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Build Thread - BV20L 9x22 Lathe CNC Conversion
Many years ago I purchased an incomplete BV20L 9x22 lathe from eBay, (I think it is 9x22, it's hard to find specs) it was missing a few items such as the electric motor, motor pulley, chuck, various gears for thread cutting and the tailstock but apart from that all appeared to be in good condition.
The missing items besides the tailstock (which I will try to track down eventually) didn't bother me as I planned to convert it to CNC as you all know a lot of items are discarded during this process.
So this thing has been sitting in my way ever since, I’ve moved it around various parts of the garage over the years.
I've decided it is time to do something about it as it will be handy to have a CNC lathe around.
So figure I will start a build thread on it that will hopefully motivate me to start and hopefully finish it.
Thankfully over the years I have also collected a bunch of parts so I should actually have most of it to piece it together.
Anyway here are a few photos.
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Re: Build Thread - BV20L 9x22 Lathe CNC Conversion
So I set it up on the stand today. It is just sitting there at the moment. The stand was originally designed for a smaller lathe so I will have to modify it to suit. I plan to have the lathe fully enclosed, running coolant and a chip tray on slides. I would also like to have it on caster wheels for moving around if need be and levelling feet when actually using it.
I also took a photo of the VFD and motor I will be using, well at this stage anyway.
The motor is a 1.1KW with 24mm shaft and the VFD is a 1.5KW Powtran Vector Drive VFD
The motor mount plate will need some modifications as it is a different bolt pattern.
Still need to decide what to do about the pulley setup as well. The current setup I believe uses A belts. Would a toothed belt setup be better or a combination of the two. A belt and toothed?
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Re: Build Thread - BV20L 9x22 Lathe CNC Conversion
Not much progress but I did manage to get the new motor mount made and motor mounted. I had to make a new mount as the new motor is much larger than the older one.
I decided to mill the bracket so it fit between the head stock and the foot of the lathe.
I drilled and tapped 4 new holes in the casting as I was not happy with the ones they were done at the factory. It seems as if they just picked up a drill and randomly drilled them. They don't line up with each other!
Re: Build Thread - BV20L 9x22 Lathe CNC Conversion
Now I need to work on some sort of tensioner for the belt as I decided not to incorporate the tensioner in the mount like it was originally. One this is done I will temporary connect up the VFD and run the spindle.
Re: Build Thread - BV20L 9x22 Lathe CNC Conversion
go to the auto store and pick up at belt tensioner. They are a)cheap b)already have a spring integrated c)have sealed bearings d) easy to mount
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Re: Build Thread - BV20L 9x22 Lathe CNC Conversion
CS900: That's a good idea, I think I will eventually go down that track, might even have a old timing belt tensioner laying around somewhere.
For the moment though I found a old and crude tensioner in my junk pile that will be enough to get the spindle running. Photos below.
Eventually need to decide what to do about the pulleys as well. Do I stay with V belts or should I go with a toothed belt or serpintine belt setup?
Would it be a good idea to use step pulleys so I am able to have a high and low range or won't this be necessary on a CNC lathe? If so what diameter pulleys should I be looking at?
Re: Build Thread - BV20L 9x22 Lathe CNC Conversion
I know your latest pictures show only a quick attempt at a tension system, but just for the record, any final iteration should be pushing the belt in, maximizing wrap on both sheaves and should be located on the predominant slack side of the belt. This of course would require a flat idler pulley.
Stuart
Re: Build Thread - BV20L 9x22 Lathe CNC Conversion
atomarc: Thank for the advice, I probably never would have thought to do it that way. I will definitely go with your suggestion.
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Re: Build Thread - BV20L 9x22 Lathe CNC Conversion
Quote:
Originally Posted by
robgeorge
CS900: That's a good idea, I think I will eventually go down that track, might even have a old timing belt tensioner laying around somewhere.
For the moment though I found a old and crude tensioner in my junk pile that will be enough to get the spindle running. Photos below.
Eventually need to decide what to do about the pulleys as well. Do I stay with V belts or should I go with a toothed belt or serpintine belt setup?
Would it be a good idea to use step pulleys so I am able to have a high and low range or won't this be necessary on a CNC lathe? If so what diameter pulleys should I be looking at?
V belts will transmit a surprising amount of torque when tensioned properly. I don't think there is anything wrong with the belt you have there (other than atomarc comments, which i also would have overlooked!). I run a veblet on my little 8" cnc, and have never had a problem, not even with threading operations.
I do think at least 2 speed ranges is a good idea if you plan on working with a diverse range of materials. Your max speed, or high "gear", will be set by the speed rating of your chuck, but you'll probably want the extra torque of a low "gear" if you ever do larger diameter turning or harder materials.
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Re: Build Thread - BV20L 9x22 Lathe CNC Conversion
Yeah will defiantly go with the two speed (High/Low) just need to work out what size pulleys to use.
Yesterday I wired up the VFD and had the spindle running, because that original tensioner I had on there doesn't run bearings it didn't run very well, it was was very loud and wobbled a lot.
So I decided to spend a few hours making another temporary one with a cam follower type bearing. It runs smoothly now, there is still some gearing inside the head stock that probably could come out as well to bring the noise down even more. Hopefully I did this one right.
Re: Build Thread - BV20L 9x22 Lathe CNC Conversion
looks great!
I'm going to ask the obvious question...whats wrong with the pulleys that are on there now?
Re: Build Thread - BV20L 9x22 Lathe CNC Conversion
Nothing really wrong with them. Though the way it is setup now there is only 1 speed as only 1 of the grooves on the 3 step spindle pulley lines up with the motor pulley.
That is easy enough to fix with a smaller spacer behind the pulley.
Was just thinking if there is a better alternative to V Belts I'd go that way.
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