Have you seen what Sieg are up to?

[neksmerj]

Have you seen the latest technology being applied to lathe carriage wheels and cross slide wheels. No more squinting at the graduated dials, just gork at the LCD readout as you turn the hand wheel.

Shanghai SIEG Industrial. Co (http://www.siegind.com/news.php?id=42)

What's next, a bloody lathe or mill that just does what you tell it to, oh sorry, CNC is already here for the hobbiest.

Ken

[Dave J]

They have been out for a few years now
LittleMachineShop.com - Digital Position Readout, 2-Axis Mini Lathe (http://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=2222&category=-1536942993)

Digital Readout For Cutting Depth Kit (C2 & C3 LATHE) (eBay item 270715489387 end time 04-Apr-11 07:54:02 AEST) : Industrial (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Digital-Readout-Cutting-Depth-Kit-C2-C3-LATHE-/270715489387?pt=AU_Hardware&hash=item3f07e68c6b)

Dave

[neksmerj]

Well I'll be buttered on both sides. Thought I'd stumbled onto something new. Only a few years too late, story of my life.

What an old phart you are Kenneth!

Hang on, that's me.

[Dave J]

I have never seen one on a tail stock, could be a new idea.

Dave

[neksmerj]

Was thinking the same thing, might be a solution for Stustoys Tailstock DRO post except for the cost difference.

Ken

[Stustoys]

Tailstock would be a great place for them. Its a shame it doesnt look like you can enter a figure for blacklash. They are a little pricey as well.
Stuart

p.s. Not that backlash is likely to be an issue on a tailstock, but it might be on the crossslide.

[nadroj]

Looks like all they do is tell you how much you're turning the dial, not how far it's moving the slide.

Jordan

[snowyskiesau]

Sieg have new X2 mill on their website, the XN2. (http://www.siegind.com/product.php?id=102)
Larger table and greater travel plus a more powerful motor.
Some more pictures on the Axminster UK (http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-sieg-x2-supertilt-head-mill-drill-prod715053/) web site.

(http://www.siegind.com/product.php?id=102)