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  1. #76
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Brisbane
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    245

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    Thanks for the advice. I ended up letting the AL-1440s go, they went for $3500+ each, which translates to a delivery cost to my door that's too pricey. It's also too close to the cost of a new 960B, which I'd prefer.

    I think I'll end up going for the smaller hobby lathe for home and do any big items at work. It won't blow the budget. I just have to decide between the AL-51G and the 2506V now.

  2. #77
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    North Brisbane. Qld. Australia
    Age
    70
    Posts
    1,511

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    I was just typing a reply before suggesting the AL-960B. Not quite the range of spindle speeds as the AL-336 but I think I could live with that. I have been going to get a lathe for a while now but other things have come up preventing that. What I was going to purchase was the AL-320G, but now I have had a lot of time to think about it, I really don't like the AL-320G and prefer to get Taiwanese. So rather the settle for something I may not be happy with, I am going to wait till I can afford better. As for the choice between the Optimum and the AL-51G? I really can't decide even after looking at and comparing both. The 26mm bore and the metric leadscrew of the Optimum are a couple of good things, in my opinion.
    Nev.

  3. #78
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    241

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    Another thing to consider about the small/cheap lathes - If you find the turning quality below what you'd want (runout etc, not so much power), if you have the time and motivation you can improve them marginally by replacing the bearings with quality ones, putting in the correct shims, and tidying up any other slack.

    I don't remember seeing any mention earlier in the thread, but have you had a look to see if there are any secondhand dealers in your area?

  4. #79
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Oz
    Age
    73
    Posts
    459

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    I've had two Taiwanese lathes, bot were good machines but both suffered from excessive bed wear. I haven't had this problem with my Chinese lathes. I may have just been unlucky - twice, but it turned me off them.

  5. #80
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    7,182

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    Going back to ACME threads, last year my son showed me some Chinese made threaded rods and nuts for a 3D printer that are so well made that standing the thread rod on end and placing the nuts on will see the nuts slowly rotate and move down the shaft under their own weight. Maybe this is old hat to Acme thread users but it sure surprised me.

  6. #81
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    245

    Default

    The 2506V has a swing of 250mm, divided by 2 is 125mm. The cross slide travel is 110mm,(less than 125mm). Is this a problem?

  7. #82
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    sydney ( st marys )
    Age
    64
    Posts
    4,887

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    Only if the cutting edge of your tool is set to the centre of your tool post.

    Normally you would have the cutting edge about 10 to 12 mm out from the front of your tool post, this would then give you 10 or 12 mm plus 1/2 the distance back to the centre of the tool post as well as the cross slide travel.

  8. #83
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    245

    Default

    How are the smaller lathes like the 2506V at cutting steel? Very slow compared with, say, a AL-336?
    Is this about how fast you can go? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjtmrj8etN0
    This guy looks like he's doing a fairly deep cut on the 2506v - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cddeNutsfQw
    Any experiences on making steel parts and the lathes efficacy would be appreciated (sacc51? - you look to have a rebranded one). Pretty much ready to pull the trigger on a 2506v.
    I'm not worried about aluminium, I've seen it cut through that like butter.

  9. #84
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    sydney ( st marys )
    Age
    64
    Posts
    4,887

    Default

    Every metal working lathe will cut steel.

    How fast they can remove material depends on quite a few things , eg size of machine,ridgidity of machine,type of tooling,type of material,size of material both diameter and length etc.

    The 2nd video seems to be demonstrating the cutting of aluminium.

    As was mentioned quite early on in replies you need to have an idea of what you wish to machine so as to be able to get a machine suitable to your needs.

  10. #85
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Oz
    Age
    73
    Posts
    459

    Default

    No offence intended mate, 'sit on it'! think awhile! Understandable excitement at getting your first lathe. I remember the day my first lathe arrived back in the very early 90s, never came inside until about 2 am and didn't sleep at all that night. Give it a rest and think on what has already been posted and think about what you are going to use it for. More than likely, your first lathe will be a mistake anyway, but like I said before, you will lose very little in the way of $$$. I wouldn't go past the the AL-51 as a first. It will teach you heaps.

    Just as a matter of interest, my first AL-50 (Taiwan made) was $2000 plus freight from Melbourne to Tindal. My second was $999 ( Chinese). The Taiwan model suffered premature bed wear, the Chinese model suffered nothing - except me. Shows how much lathes have come down in price over the years, $2000 was a lot of money in the early 90s.

  11. #86
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    NSW
    Posts
    537

    Default

    I can't find anyone else on the internet mentioning premature bed wear on a Taiwanese lathe . Must have been a few beds that missed hardening process or a bad batch of cast iron .
    Did you use any tool post grinders on your Taiwan lathes ?
    The volume of a pizza of thickness 'a' and radius 'z' is given by pi z z a.

  12. #87
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Oz
    Age
    73
    Posts
    459

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    I mentioned the bed wear on here a few years ago and another member also mentioned his lathe suffered the same. Never owned or used a tool post post grinder.

  13. #88
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    245

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    Thanks for the advice, at the moment as I said I'm just making 3d printer parts and bits for robots, so I hauled home the 2506V today.

    I was just indecisive cause I was constantly thinking 'what if I try to build this' without having any certain intentions of doing so.

    I'm sure I'll learn a lot. One thing I've learnt already is it's very hard to get off a ute by yourself - I need a crane.

  14. #89
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Wodonga Vic
    Age
    38
    Posts
    633

    Default

    You can hire an engine hoist for the day from Kennards, Coates, Gumtree..etc I think it cost me $35 to hire one the last time I moved my lathe

  15. #90
    Join Date
    Oct 2018
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    2

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    AL-250G
    I am newbie in machining and have just purchased it in Hare&Forbes.
    It seems to be not bad(with some limitations) but I stuck with one problem - can not enable power feeding. The handle which should enable cross or longitudinal feed seems to be locked in neutral position. I checked feeding with threading - it looks OK and saddle moves according to thread I selected. However , can't do anything with power feed - handle 8 in manual.
    If someone has this machine, please, shed a light - looks like I have overseen some trick or condition to enable power feed.

    Thanks.


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