Teknatool International - Nova DVR 3000 Lathe
The Nova DVR lathe features a digital variable reluctance motor (DVR) with electronic speed control and a rotating headstock for outboard turning.Teknatool International, the New Zealand maker of lathes and chucks, has come out with an updated version of its popular Nova lathe. The Nova DVR 3000 has several special features, among them a digital variable reluctance motor and electronic speed control.
Unlike motors on conventionally designed lathes, the motor on the DVR 3000 is built around the headstock spindle. Effectively, then, the shaft of the motor and the spindle are one and the same. That means the DVR 3000 is free of belts and pulleys. As a result, the lathe runs pleasantly smooth, whether you’re turning a large bowl at a slow speed or a thin spindle at a high speed. A cast-iron bed also helps keep vibration under control.
The motor, rated at 1 3/4 hp, runs on standard 110-volt current. Speed ranges from 250 rpm to 3,500 rpm, in 10-rpm increments. A broad range like that often spells low torque at the lowest speeds, but the DVR 3000 claimed full torque at all speeds. I detected a small amount of power loss at the lowest speed, but for the most part the motor provided more than enough power.
A display panel built into the headstock proved convenient. The LCD panel includes an on-off switch, speed change, forward-reverse, and controls to program the ramp-up speed (rate of start) as well as the starting speeds.
Like earlier Novas, the headstock on this version swivels. So by adding an optional outrigger unit, the bowl-turning capacity can be increased from 16 in. over the bed to 29 in. outboard.
The spindle has 1-1/4-in. by 8-tpi threads with a #2 Morse taper, the same size used on larger machines. Surprisingly, the lathe does not come with a handwheel, which often is standard on lathes, even on many midi-lathes. A 6-in. aluminum faceplate is standard and should be adequate for most work. The headstock also has an indexing pin with 24 divisions, which is useful for reeding and fluting.
Both the tool rest and the base slid smoothly and locked nicely, although the locking handle could be longer. It would also benefit from a knob on the end.
The tailstock also was a smooth slider that locked securely. The tailstock spindle has a #2 Morse taper, with 3-1/4 in. of travel, typical for a lathe this size. The standard live center is not as good as the company’s aftermarket version.
The optional bed extension increases the distance between centers from 24 in. to 45 in. The extension lined up perfectly, with the tailstock sliding effortlessly over the entire length of the bed. The optional steel stand is sturdy, although the mounting holes in the stand I looked at needed filing to line up with the holes in the lathe.
The lathe performed well, with no real problems. There were, however, a few annoyances. For example, the ramp-up speed was slow, even when adjusted to its fastest setting. Bowl turners looking for full speed in an instant might become impatient.
In the end, though, the DVR 3000 proved to be a well-built, well-thought-out machine that was a pleasure to use. Anyone looking for a lathe in the upper midprice range should give this machine a good look.
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