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On 11/23/15 3:04 PM, miles waldron wrote:
Those China machines are terrible and unusable.
I'll beg to differ, a bit..
It depends on your expectations. If you're looking at doing production
work with tight tolerances, yep, they're not what you should be looking at.
If you're looking for something to spin down raw stock to make bushings
and the like, particularly out of aluminum or plastic, they're probably
just fine.
If you're a stickler for accuracy, and want tenths of a mil kind of
precision when turning a long steel bar, or are machining gun barrels or
something, I wouldn't get one of these. Or if you want it to last 50
years, machining every day.
things you don't get on this class of machine:
lots of speeds.. OTOH, variable speed drives are so cheap now, unless
you need the increased torque from "gearing down", you might be better
off getting a VSD and living with the gear ratios you get.
screw thread cutting with lots of options. It will probably cut a few
ratios, but not all of them. If what you're interested in is making a
helical groove as a guide for an inductor, it's probably plenty good.
If you're looking to make whitworth threads to replace parts on your
turn of the 19th century Austin 8HP motorcar, probably not.
A variety of accessories.. it will likely have weird sizes, so if you
want to use that cool jig for turning hemispheres that fits on a
"standard lathe tool post", it probably won't work.
Many traditional machinists don't like these machines: the casting just
isn't that big so they lack the brute stiffness of a multi ton cast
structure, so if you try to take too big a cut, things wobble and bend.
It's sort of like using a drill press as a vertical mill (by clamping an
end mill in the jacobs chuck, and using a x-y table). The drill press
isn't designed to take side loads on the quill bearings, but, if what
you're machining is polyethylene or even aluminum, it probably won't be
horrible. The runout is bigger than you'd get on an old Bridgeport, and
the X-Y lead screws will not be as even and will have backlash. But if
you're cutting to a scribed line, and 0.01" accuracy is good enough,
then it will work.
Think of them as something between a "real machine tool" and something
like a handheld Dremel tool.
With respect to conversions..
It's all about bracketry and software. Either someone has figured out
how to hook the stepper/servo motors up to your specific machine, or
they haven't. If they haven't it's a lot of work.
On 11/23/2015 4:50 PM, msweeney23@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
I was looking at those and realize they are all made in the same factory in china (central machinery, grizzly etc)
ive seen a lot of quality complaints and am a stickler for accuracy. Im afraid id end up pulling it apart to replace various items.
Also i might like to upgrade later to cnc stepper motors not sure if its as easy on these as others.
Do you experience with this brand and model?
Thanks,
Matt
----- Reply message -----
From: "Dave Leddon" <dave@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [TCML] Wanted tabletop metal lathe
Date: Mon, Nov 23, 2015 11:53 AM
http://littlemachineshop.com/5100http://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=4959
At 09:09 AM 11/23/2015, you wrote:
Table top Metal lathe>>
http://www.sears.com/grizzly-9inch-x-19inch-bench-lathe/p-SPM1126610614?hlSellerId=29429&sid=IDx20110310x00001i&kpid=SPM1126610614&kispla=SPM1126610614
-----Original Message----- From: msweeney23@xxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, November 23, 2015 12:01 PM
To: Tesla Coil Mailing List
Subject: [TCML] Wanted tabletop metal lathe
Hi all, im looking to buy a decent metal lathe for small project
work. I want something to turn up to 3-4 inches maybe less all
metals and plastics some wood.
Used is fine if in good condition. If you know anyone selling or
have suggestions please so let me know.
Price range flexible probably not more than a couple thousand would
like to spend less than $1000.
Thanks!
Matt
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