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SurfinNev
22nd Aug 2017, 08:24 PM
Bet you are all wondering what this is. Well, once upon a time there was, I think, this clone of the Unimat4 lathes which had a Milling Drilling Head that attached to the headstock of the lathe. A bit like the larger combo lathe/milling machines you can buy.

Here's one of very few pics I can find of these -

http://foro.metalaficion.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=20661.0;attach=8280

I'll post pics of mine if anyone wants better ones.

I have two new ones of these and need to do something with them. One is to make a small drill press. Will need a base etc but that shouldn't be too dificult. Now, what to use to power it? DC Motor maybe? Any thoughts on what I would need regarding this?

SurfinNev
22nd Aug 2017, 09:02 PM
Another pic with cover removed showing pulleys.

https://img.bidorbuy.co.za/image/upload/user_images/199/101199_091229005619_DSCF1550.JPG

Michael G
22nd Aug 2017, 10:35 PM
Nev, not wishing to be nasty or shoot down your dreams, but why?
The machines don't look all that big and usually these combination machines suffer from an inherent lack of rigidity (and are limited in power). Are you sure that a separate drill press (even second hand) would not do a better job? To turn one into a drill press will require a base, a table and a motor of some sort. You will also need a column (and mounting the base and table on the column could be the trickiest part). Unless you are into making small parts I would suggest that those machines would frustrate the hell out of most here.

If you still want to continue I would suggest a small AC motor with VFD - at least you will get better speed control than the 4 speeds on offer.

Michael

SurfinNev
23rd Aug 2017, 06:55 AM
Small parts is what I want it for. Just have the mill/drill heads not the lathe. I quite often would like to make small flanges and things like that. They are quite well made really. Spindle has a 40mm stroke and a M14 by 1mm nose so collets can be used. I think specs say a spindle speed max of either 2100 or 3400 rpm. At work, now so will check when I get home. Ideal for a small indexing table I think. I have one of those that takes the Toyo chucks.

jack620
23rd Aug 2017, 08:29 AM
They look good Nev. Making one into a drill press seems like a waste though. Could they be adapted to bolt onto the ways of a larger lathe at the tailstock end? Obviously you would need to move the quill handle to the other side.

nadroj
27th Aug 2017, 03:58 PM
Does the Combi 218 have change gears for thread cutting on the lathe?

Jordan

SurfinNev
27th Aug 2017, 06:27 PM
Does the Combi 218 have change gears for thread cutting on the lathe?

Jordan

They did going by the info on the lathes.co.uk site.

Quote from there under the Unimat 3/4 section -

"Unimat 4 are all made in the same factory but given different labels for the numerous export markets; some machines are virtually identical whist others have slight modifications - presumably to comply with the regulations of different countries or to meet the specification of a particular distributor. Despite the different brand labels the clones invariably carry the model numbers MJ-189 (motor under the lathe) , MJ-189A or Combi-218 - the latter seeming to be the most sophisticated of the breed with the same bed, but taller bed feet and a modified headstock casting that can carry a Drilling/Milling unit powered from the spindle motor. It uses changewheels for threading, with an English range of 12 to 48 t.p.i and a metric of 0.2 to 1.75 mm pitch and mounts a more powerful, two-speed continuously-rated 300W motor that gives a spindle-speed range of 170 - 3400 RPM."