Vacuum Chuck Modification For Nova Neptune Lathe

In this video I help out one of the members of the woodturning guild. He purchased a new Nova Neptune Max lathe, but they changed the metal handwheel design and he can not fit a vacuum coupling to the hand wheel. We modify a hand wheel from another Nova lathe model to work with the Neptune so that he can fit and use a vacuum chuck.
Also, I make a vacuum coupling and the associated vacuum pipe fittings so that I can use vacuum chucks on my lathe. I demonstrate how a vacuum disc is used to remove the tenon from a bowl.

[@kieranfitzgerald5688]

What a pro. Really good explanation of what you are doing.

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

Thanks Kieran.

[@BensWorkshop]

How a vacuum chuck works is moderately obvious. The why less so, so thanks for sharing! In the UK we use a plastic weld type glue to join that type of pipe together, though that would not work for joinng to the vacuum's hose.

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

Thanks Ben. In NZ we use plastic weld glue on those water pipe joints as well. I used the silicone sealer as that is what I had on hand.

[@BensWorkshop]

@@thehobbymachinistnz Fair enough. If it works it works.

[@rickpalechuk4411]

Nicely done
Thanks for sharing
Cheers

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

Thanks, and no problem.

[@ChirpysTinkerings]

Pretty cool, I could have used one of those to turn a few things in the past, lol. Ive had to turn parts like that back piece before where you couldnt really hold it very well in the chuck, so I usually just took a disk and faced it and turned a boss on it that fit into the inside of the pulley with a snug fit, then stick a stud/bolt through the bore with a washer to hold it in place. Just turn the washer down to the OD of the part as youre turning it and youre good to go for threading or whatever.

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

That is a good tip, thanks.

[@Preso58]

That works great. Nice bowl too.

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

Thanks Mark.

[@thinusoberholzer794]

Great video, Jon. Thanks for sharing.

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

No problem. Thanks Thinus.

[@What_Other_Hobbies]

This model is currently not available in the US. Beta preorder was close several months ago, and shipment should arrive to preorder customers soon if not already. I got mine yesterday. I am surprised how early you received yours.

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

I'm not sure of the reason, but I think they were released in New Zealand first.

[@kevinwatts73]

Great video Mr JP. How on earth did you find the right sized bearing to fit?? Must have a little stash, huh??

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

Thanks Kevin. Yes, I have more of a big stash. I was lucky enough to receive a heap of brand new bearings that were being thrown out in a company clean up (it would be criminal to throw them out). Some bearings are the right size which is good.

[@rustynorley6885]

I'm thinking about getting the Nova Neptune bench top lathe with the bed extension. I have researched this lathe extensively, if fact I have researched all direct drive lathes. Can you please tell me 1 disadvantage of direct drive lathes. Thank you.

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

Thanks for the question. I am quite new to woodturning myself, and the Neptune is quite new so I have limited knowledge on this lathe. I have a direct drive Orion lathe made by Nova and I have had no issues at this point. I don't know of any disadvantages with direct drive lathes. The Nova lathes do have a lot of power at low RPM. But, I don't know if that is the same case for other brands or not.
In one of my other videos I help a person change the bearings on an old Nova lathe. It turns out that the bearings were not the issue as the agents said. In the end the agents swapped out the controller board and he was up and running again. So I guess that a disadvantage of direct drive vs pulleys is that the electronics could fail. But in terms of usage, direct drive is very good.