Anyone know how Dore_Westbury reduction works?

[Noddy]

This is a curiosity question.

I've seen the pictures of the epicyclic reduction assembly on Lathes.co.uk, but I'm not sure which end is driving and which driven, or anything else.

www.lathes.co.uk/dore%20westbury/index.html

It looks like it should be really simple, but I can't work it out

could anyone who has got one or built one shed some light please?

Keith

[brozier]

Hi Noddy,

I have a set of drawings in pdf if that will help. PM me and I'll email it to you....

I didn't build my DW so couldn't describe how it works that well. All I know is you pull out the two vertical pins to engage the reduction gear box.

Cheers
Bryan

[Noddy]

Thanks Brian,
PM sent

Keith

[Prowe]

Very noisily - so much so that after building the D/W some thirty years ago, I have never used the reduction gears. The suppliers of the kit (sorry can't remember their name) did supply a little jar of "special" grease with the kit, but it made no difference to the noise whatsoever.
Apart from this I am very happy with the D/W as a piece of workshop kit, it is more than ample for my needs as I don't build anything larger than 31/2" locos, however I have been know to cast longing looks at some of the mills that are available off the shelf nowadays.
Regards to all,
Phil

[Noddy]

Thanks Brian,
The drawings look really good, I'm just printring them now.

Phil,
Does yours have the plain or the helical teeth on the reduction gears?

Keith

[brozier]

Hi Phil,

Was your DW fitted with straight cut gears? I think that later ones had helical cut gears which are much quieter.

I very pleased with mine, it's done everything I've asked of it.

Cheers
Bryan

[dscott]

I never used the reduction gearbox, so happy to have it running for 25 years, I am moving it upstairs and it is having a new base built for it. Gemma and Boxhill done on it.

Make X and Y stops for it, they save hours of problems and broken cutters.

David

[wayne]

on a Mk1 you have two pins inserted from the underneath of the gear hosing for high speeds, for the low speeds remove the pins and fit them in the side to lock the lower aluminium gear case from moving to leave the pulley to turn. note on top of the pulley by the brass drive plate there is a small hole for oil to lubricate the shafts top bearing. I alwase lift the housing and lubricate the lower shaft bearing direct.

If your machine is a mk2 it had a different gear arrangement upon which i can not comment

mk1 had the fine quill feed handle on the left, mk2 is on the right

Dore engineering then model engineering services produced the Dore Westbury, unfortunately the no longer have any parts but remember the machine as dose Ivan law who told me he still uses his. As I do however the Centec is taking over more and more.

Ps has anybody ever converted their machines return spring for the quill to one directly onto of the drive pulley as per on my centec as this is far superior to the feeble spring on the DW quill housing, I recon you would loose ½” inch of quill feed but gain accurate fine quill feed adjustments.

Regards Wayne

[Prowe]

Indeed mine does have straight cut teeth, which obviously contributes to the noise level. I was not aware that the MKII had any changes made to the gearbox, sounds like a vast improvement.
Wayne, I am interested in you return spring problem, I have never seen any issue here but then I have always just tightened the quill clamp to reduce the backlash issue. Could you explain in a little more detail how the arrangement on your Centec works please.

Regards,
Phil

[wayne]

I will take a picture of the centecs spring mechanism this weekend as a picture speaks a thousand words

[wayne]

Jul 11, 2008 20:37:59 GMT wayne said:

I will take a picture of the centecs spring mechanism this weekend as a picture speaks a thousand words

Unfortunately we have had a bereavement in the family so it may be another week or so be for i get into the workshop to take some pictures

[wayne]

As promised hear are picture of my centec's return quill return spring the first pick shows the spring/quill cover removed, photo two shows the quill extended position (just short of its full extension)


This setup could be easily applied to the Dore Westbury, as I believe the original spring on the DW is insufficient compared to the centec. The centec is a fare more positive feel and has a greater accuracy of fine quill adjustment without nipping the quill lock to provide restance.

[Prowe]

Many thanks for taking the time to post the pics Wayne, the operation looks quite simple and I will now see how easily I can adapt the idea on my D/W. Anything is going to be an improvement on the existing naft external spring which I find gets in the way and has never been strong enough to effect a return.
Regards

[Noddy]

Bryan,
Do you still have the book of destructions for building the thing?

I've just tried Ivan Law, and he doesn't have any books left.

Apparently he designed and cut the helical gears himself, with helix angles calculated to cancel any end thrust, so thrust bearings would not be needed.

Keith

[gee]

Westbury Mill.

Book & Drawings Here Ebay...

Item number: 270340591113


Cheers.

[brozier]

I've uploaded the book and drawings as PDF to this yahoo group:

groups.yahoo.com/group/dwmill/

You have to register to access it but it's free!

Cheers
Bryan