AMEN MILES, Your answer hits the mark, right on! It is like when the race
car driver asked his motor builder how much it was going to cost for a
better motor, motor builders reply was,"how fast do you want to go"? Buy
what you can afford and enjoy working with it! I've had my "china" 7" X 12"
lathe for over 6 years and it still does anything I ask it to. Just don't
try to do something it was not intended for.
Doug
-----Original Message-----
From: Jonathan Peakall
Sent: Wednesday, December 23, 2015 8:31 PM
To: Tesla Coil Mailing List
Subject: Re: [TCML] Wanted tabletop metal lathe
I agree, and you just saved me a good bit of typing. I have a china lathe
and it is quite useful for some things and other things I do on my friends
"real" lathe. I have no room or money, so it is a lot better than nothjing
for me.
Jonathan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Lux" <jimlux@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, November 23, 2015 4:09 PM
Subject: Re: [TCML] Wanted tabletop metal lathe
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.
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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