New toy: Setting up Colchester Student lathe

[m_c]

Mutli-viscosity oils such as 10W40 have viscosity modifiers so the viscosity remains more constant over temperature change.
A 10W40 oil acts like a SAE10 oil at 25degC, and a SAE40 oil at 65degC (at least I think that's what the temps are, but they're maybe 5deg of!).

Engine oils also have a lot more additives and detergents (with the exception of the more specialist SAE oils aimed at small engines/classic engines), which there is a possibility may cause issues with some seal types, and the detergents can dislodge drit/grime that would otherwise be sitting causing no problems.

Hydraulic oil on the other hand, is pretty much one of the purist oils you can get, with minimal additives, and certainly no viscosity modifiers.

[Jonathan]

...10W40 oil acts like a SAE10 oil at 25degC, and a SAE40 oil at 65degC...

How hot should the headstock get - not 65°C? At the moment it's a little warm, but not excessively.

Engine oils also have a lot more additives and detergents (with the exception of the more specialist SAE oils aimed at small engines/classic engines), which there is a possibility may cause issues with some seal types, and the detergents can dislodge drit/grime that would otherwise be sitting causing no problems.

I've searched on other forums and it looks like other people have used it. Some of the additives might be beneficial...

I'll get the hydraulic oils for £13.71 off eBay to be safe. It doesn't say in the manual how much is required, but I should think 5L of each is plenty.

[Jonathan]

First useful parts I've made on the lathe:



Socket spanner for the toolpost, I made the socket ages ago with the rotary table on milling machine before I converted it to CNC. It happened to fit the toolpost nut

Second is two small pins for my rc car, 2.8mm diameter - 45mm long. I have not got an MT3-2 adapter so can't use my centres yet so had to do it unsupported. It worked fine though. One of them is stainless steel by accident! They hold the wishbones on - the original is just a simple bar that keeps falling out.