Motor Lathes

[TC3 Benjammin]

I know this topic has been discussed before, but I think it's a good one to resurrect (sp?).

Anywho.

I want to buy a modified motor lathe. What lathes to you guys have/recommend? I don't race, but I have enough motors to warrant buying one.

Do I really need a diamond bit? Does it really make that much of a difference?

Also, when putting the arm back in the can, how do I know I put it back in properly (aligning the brush hoods)? I've screwed up a few motors by doing this improperly.

Thanks for any help!

[ChazMan]

Well I have used a Trinity Tru Lathe 3, and Cobra Lathes. Both work very well, I'm not sure you can really go wrong with a lathe, but they are deffinately a very nice thing to have. And as for your motor timing, I would suggest just marking your endbell and can before you dismantle it, then that will give you a good idea of where to start when you put it all back together if you have to re-adjust it.

ChazMan

[Fafnir]

I asked my father the question (tool and die maker 20+yrs) regarding diamond vs carbide bits, and was told as long as my lathe is set up correctly, no vibrations correct blade height etc I would not be able to tell the difference between a cut made with a Diamond blade and a Carbide blade. The only real difference between the two as far as I can see is the Diamond blade will last longer, unless of course you chip it. If you would like to go with the diamond bit I would reallI have the trinity tru lathe and have been really pleased with it so far. However if you have extra money go with the Hudy as it really is a first class product.

[TSR6]

I use the Hudy Tech Lathe,and have had no problems yet. I was once told that a lathe is only as good as the nut behind it, so make sure with whatever lathe you get, take your time, and do it right.

Diamond bits last longer, much longer. I have a diamond bit, and have never used carbide. My personal "spin" on it is to either buy quality once, or buy cheap many times.

-Troy

[chizzler]

Originally posted by TSR6
I use the Hudy Tech Lathe,and have had no problems yet. I was once told that a lathe is only as good as the nut behind it, so make sure with whatever lathe you get, take your time, and do it right.

Diamond bits last longer, much longer. I have a diamond bit, and have never used carbide. My personal "spin" on it is to either buy quality once, or buy cheap many times.

-Troy

same lathe here, works sooo well! :)
but iguess any lathe can work just as well, just it depends on the time you take with it and how care ful you are..;)

[qua77ro]

I had a diamond bit Hudy Tech lathe myself, not sure where it went... anyway the thing worked great... it can cut comms on even 550 motors(emaxx stuff).

[stamp2tc3]

The carbide bit that came with my Tru-Lathe 3 was cheap, so I went and bought a new carbide bit at a machine shop. It cost me $2.79 and I have cut 30-40 comms and it has no sign of wear and cuts great. Carbide bits are good if you get a quality bit.
Peace Out

[Northerner]

i have been doing a lot of looking and research on lathes, and it looks like the Hudy is the way to go!! im going to get the tech lathe with the axial support and since i already have a diamond bit i will use that!

http://www.hudy.net/products/lathes/


*photo curtesy of Hudy website*

[McGuiver]

I agree with Fafnir father. I am also a machinist. I'm a gear machinist. I wouldn't use a diamond insert to cut copper. It is soft. You use Diamonds to hard turn materials (heat treated items), usually steels or other hard, hard stuff. The diamond bit is just a waste of money. Diamond inserts at work go for upwards of $90.00 plus per insert. A carbide insert goes from about $5.00 on up. You can even get carbide inserts with special coatings, to get them almost as hard a diamond. The problem is the harder the insert the more brittle it is, and more likely to chip.

I use our Hardige tool lathe at work to cut my comms at work. No sense in buying a lathe when they are all around me. Even with the copper comm heat treated to its hardest, you can still cut it with HSS (High Speed Steel) or M42 (Cobalt Steel). It is just a guimick to get you to spend more money on a diamond bit.

On the lathe at work I just make sure the comm is indiacated within .0002". The truer the better. You don't want your comm to be pushing the brushes up and down. To much run-out and your in trouble.

[YZ]

I bought a Hudy Tech after only a few weeks on racing electric. BEST INVESTMENT I EVER MADE IN ELECTRIC RC. I use it all the time. Keeping my comms in good condition also helped to reduce wear on my brushes as well.

As McGuiver said, unless you really want that diamond bit there is no real reason to have it. I have a few family members who have spent most of their lives working lathes. I know they know their stuff. They asked me what I was cutting and said all I needed was carbide. Used properly it will last a long time.

[chizzler]

Originally posted by qua77ro
I had a diamond bit Hudy Tech lathe myself, not sure where it went... anyway the thing worked great...

good one! :D ;)