Bench Mounted Lathe RTI TECHNOLOGIES, INC. Division of A’Gramkow York, PA 17402 800-468-2321 (ext.
Table of Contents I Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 II Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 III Checking out the Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Figure 1 Standard Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Figure 2 Optional Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 IV Initial Set-up .
I. Introduction Thank you for your purchase of a BRC500/550 brake lathe. Congratulations on your choice! The BRC500/550 is designed to outperform every other comparable brake lathe in all respects. The BRC550 is just like the BRC500 except that the BRC550 comes with an exclusive RTI feature that we call “offset step feed”. The offset step feed can be turned on or off. When off, the BRC550 operates in the same way as the BRC500.
II. Safety Before we go to the next step, some reminders about safety A. Avoid a major injury because of an unexpected start-up! The BRC500 comes with a special mushroom type red “off/stop” switch. Be sure that this switch is always pushed in when the lathe in not operating. This is particularly important when mounting rotors or drums on the lathe or when changing the belt/s. When pushed in, even if someone pushes the green “on/start” button, the lathe will not start.
III. Checking out the parts A.
Figure 1 Standard Accessories Page 4
Figure 2 Optional Accessories Page 5
IV. Initial Set-Up A. Cleaning. The BRC500/550 is shipped with a rust preventative material on the unpainted surfaces. Clean these surfaces, removing the rust preventative with a cleaning solvent. Do not use a solvent that will dissolve the paint. Do not remove grease from the Feed Screws. After cleaning, apply a light machine tool oil to lubricate the cleaned surfaces. You will need to move the tool slide outward to its maximum extension and move it side to side with the two hand wheels.
Figure 3a Tip holder and cutting tip set-up for rotors (positive rake) Page 7
Figure 3b Mounting the Tool Holder Page 8
Figure 4 Drive Belt position and adjustment.
V. Cutting Brake Rotors/Discs A. Hubless Rotors. Figure 5 shows the most common adaptor set-up. Install the Hub Surface Locator onto the arbor with the smallest diameter flat surface against the arbor flange. The largest diameter flat surface with the slots now simulates the flat surface of the hub of the vehicle. (Unlike other lathes, on the BRC500/550, special care has been taken to grind both surfaces of the Hub Surface Locator so that there is near zero run out of the large diameter flat surface.
G. Initial surface cut. With the cutting tips approximately 1/4" (6 mm) inside the rotor’s largest diameter braking surface, with each tip close but not touching the rotor’s surfaces, start the lathe by pushing the green start switch. With the rotor now rotating, by locking down one lever of the two tool holder locking levers, with the other loosened, turn the adjusting knob to move the tool holder with the lever loosened until the cutting tip just “kisses” the rotor surface.
Figure 5 Mounting a Hubless or Composite Rotor with less than 6.
Figure 6 Mounting a Hubless or Composite Rotor with larger than 6.
Figure 7 Mounting a Brake Rotor with Hub Page 14
VI. Cutting Drums A. Mounting. Mounting a brake drum on the arbor is similar to mounting a brake rotor/disc. See Figures 8 and 9. In order to have clearance for the drum, you will first need to loosen the (2) square locking screws holding the rotor cutting tool holder assembly and either: 1) Remove the entire rotor cutting tool holder assembly from the tool slide, or 2) Rotate the assembly 180 degrees so the tool holders point away from the arbor and re-tighten the locking screws.
Figure 8 Mounting Hubless Drums Page 16
Figure 9 Mounting Drums with Hubs Page 17
Figure 10 Set Up of Drum Cutting Tool Page 18
Figure 11 Tool Slide Lock Page 19
VIII. Changing Spindle Speed All drum cutting and most rotor cutting should be done at 110 RPM or the slow speed setting as shown in Figure 4. (This 110 RPM is faster than the slow and medium setting of most competitor’s lathes.) For advanced level operation, cutting rotors with less than 10" (255 mm) the BRC500/550 is designed to allow for an extra fast 220 RPM fast setting. The faster speed will produce a better surface finish, but tool life will be reduced.
