quick change tool post help

[Aerohydro]

I'm trying to tool up some new lathes at school. We are getting four AL-1324 . (https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/Products?stockCode=K8251) I'm looking at this (https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/Products?stockCode=L292) and this (https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/Products?stockCode=L295). There is a dramatic price difference. Is there any benefit in going with the more expensive type?

Any help would be much appreciated.

[Dave J]

I have the larger one and while it is a good tool post and beautifully finished, if I was to buy another one it would be a BXA wedge style for around $200 posted from the US and a heap of holders from CDCO for around $10 each. The holders are sent over in flat rate boxes and from memory you can fit 14 for in a box for $45 postage.
So for around $550 you could have a wedge tool post and 33 holders as the tool post comes standard with 5 holders.

Dave

[China]

Looking on the practical side buy the less expensive type it will be cheaper to replace when the students trash them and they will trash them1

[Aerohydro]

That's pretty much my thought. In my experience, high-quality items are not usually worthwhile in a school environment. Things tend to become damaged through abuse rather than actually worn out through honest use. What I really need to know, is are these two items functionally similar?

Dave - Your point makes perfect sense, but we are not looking at setting up a vast array of tooling. Just a few toolholders per lathe will be plenty. What is the advantage of the wedge-type post?

[Dave J]

The wedge type are more repeatable, but like you say the students are going to trash them so go for a piston style like this one with 5 holders.
CDCO Machinery Corp. (http://www.cdcotools.com/)
They will work out just under $150 each set and you might get 2 sets in the one box if you are after a few sets.

The two at H&F's, the smaller one is a AXA piston style where the larger one is a Dickson style. The AXA has a piston in the middle that pushes out the tool holder onto the 2 dovetails and the Dickson style has a piston that goes into a T slot that pulls the tool holder onto 2 V's on either side of the tool post.
Dave

[takeoff49]

I'm trying to tool up some new lathes at school. We are getting four AL-1324 . (https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/Products?stockCode=K8251) I'm looking at this (https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/Products?stockCode=L292) and this (https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/Products?stockCode=L295). There is a dramatic price difference. Is there any benefit in going with the more expensive type?

Any help would be much appreciated.
@Aerohydro
Sorry to pick up this old thread, but I am wondering how the AL-1324 went.
I am considering buying one very soon, but am worried about Dave J's statement in another thread:

"With the Taiwanese lathes, after seeing a AL-960B in the past few weeks and what was under the carriage etc, I was amazed it even was allowed to come out of the factory."

Is there anything wrong with the AL-1324 you've got that's worth mentioning?

Thanks
Jerry