Cogsy
Well-Known Member
Last night I was happily turning away on my Chinese mini-lathe and I needed to do a quick check of the part.
I spun the speed control to zero and the workpiece stopped, but I left the direction switch in 'forward'. Then I grabbed the bottom of the spindle with my left hand, just to rotate the piece a little, so I could see what I needed to. I've done similar things a hundred times before.
This time, the spindle had an uncommanded high speed start up, the chuck grabbed my hand and rotated a half turn before it stopped again. It wasn't a slow spin-up like when you turn the speed control - it made a 'thump' noise like it started at something ridiculous like 700+ RPM. If it hadn't stopped itself so quickly, I believe I'd have been off to the local hospital for repairs.
Obviously my lathe has a fault with something, but I'd be very hesitant to go anywhere near the spindle/chuck or workpiece on one of these lathes, without at least turning the direction switch to 'off' and I'll be pressing the e-stop as well.
I spun the speed control to zero and the workpiece stopped, but I left the direction switch in 'forward'. Then I grabbed the bottom of the spindle with my left hand, just to rotate the piece a little, so I could see what I needed to. I've done similar things a hundred times before.
This time, the spindle had an uncommanded high speed start up, the chuck grabbed my hand and rotated a half turn before it stopped again. It wasn't a slow spin-up like when you turn the speed control - it made a 'thump' noise like it started at something ridiculous like 700+ RPM. If it hadn't stopped itself so quickly, I believe I'd have been off to the local hospital for repairs.
Obviously my lathe has a fault with something, but I'd be very hesitant to go anywhere near the spindle/chuck or workpiece on one of these lathes, without at least turning the direction switch to 'off' and I'll be pressing the e-stop as well.