Alan Trout
01-30-2011, 1:24 PM
I finally finished up my handwheel for my Nova DVR XP yesterday. I finished the main handwheel several months ago. It is two pieces black Corian laminated together with the adhesive that is used in the fabrication of solid surface counters. I then turned it on my DVR. I had a bunch left over Corian when I fabricated my own countertops so I figured leftovers of already paid for materials are better than spending on new material.
I had been using the wheel just attached by two brass wood screws (not safe way to use) to see if I liked it and I would make the outer hub when I could get by my buddies fab shop to use his lathe, mill, and tig welder. I had been making some different boring bars at his shop for my hollowing system so I decided to finish this yesterday. It took a lot longer than I thought. it took about 5 hours after all was said and done.
I know there is a commercially made unit but I have one problem with it. Other than that is is a very nice unit. The problem with the commercially available unit IMHO is it eliminates the ability to use the knockout bar to hold the hand wheel. This is important to hold the spindle to remove tight chucks or faceplates. The manual says the index pin is only for light duty use such as use as an index pin and not to use it as a "True spindle lock" as damage to the lathe can happen. Where the pin in the lathe locks it also serves as the fan for the stator windings and is made out of cast aluminum. I am not willing to risk damaging my lathe so I made my handwheel the way I thought it should be made.
The wheel has a 1.250" wide bushing that I welded into the outer hub and then machined concentric to the wheel so when I make a vacuum adapter I will have plenty of register area to hold the adapter. Please excuse the less than stellar weld. I get a lot lesser practice then I did 15 years ago but it will hold for what it needs to do.
Overall I am happy the way it has turned out. It made installing chuck and faceplates a breeze and a nice way to slow down the spindle when shut off. It is also very comfortable on the hands.
I hope the Nova owner like my idea and the final results.
Alan
I had been using the wheel just attached by two brass wood screws (not safe way to use) to see if I liked it and I would make the outer hub when I could get by my buddies fab shop to use his lathe, mill, and tig welder. I had been making some different boring bars at his shop for my hollowing system so I decided to finish this yesterday. It took a lot longer than I thought. it took about 5 hours after all was said and done.
I know there is a commercially made unit but I have one problem with it. Other than that is is a very nice unit. The problem with the commercially available unit IMHO is it eliminates the ability to use the knockout bar to hold the hand wheel. This is important to hold the spindle to remove tight chucks or faceplates. The manual says the index pin is only for light duty use such as use as an index pin and not to use it as a "True spindle lock" as damage to the lathe can happen. Where the pin in the lathe locks it also serves as the fan for the stator windings and is made out of cast aluminum. I am not willing to risk damaging my lathe so I made my handwheel the way I thought it should be made.
The wheel has a 1.250" wide bushing that I welded into the outer hub and then machined concentric to the wheel so when I make a vacuum adapter I will have plenty of register area to hold the adapter. Please excuse the less than stellar weld. I get a lot lesser practice then I did 15 years ago but it will hold for what it needs to do.
Overall I am happy the way it has turned out. It made installing chuck and faceplates a breeze and a nice way to slow down the spindle when shut off. It is also very comfortable on the hands.
I hope the Nova owner like my idea and the final results.
Alan