Modifications and Improvements to a Unimat SL 1000 Lathe

[Paul Jones]

Mr. Pete,
I think of all the improvements I added to this lathe, it was the continuous duty U-100 motors that were the most important changes. The the U-100 motors can run for hours without any need for shutting down for a cooling off period. The original Unimat motor was designed for intermittent duty with a duty cycle of ~80% (e.g., 8 minutes on and 2 minutes off). If the motors become very hot to the touch (~130 to 140 degrees F) then let them cool or risk destroying the motors. The U-100 motors make the machine fun to use and takes the worry out of ruining the motors due to over heating.

I wish you success with your changes. Post your improvements as you complete them so we can see the progress.

Thank you for the feedback, Paul Jones