Nova Galaxit Lathe #1: My Nova Galaxit Lathe is now perfect

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This is part 1 in a 1 part series: Nova Galaxit Lathe

  1. My Nova Galaxit Lathe is now perfect

In 2015 I bought a Nova Galaxi 1644 lathe as a Beta tester. I did not like 3 things about it (1)  the quill operated backwards. They sent out new quills to all buyers of that lathe. (2) The indexing sucked- you had to use a flashlight to see inside the 1/2" diameter window to see what notch you were in. I fixed that my self with a new 72 hole EXTERIOR  index wheel that I built off the detents on the wheel inside the cover. and (3) I did not like the touch switches especially in that the off and on switches were in 2 different locations. I asked the guys in Florida if I they could tell me the wires to hook up a SPDT momentary contact switch for off and on and they said it could not be done.
In 2021 The touch switches failed to work and Teknatool sent me a whole new switch box with all the electronics in it. This year the on switch took 3  hits to work . I took the old switch box and pulled out the touch switches and tried to make a wiring diagram to put in mechanical switches but I did not know if I had the right wires to the right  switches.  I called my Teknatool rep in Florida to verify the wiring and he said they were bankrupt and gave me the address of Teknatool in New Zealand.  I sent a letter and my diagram to New Zealand. The engineer gave me a list of what prong in the switch box went to what switch. I bought mechanical momentary contact  switches and a SPDT toggle for Off and ON. I made a box for the switches and wired them according to the list from the engineer. I mounted the revised switch box on the lathe and it works perfect- ONE SWITCH FOR OFF AND ON !!
Some photos of the progress below:
Here is the 72 hole index wheel with a spring loaded plunger to lock in a location:


Here is the way I have been using the second switch box with tape to keep the dust out of the touch switches and also a shot of the new vinyl touch switch panel they sent me:


Here is the box I made to house the new switches:


Here is the inside of the switch box showing the prongs and how I wired it:
Here is the revised switch box mounted on the lathe and running:

Now I can't wait for a lathe project to enjoy the new arrangement!!!!!!!!!..............Cheers, Jim

Cheers, Jim ........................ Variety is the spice of life...............Learn something new every day

Well, that all sounds great to me as a novice on the subject, so I'll be looking forward to the first project made on this lathe when posted.
Way beyond my old Delta mini lathe and me!   

Ron

Beta test, as in a free lathe? Given your work, it should have been.

The Other Steven

Great lessons for a mfg on ergonomics from a master!

Touch controls have their place, but with large tools, the feedback from a mechanical switch is critical IMO, the KISS principle applies.


Great job on that indexer JJ.  I use my laser to cut indexing holes, but haven't come up with a satisfactory method for attaching to my DVR... hate the thought of drilling into it.

If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD

Nicely done!

Ryan/// ~sigh~ I blew up another bowl. Moke told me "I made the inside bigger than the outside".