I have been interested in the ongoing conversations about machining tools. The main focus has been on the machine. You are forgetting one thing, the operator. You can have an expensive, accurate machine and turn out garbage if you don't know how to run it. On the other hand, you can have a cheap POS and turn out fairly good work if you are careful and know what you are doing. Fairly, but that is a very subjective word. It really depends on what you are defining as "accurate". It does not take a $50,000 CNC lathe to turn a bushing. I have been doing production work with my POS Enco lathe and have achieved all the specs I have to work with, but here again, it depends on what you want to do. I can constantly turn out .001 work, but more than that forget it. That is well within most work that is needed.
Good luck.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: msweeney23@xxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Tue, 24 Nov 2015 09:37:19 -0600
> To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [TCML] Wanted tabletop metal lathe
>
> I see so many conflicting opinions on this topic even more so than table
> saws.
>
> For me the most important features will be accuracy and quality. Yes
> thats loaded but i mean even a smaller lathe for softer metals would be
> better if its highly accurare.
>
> I cant stand lack of attention to quality and it drives me nuts i obsess
> over it.
>
> The Sherline mini lathes look decent and they have CNC/stepper conversion
> options which is really nice. They do look a bit weak though with lots of
> aluminum.
>
> I wish the geek group was closer i could get a look at some quality tools
> :)
>
> One thing to keep in mind is i want to use these tools to build better
> versions of themselves.. so building a more accurate lathe with a less
> accurate lathe.. impossible?
>
> ----- Reply message -----
> From: "Stan Gray" <wsmg@xxxxxxx>
> To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [TCML] Wanted tabletop metal lathe
> Date: Mon, Nov 23, 2015 9:56 PM
>
> I bought one at a rummage sale once for $75 and it was an excellent
> little 4". I forget the bed length, I think it was around 18". It was a
> old Atlas that Sears sold as a Craftsman probably from the 50s to 60s. It
> was all metal not like the piece of s*** they switched to that had a lot
> plastic parts.
>
> From: bill <william_b_noble@xxxxxxx>
> To: 'Tesla Coil Mailing List' <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Monday, November 23, 2015 8:07 PM
> Subject: Re: [TCML] Wanted tabletop metal lathe
>
> I will point out that "real" metal lathes aren't always expensive - I
> bought
> a 100 year old one for $20 at a garage sale, so it is probably worth
> looking
> around. By the way, also avoid like the plague the little atlas lathe
> that
> sears used to sell - it is one of the worst of the worst.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tesla [mailto:tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jonathan
> Peakall
> Sent: Wednesday, December 23, 2015 5:32 PM
> To: Tesla Coil Mailing List <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> 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.
>>>>
>>>> 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/5100
>>>> http://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?hlSe
> llerId=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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>>>>> Tesla mailing list
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>>>>> http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
>>>>
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>>
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