Vicmarc VL600

hughie · #1 31st Oct 2009, 01:22 AM

This one might give the Stubby a run for its money

rsser · #2 31st Oct 2009, 08:33 AM

Wow, that's one whopper of a machine.

Wonder how the beds are swivelled.

Is that a crank handle to move the tailstock?

Ed Reiss · #3 31st Oct 2009, 12:44 PM

impressive !!!!

bobsreturn2003 · #4 31st Oct 2009, 02:04 PM

wonder if i can sneak one past the wife ,might need to borrow her super to buy it though,

hughie · #5 31st Oct 2009, 02:20 PM

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Quote:

wonder if i can sneak one past the wife ,might need to borrow her super to buy it though,

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At around $7000 for the VL300 one wonders what this one will go for probably $10-12,000

Quote:

Wonder how the beds are swiveled.
Is that a crank handle to move the tailstock

Not sure if the cranks moves it up and down the bed or around and around.

But I see it has some sort of control box under the tail stock end with the stop/start controls at the tail stock. Also might be a mechanical variable speed by the look of the big lever on the headstock. Or perhaps a mechanical two speed gear box with electronic variable speed drive, I say that because if you look at the first pic it shows to black circles. These generally indicate bearings and with two shafts that close together it is most likely a two speed with some sort of dog clutch arrangement.

Apparently it can swing 1200mm, dunno the centre to centre length, you never know when you might need a decent sized salad bowl...

Interestingly tho' Ern I have a design on the drawing board not too much different if I read the design correctly. Designed along the same train of thought pens to bowls, mechanical two speed with VSD, might be wasting my time, huh?

I also note that Vicmarc received around 450k grant for research into this design. Should put my hand up for like same for tool development/lathe design as well.

Not much about it on the Oz site, I picked this info from a USA site. So I suspect its been built with a strong eye to the US market.

rsser · #6 31st Oct 2009, 02:49 PM

The vented box looks very much like the electronics for an EVS, and so far all their current EVS units have a dual ratio mechanical drive.

I spoke with Victor a while ago and he was making heavy hints about something new in the pipeline ... this looks like it.

Hughie, how about developing something like this for $450k ...

Problem: rounding large faceplate blanks
- dangerous or tedious
- time consuming
- hard on the hands

Possible solution:
Mount an Arbortech on a track parallel to the bed
Has adjustable reach to bed
Has an auto feed along the track, and preferably
Has auto step forward after each pass

What do you think?

WOODbTURNER · #7 31st Oct 2009, 03:52 PM

Saw the huge tailstock by mistake at Vicmarc's during a factory tour last March. When queried it, we were told that they would have to shoot us if they told us. The only thing they said was that it was for a 600 lathe. It was huge compared to the standard VL300 one. Now we know what it was for!
By the way, it was a great tour and we really appreciated Vicmarc for their hospitality.

Manuka Jock · #8 31st Oct 2009, 04:44 PM

Time to start buying lottery tickets in earnest now , eh lads

It seems that everything swivels on the bugga .
Tho they don't show it in the photos , the outboard turning is 2500 mm
This according to the Sawmill Creek forum ;
" The Vicmarc VL600 will be the most versatile and innovative woodturning lathe in the world, capable of turning the smallest of
pen barrels to workpieces 2.3m in diameter and 1.3m long. It will not just turn round shapes but also triangular, oval, square,
pentagonal and hexagonal shapes. The VL600 will be manufactured in Australia and sold primarily in Europe and USA (with
annual export sales growing from $700,000 to $2.7 million within five years)."

rsser · #9 31st Oct 2009, 05:16 PM

'It'll turn square shapes.'

Damn, they've nicked my Arbortech idea!

Groggy · #10 31st Oct 2009, 05:36 PM

*thud*
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Now THAT is a lathe! Can't wait to see one in action.

skot · #11 31st Oct 2009, 07:37 PM

JEEZ, SWEET MOTHER OF GOD

Does it come with an outboard attachment ...just in case you need to turn that 1.3m diameter platter!!!!!!

Might have to take a trip up to their factory to see this....and prove it hasn't been photoshopped