Lathes ?

[MikeLMR]

Anyone know anything much about lathes ?

I\'ve spent around 9 months working with machine tools learning how to use (and abuse) them when I did my apprenticeship but now I am looking to buy one along with a few mates to put to use for making parts for our various projects.

does anyone have any advice ? recomendations ? I\'ve had a good look on ebay and have seen a few that i recognise from college (Colchester Student ... not likely to see any of the russian monsters we used in works training shop!!)  Ideally I\'m looking for somthing thats single phase and isn\'t too huge but then again I don\'t want somthing thats too small either. Not too sure on the budget but its not a massive amount.

~ Mike

P.S this is probably a long shot

[shaunwil]

It depends on your budget really and the type of work you want to undertake. If you are looking at doing various work then a small machine with a 6in - 8in chuck will do, with either a 4 or 3 jaw chuck ( 3 for round stuff and 4 for off balanced peices). Make sure that you have a good quality base and that there are good drill adapters and end stocks.

If you can source a liquidation sale in your area (there are plenty) then you shouldn\'t need to spend a fortune. I would say that CNC is out of the question, unless you have a resonable budget and want to do alot of repeat work. If you don\'t have experience in cnc programming on machines (like mazatrol and fanuc) then the easiest option is the manual machines.

Sometimes you will find an older machine can be alot more sturdy, they usually had heavier bases made of cast iron, but they can also have knackered motors and damaged slides !

[MikeLMR]

it\'ll be mostly small stuff,(sub 4" diameter)  I think CNC is way out of my league. I have yet to discuss budget but I am thinking £400ish ?

a full setup with tooling would be ideal really as we are starting from scratch and so much kit is required to do even a small job properly.

I will have to keep an eye out for some engineering auctions .. trouble is you tend to be on your own at these sort of sales so it helps to know what you are looking at (unlike me )

I had thought about one of these cheap ones you see on Ebay and the like but I\'m not sure If they are big enough to tackle the sort of jobs we will encounter with car sized components.

[shaunwil]

Thought id have a quick look, these may (can\'t really tell off photos) be worth looking at !

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=64819&item=3834557775&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=64819&item=3834557775&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=633&item=3834815528&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=64819&item=3835489629&rd=1

Hope this helps. Try and go for the ones with the proper base as well, they are alot stronger in construction.

[Gerry M]

I\'d say for small stuff a colchester triumph or student, something with maybe a 5 foot bed, gearbox so u you dont have to swap belts or cogs for gearing.Some tipped tools, boring bar, facing off, couple of centres, drill chuck with morse taper sleeves & prob more I\'ll remember later. You could get one with a milling head if you want or think you would have the need. we\'ve got some korean one out here at work, it does the job well, basic as hell thou

[MikeLMR]

Have been reading this forum which is giving me a lot of ideas

http://www.robotbuilder.co.uk/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=12

going to be keeping a sharp eye on the local classifieds and ebay I think

[Dan Norton]

Mike,

have you asked about at work to see if there are any old lathes about to be discarded?

Just a thought,


Dan!!

[MikeLMR]

I wish I\'d bought some of the stuff they sold off when they scrapped the traning shop  apparently it went cheap.

I will ask around tommorow, a wanted add on the noticeboard might be a good idea too.

[Dan Norton]

Yea i thought about that, shouldnt have minded a bench/pillar drill.

I\'m sure someone in HR can direct you to the right department.

Good luck,


Dan!!

[Brett]

Look in industrial exchange and mart, there are also loads of places that buy old machine tools and sell them on, so its worth checking out some of the well known machine tool suppliers.  Try giving Dugards a ring (south coast) they specialise in buying and selling and may be able to get you one or at least point you in the right direction.


http://www.dugard.co.uk/

 Dont worry if you can only get a 3p system, as you could always get a second hand inverter on the cheap.