Thread: Importing a lathe to Aus

Originally Posted by snapatap

That HP would be at the tool, with the gear reduction of the headstock, the HP required from the motor would be less, i have taken cuts like that on our 5HP lathe and it hasn't stalled (but i did shear the drive key for the feed on our old lathe). At least the hobby blokes can back the speed off a bit, they aren't under pressure to get stuff done like us pro's.

Must be some pretty special gearbox

My end of march estimate ended up to be today. Just a couple of months late
It is one serious heavy lump of iron, took quite an effort just to get it in the garage, 1.6T. Moving it to the shed will be a major task.
I thought it was 10hp but it is actually 7.5 with a 10hp VFD, just a bubba
I think it will take a day or two just to clean off all the cosmolene.
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I like it.

Originally Posted by SurfinNev

I like it.

So do I
It has a couple of things that surprised me a little.
The compound slide has backlash compensation which i have never seen before.
The CSS, constant surface speed, has a worm gear to interface to the potentiometer that adjusts the speed as the cross slide moves inward.
The brake resistor is huge. Much bigger than i expected, 450mm long 50mm diam.

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Originally Posted by oldbuggermike

So do I
It has a couple of things that surprised me a little.
The compound slide has backlash compensation which i have never seen before.
The CSS, constant surface speed, has a worm gear to interface to the potentiometer that adjusts the speed as the cross slide moves inward.
The brake resistor is huge. Much bigger than i expected, 450mm long 50mm diam.

MmsCamera_2021-06-04-15-06-08.jpgMmsCamera_2021-06-03-12-28-24.jpg

That's a different way to do CSS, both our lathes at work with it use a output from the DRO.

Originally Posted by snapatap

That's a different way to do CSS, both our lathes at work with it use a output from the DRO.

Thats what i would have expected but as the DRO is an option i was curious to see how they did it. Will connect it up today and see how well it works.

Decided to hook it up to power to test it and do the run in, 90 mins , before pulling it to bits for the move to the shed.
I just used a normal 10 amp lead in a normal 10A socket. It works ok, probably fine if i keep it under 2.5HP load.
Run in is 10 mins at each of 9 speeds. Here at 268RPM.

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Reasonably quiet in top gear, the lower 2 gears are a bit louder

Virtually no vibration at any speed
Huge improvement over my old machine

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The new toy has been stripped ready for the move through the small door but getting 2 mates together on the same day is proving difficult, wives being the problem . Another week most likely, big job so needs a weekend. Why can't everybody be retired like me .

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Originally Posted by oldbuggermike

It is one serious heavy lump of iron, took quite an effort just to get it in the garage, 1.6T. Moving it to the shed will be a major task.

Just for giggles, that 1.6 tonnes is sitting on a foot at either end of the bed, implying a bearing pressure of something like 1000 kgs (maybe 1100) at the motor end of the bed.

Is your shed's floor up to supporting the concentrated weight of your lathe? Will you need to reinforce the shed's floor with steel plates?

Also, I hope you have the rollers you will need to move the beast.

Originally Posted by oldbuggermike

My end of march estimate ended up to be today. Just a couple of months late

Mike, out of interest what were your "additional costs" for shipping the lathe, import charges, stevedoring, etc.

Originally Posted by ian

Just for giggles, that 1.6 tonnes is sitting on a foot at either end of the bed, implying a bearing pressure of something like 1000 kgs (maybe 1100) at the motor end of the bed.

Is your shed's floor up to supporting the concentrated weight of your lathe? Will you need to reinforce the shed's floor with steel plates?

Also, I hope you have the rollers you will need to move the beast.

Ian

The floor is tiled concrete so I am expecting to break a few, which is sad but $hit happens. Should be fine fingers crossed.

Mike

Originally Posted by ian

Mike, out of interest what were your "additional costs" for shipping the lathe, import charges, stevedoring, etc.

Ian
I was originally going to import a Cyclematic machine, copy of a Hardinge with electronic gearbox. They are a bit small so in the end i capitulated and bought the 16" machine from a local supplier. If i had a bigger shed i would probably have bought both but i don't so had to pick the one that had the best coverage. I used a Hardinge many years ago and they are so nice to use for small stuff.
Mike

Originally Posted by oldbuggermike

Ian

The floor is tiled concrete so I am expecting to break a few, which is sad but $hit happens. Should be fine fingers crossed.

Mike

Mike
Just remember that a broken tile or four may not provide the vibration free support that your new lathe requires.
It might be better to actually remove the tiles under the lathe's feet.
What I'm most concerned (?) about is that the floor's surface might not have the concrete density and strength that an industrial grade concrete floor should have. You may find that over time you need to periodically shim the lathe's feet to return the lathe to true level.

ian

Originally Posted by ian

Mike
Just remember that a broken tile or four may not provide the vibration free support that your new lathe requires.
It might be better to actually remove the tiles under the lathe's feet.
What I'm most concerned (?) about is that the floor's surface might not have the concrete density and strength that an industrial grade concrete floor should have. You may find that over time you need to periodically shim the lathe's feet to return the lathe to true level.

ian

The mounting pads are only 75mm diam so i highly doubt those tiles will survive. I will put it down and am expecting the tile to break immediately. I just hope the general area tiles will survive as the tile floor is nice to keep clean. I have a set of 20 ton skates that have 7 or 8 100mm wide rollers in contact with the floor at any one time so hoping that is enough.