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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2020
    Location
    Willowbank QLD
    Posts
    515

    Default Lathe sugestions

    Hello all

    I am thinking of getting a new lathe. I have a perfectly serviceable QC6128 lathe (Chinese 610mm bed and 280mm swing). Yes that comment made no scenes to my wife either.

    I am not sure what I want or if it even exists.

    My list of requirements are as follows including the last.

    - Bed must be over 600mm long up to about 1000mm max.
    - Swing must be 280mm or if less have a decent width gap bed. 250mmswing is the smallest I would want.
    - Minimum 30mm bore, prefer a bit bigger.
    - Must be able to cut Metric and Imperial threads with very strong preference to minimal or no gear changes required. All lever operated.
    - Must be reasonably to very ridged construction. It is home use but I want to take decent cuts.
    - Must be able to do left hand threads.
    - Must be able to spin above 1500 rpm.

    So far this is what I have except for I have change gears and I don't want to go backwards.

    - Must have separate control for power feed. I have to use the change gears to find the right feed rate.
    - For my last requirement, which is probably the hardest. It must have some style about it. Call me crazy but the square block look of my current lathe does nothing for me. The look of an early Sheriton lathe is like fine art to me. It must have some curves and maybe a bit of polished alloy. I enjoy walking into a workshop and seeing nicely shaped machinery. It may not be any better quality but it looks it. I want a lathe that looks like someone took more than 5 minutes to come up with the design. Bonus points if it is Australian made.

    If you are up for the challenge please let me know what I want.
    Extra bonus points if you know where on is, especially if it is in SE QLD.

    Thanks Steve

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    4,779

    Default

    Obviously Chinese is out of the question!
    Lathe sugestions

    Seriously, in terms of looks and quality you can't go part one of these....


    Of course I'm not sure if it ticks ALL of your boxes but the Monarch are a beautiful machine!

    Not sure where you would find one though!

    Sent from a galaxy far far away
    Girl, I don't wanna know about your mild-mannered alter ego or anything like that." I mean, you tell me you're, uh, super-mega-ultra-lightning babe? That's all right with me. I'm good. I'm good.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2020
    Location
    Willowbank QLD
    Posts
    515

    Default

    Of course I'm not sure if it ticks ALL of your boxes but the Monarch are a beautiful machine!

    You are right it has it in the looks department, I best do some research about the rest. Steve

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Laidley, SE Qld
    Posts
    1,038

    Default

    A Hafpos AL340D (I think its called something else now) will do most of what you want.

    But it has no style.
    Gear swaps are required between imperial and metric threads and turning.
    Its probably not the most rigid lathe ever made.

    But apart from that its exactly what you want.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    35
    Posts
    1,522

    Default

    The veem lathe was made in australia and would fit your requirements, all the others apart from Sheraton are too big.

    I think my smart and brown would tick the boxes but the bed might be a bit long. Otherwise I cannot reccomend a CVA or 10ee high enough.

    Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2020
    Location
    Willowbank QLD
    Posts
    515

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by bob ward View Post
    A Hafpos AL340D (I think its called something else now) will do most of what you want.

    But it has no style.
    Gear swaps are required between imperial and metric threads and turning.
    Its probably not the most rigid lathe ever made.

    But apart from that its exactly what you want.

    Thanks Bob, I feel that what be like settling for a Volvo when I want an xj6 Jaguar.

    Steve

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Townsville, Tropical Nth Qld.
    Posts
    225

    Default

    Have a look at these guys,
    https://whitelawmachinery.com.au/pro...centre-lathes/
    Rgds,
    Crocy.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2020
    Location
    Willowbank QLD
    Posts
    515

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by caskwarrior View Post
    The veem lathe was made in australia and would fit your requirements, all the others apart from Sheraton are too big.

    I think my smart and brown would tick the boxes but the bed might be a bit long. Otherwise I cannot reccomend a CVA or 10ee high enough.

    Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

    Thanks for the suggestions. I like the look of all of them. Walking into the shed and seeing that would be like having a super model in the shed. How long is the bed on your Smart and Brown, or what model is it.

    Thanks Steve

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    35
    Posts
    1,522

    Default

    Mines a 1024VSL the much uglier version of the 1024. Bed is 32" overall but only 24" between centers, so possibly a bit small, but the machine like the 10ee, cva etc is very large for its small working envelope.

    It does take 5c collets directly in the nose which is nice. I dont know how far your budget goes, but Whitelaw and Benson's machinery can both supply cyclematics which are Taiwanese HLV-H clones and extremely nice.

    Between 40 and 50k though from memory, but about the only nice looking manual machine still available.

    Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    35
    Posts
    1,522

    Default

    I was lucky enough to buy this off a fellow metalwork forum member, he had looked after it very well.

    Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    4,779

    Default

    Thats a very nice machine!

    Simon

    Sent from a galaxy far far away
    Girl, I don't wanna know about your mild-mannered alter ego or anything like that." I mean, you tell me you're, uh, super-mega-ultra-lightning babe? That's all right with me. I'm good. I'm good.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Toorloo Arm, VIC
    Age
    39
    Posts
    1,270

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Reidy41 View Post

    - Bed must be over 600mm long up to about 1000mm max.
    - Swing must be 280mm or if less have a decent width gap bed. 250mmswing is the smallest I would want.
    - Minimum 30mm bore, prefer a bit bigger.
    - Must be able to cut Metric and Imperial threads with very strong preference to minimal or no gear changes required. All lever operated.
    - Must be reasonably to very ridged construction. It is home use but I want to take decent cuts.
    - Must be able to do left hand threads.
    - Must be able to spin above 1500 rpm.

    So far this is what I have except for I have change gears and I don't want to go backwards.

    - Must have separate control for power feed. I have to use the change gears to find the right feed rate.
    - For my last requirement, which is probably the hardest. It must have some style about it. Call me crazy but the square block look of my current lathe does nothing for me. The look of an early Sheriton lathe is like fine art to me. It must have some curves and maybe a bit of polished alloy. I enjoy walking into a workshop and seeing nicely shaped machinery. It may not be any better quality but it looks it. I want a lathe that looks like someone took more than 5 minutes to come up with the design. Bonus points if it is Australian made.

    If you are up for the challenge please let me know what I want.
    Extra bonus points if you know where on is, especially if it is in SE QLD.

    Thanks Steve
    The bold part is what will bring you unstuck with many machines - the metric can often be tricky with old machines (especially Australian ones), and not needing to use change gears for the common thread pitches is something very few machines seem to be capable of... It was one of my requirements also, when I similarly replaced my 'perfectly serviceable' AL335.

    To be honest, your whole shopping list looks pretty similar to mine.

    A Graziano Sag 180 or SAG 14 (same machine, just minor updates through the years) will do the threading though, and meet all your other requirements (well, you decide on the last, I may be biased!). Mine is an early model SAG 180, so you do need to change one gear for 13 TPI (1/2" UNC), but all other common pitches metric and imperial use the one set of change gears. Later model 180s and all SAG 14s had a 4 position and 10 position lever, instead of the 3 and 6 I have, expanding the range somewhat. Most of the 'extra' pitches are pretty useless, and there are a lot of blank spaces on the threading chart, but it does mean you can cut 13 TPI with changing a change gear.

    The motor spins one way only, and fwd/rev is selected by a pair of wet clutch packs, meaning the VFD conversion is very simple (only need start/stop), and you can afford to run a decent ramp time to keep current draw down. Can also bump the clutch lever into the opposite direction as a brake, and ease things up to speed by slipping the clutch a bit.

    51mm spindle bore, 14" (355mm) swing over the tailstock ways, about 19.5" (495mm) swing over the not-a-gap section next to the chuck (which is roughly 12" wide from memory, can measure if needed). Came in 40" (1016mm) and 60" bed lengths. Overall length of the 40" bed model is roughly 2200mm. Weight around 1300kg, motor is 5hp. 1800rpm top speed on mine, think some were 1500rpm though.

    Both the 40" and 60" models pop up with some regularity around the place, they must have sold pretty well over the years.

    IMG_1508_1400x1050.jpg

    A SAG 12 would also probably meet most of your requirements, including the threading, although they're very boxy for my taste, and the electric clutch for every speed arrangement on the 12 can be troublesome. They do exist in Australia, but not in any quantity I don't believe.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    35
    Posts
    1,522

    Default

    I really like that graziano, the s and b needs change gears to cut imperial threads, and because its a metric latge the threading dial is incredibly complicated.

    Only other nice looking machines that work for the requirements are a
    Cazenuve, although nearly all are too big, hembrug Dr1 although that needs change gears for metric
    Schaublin 102nvm (needs changears but you have multiple feed rates at least) or 125
    Chipmaster (needs heaps of changears)
    Colchester / harrison m300

    Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jun 2020
    Location
    Freo
    Age
    68
    Posts
    141

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Reidy41 View Post
    Hello all

    I am thinking of getting a new lathe. I have a perfectly serviceable QC6128 lathe (Chinese 610mm bed and 280mm swing). Yes that comment made no scenes to my wife either.

    I am not sure what I want or if it even exists.

    My list of requirements are as follows including the last.

    - Bed must be over 600mm long up to about 1000mm max.
    - Swing must be 280mm or if less have a decent width gap bed. 250mm swing is the smallest I would want. I wanted smaller but to get my wants i ended up with a 400x1000 machine, the only other viable for me was a Cyclematic but thats more money and a bit too small. Maybe it would suit you but probably not.
    - Minimum 30mm bore, prefer a bit bigger. Very small in my opinion unless you only ever do small stuff.
    - Must be able to cut Metric and Imperial threads with very strong preference to minimal or no gear changes required. All lever operated. A biggie for me and i only need to change gears for module and DP pitches, all standard imperial and metric through levers.
    - Must be reasonably to very ridged construction. It is home use but I want to take decent cuts. This means weight and bed spacing. I ended up at 1.6 tonne and a very wide bed, 300mm, and it sure shows the benefits.
    - Must be able to do left hand threads.
    - Must be able to spin above 1500 rpm. I wanted 3,000 but had to settle for 2,500. With a D1-6 nose and 250mm chucks they had to be steel for that speed so extra cost. They had to upgrade the motor to 7hp to get enough torque for the slow speeds. It can all be done but at a cost. Mine is a variable speed with a 10hp VFD single phase.
    So far this is what I have except for I have change gears and I don't want to go backwards.

    - Must have separate control for power feed. I have to use the change gears to find the right feed rate. That goes with the territory when getting into higher quality machines. If you check out all the features included with a tool room lathe you will be pleasantly surprised
    - For my last requirement, which is probably the hardest. It must have some style about it. Call me crazy but the square block look of my current lathe does nothing for me. The look of an early Sheriton lathe is like fine art to me. It must have some curves and maybe a bit of polished alloy. I enjoy walking into a workshop and seeing nicely shaped machinery. It may not be any better quality but it looks it. I want a lathe that looks like someone took more than 5 minutes to come up with the design. Bonus points if it is Australian made.

    If you are up for the challenge please let me know what I want.
    Extra bonus points if you know where on is, especially if it is in SE QLD.

    Thanks Steve
    Have inserted a few comments amongst the quote.
    I think the Aesthetic aspects get very difficult with a new machine, cost wise, and old machines can be very variable accuracy wise.
    I went through a lot of this and went for a new Taiwanese machine. The cost ended up quite a bit, $35k, but its only money My machine is a Sunmaster TC 1640. I also included the constant surface speed option.
    https://www.sunmaster-cnc.com/pro-tc...ead-lathe.html

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Norwood-ish, Adelaide
    Age
    59
    Posts
    6,540

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by simonl View Post
    Seriously, in terms of looks and quality you can't go part one of these....

    Of course I'm not sure if it ticks ALL of your boxes but the Monarch are a beautiful machine!

    Not sure where you would find one though!
    Castlereagh?

    https://metalworkforums.com/showthre...60#post1994460

    Michael

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