Mini Lathe System Cooling

[jjr2001]

The mini lathe motor was getting quite hot and the control board for the lathe did not have any cooling. Not a good way to work in Arizona in the summer. I installed a small 120 vac fan on the motor cover and had it setup to exhaust from the control box area of the mini lathe. There are air passage ways from the control box area to the motor area so I was assured of positive air flow. The best place for inlet holes was on the cover on the left end of the lathe. Should not pickup chips from here so I used a step drill (unibit) to make some 5/8" holes in the plastic cover.
The motor area is much cooler now and I no longer smell the pc board getting hot. This fan was just wired across the AC input. I use an external switch to turn power on/off to the lathe so the fan will run anytime I have the lathe power strip on. This will help cool things down even when the lathe is not rotating. The power strip is switched off when I am done with the lathe for the day.

Cheers, JR