, corner cutting machine. Instead, it is
carefully over-designed providing thicker cross-sections and using industrial grade
components whenever possible. I have tried to keep costs down, and yet provide a
deluxe machine which will, after a few hours use, become transparent to the user.
It can be built to your specs and become your machine alone. Price is no object,
but economy is.
Construction
The L-1 is a welded unit, fabricated from heavy-wall steel tubing, 1/2 and 1/4
steel plate, and is finished with a tough epoxy enamel paint. The standard working
height is 48 from spindle center to floor, however you can order a unit built to
your working height. Right off the pallet, the unit weights around 700 lb., but with the auxiliary table, you can stack on bags of sand,
gravel or steel plates to increase the weight as much as you wish! The unique 6-footed
design spreads the weight over a wide area and provides unmatched solidity, which
translates to an extremely vibration free machine. Anti-vibration pads are placed
under each foot, and offer a degree of leveling as well as shock absorption. These
pads are industrial grade material normally used under punch presses and the like.
The motor and drive are all contained within the machine, and all front and side
open areas are covered with 1/8 Lexan clear sheeting. The only moving element exposed
beyond the perimeter of the frame is the workpiece & chuck.
The bed is a very rigid 5 square structural tubing,
having a 3/8 wall. It is bolted to the mainframe via a 1/2 back plate and can be
removed for specialty work. With a 48 standard height this could provide a 96 swing!
Standard bed length is 24 (which allows about 18 between centers when using the
tailstock), however nearly any length bed could be ordered.
The main bearing is a type-E roller bearing pillow block. This unit contains two
Timken tapered roller bearings in a factory adjusted package. This is a VERY heavy
duty bearing, working in combination with a 2 dia 7 long spindle. A pillow block
was chosen as a more economical and easier to maintain unit. Of course the ultimate
would be angular contact bearings in a custom housing... The standard spindle thread
is 1 1/2-8, however nearly any thread can be cut to your order. The L-1 comes with
a Oneway Stronghold 4 1/2 chuck as standard equipment.
The Drive System
The L-1 is powered by a 2-hp 3 phase motor, which is controlled via an electronic
drive. The control requires an 8 amp single phase 220 VAC input and produces the
3-phase output for the motor. The drive is microprocessor controlled and provides
speed range from 0 to double motor speed. Adjustment pots in the drive allow the
ramp up and ramp down times to be adjusted, however this should be needed only in
very special cases.
Electronic drives are constant torque devices, and as a result, I have used a two
speed transmission to provide additional torque at the lower speeds. The L-1 has
a 1:1 direct range, and a 6:1 low range. When you feel you need the extra muscle
of the low end, just stop the machine, reach out and pull the handle into low, and
resume your work.
Why an AC Drive?