Thread: Hamatu Lathe

After what is probably a record time between joining a forum and actually posting I've finally got something to say.


I joined in 2007 when I was looking for some information on an old CIG tig welder and probably didn't revisit until about a month ago.


Reading this forum has rekindled my interest in metal machining so when the local TAFE (Rockhampton) were disposing of a lathe I submitted an offer. I am now the owner of a Hamatu Hat-20 lathe. Size is 17x57. Quite a bit bigger than I should ever need but I think the price was right. The lathe is still at the college, I'm still working out how to get it home.

There doesn't seem to be much information about Hamatu on the Internet and TAFE can't find the owners manual. Probably not suprising for a machine thats 40 years old.

I will be building a new home and large shed with 3 phase power in the next 18 months, Until then space is a bit restricted so it may not see much use for a while.

I will post some pictures when I get it home.

John

Welcome to the forum, thats a good size lathe you picked up.

Look forward to seeing pictures of it.

Dave

Thanks Dave.
Like I said it's bigger than I really need but when something comes along that will suit your needs down the track I think I did the right thing.
John

Hamatu are Japanese, They would have been good quality like the other japanese makes of the time like Mazak, Okuma, Mori Seiki, etc

I would like to step up to something that size myself, so you did the right thing as you would probably want a bigger lathe down the track anyway, so no need to now.

Dave

Hi R.C

I believe they were well regarded in their day.
This machine was used by the maintenance fitter so it has escaped the constant abuse suffered by the students lathes.

John

Looks a bit big for a pen lathe

High Speed Precision Lathe: Hamatu type HAT-20, mfg date 1971, S/n 710802&#59; Auction (0007-56955) | GraysOnline Australia

HI Fred

The Greys auction link lists the weight at aprox 1700kg so it's no lightweight. I will be talking with a crane company tomorrow. Hopefully one of their crane trucks will be able to do the job for me.

John

I believe the technical term is 'Stonking'. Well done.
Anyone know what's going on with this tailstock? Is that a gearbox?

I may be wrong but I think the tailstock is geared 1 to 1 or 1 to 2

It has a two speed gearbox on the tailstock. Direct drive and 5:1 reduction

I've never seen this on a lathe before.

We have them on the lathes at work no idea why that's needed driling maybe thats a ripper of a lathe btw no need to update in the future

It is not uncommon on the more modern big ones.... reduction is for using BIG drills and direct for rapid in and out...

Nice one John

It has a decent top speed too so you can do smaller work with ease, the biggest problem with a big lathe is moving them! Sounds like it weighs about the same as Blondie (1915 LeBlond 17x50)
As for the tailstock, there is a guy on PM with a big American pacemaker lathe with a powerfeed like the HM50's come with one it. I'll see if i can dig up a pic.

Edit here we go:

Thats awsome ueee.
Problem is it has given me ideas for yet another project.