Manx
1st Nov 2019, 08:32 PM
Hi All,
2nd post:U, have been looking over the forum at lathe info, sucking it all in.
I have had a HQ500 Lathe/Mill multipurpose machine for about 18 years now, didn't use the mill part very often as it was a little inconvenient to setup, after a couple of years I thought to myself that I should have bought a lathe only machine, I have turned a quite a lot over the years for various projects and a few weeks ago came against a restriction, 125mm chuck didn't like 60mm dia stock being screwed into it.
This started the search for a replacement lathe, most on here would appreciate the dilemma involved in that decision, AL-336D-AL346V-AL356V-AL960B-AL1000C-SM1340-TW1440-and so on, this was starting to play on my mind that I was incompetent of making a decision, after visiting a couple of places to try and touch a new machine, none of the models (except AL336D) were available (drats again).
Meanwhile I advertised my current HQ500, it sold in 10 mins, so the search was intensified.
So after drilling through a spreadsheet I created to sort the data of various models, I had a eureka moment and ordered an AL-346V, this by the way was my first choice 2 weeks prior!!
I received a reply email stating there were no stocks in Australia (double drats), more decisions, then went upscale and ordered the AL356V, will pay for it over the weekend.
Meanwhile I'm reorganizing my garage to accommodate the new behemoth (compared to HQ500) due next week or the week after.
I also have a little Sieg X3 Mill that I am currently fitting the DRO system to, display is mounted and wired, just need some time to think about the scale mounting.
I have always had a fascination of 'making something', starts with 'what do I want it to do or look like', now what have I got to make it with, oh wait, change design midstream ....... no-one ever does that in home machining.
My latest project is an Az/El rotator system for tracking satellites.
Cheers for now
Peter (Salisbury area SA)383120
2nd post:U, have been looking over the forum at lathe info, sucking it all in.
I have had a HQ500 Lathe/Mill multipurpose machine for about 18 years now, didn't use the mill part very often as it was a little inconvenient to setup, after a couple of years I thought to myself that I should have bought a lathe only machine, I have turned a quite a lot over the years for various projects and a few weeks ago came against a restriction, 125mm chuck didn't like 60mm dia stock being screwed into it.
This started the search for a replacement lathe, most on here would appreciate the dilemma involved in that decision, AL-336D-AL346V-AL356V-AL960B-AL1000C-SM1340-TW1440-and so on, this was starting to play on my mind that I was incompetent of making a decision, after visiting a couple of places to try and touch a new machine, none of the models (except AL336D) were available (drats again).
Meanwhile I advertised my current HQ500, it sold in 10 mins, so the search was intensified.
So after drilling through a spreadsheet I created to sort the data of various models, I had a eureka moment and ordered an AL-346V, this by the way was my first choice 2 weeks prior!!
I received a reply email stating there were no stocks in Australia (double drats), more decisions, then went upscale and ordered the AL356V, will pay for it over the weekend.
Meanwhile I'm reorganizing my garage to accommodate the new behemoth (compared to HQ500) due next week or the week after.
I also have a little Sieg X3 Mill that I am currently fitting the DRO system to, display is mounted and wired, just need some time to think about the scale mounting.
I have always had a fascination of 'making something', starts with 'what do I want it to do or look like', now what have I got to make it with, oh wait, change design midstream ....... no-one ever does that in home machining.
My latest project is an Az/El rotator system for tracking satellites.
Cheers for now
Peter (Salisbury area SA)383120