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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
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    Question Who has either a Hafco AL-336, AL-960B or AL-340A

    HI ALL,
    I was wondering who Owns or who has used either of the Following Hafco Lathes.
    The Hafco AL-336, Hafco AL-960B and the Hafco AL-340A. I am looking at Buying one of the Lathes at this Months Hare and Forbes Sale - March 18th to 20th / 2010. I was hoping to get some Feedback from other Members about these Machines ie What do they think of them, Did they wish they had of bought a different Model?.

    I have also asked Applied Machinery for Quotes on the Machtech Turner 310 x 1000 and the Machtech Turner 320 x 1000. So I am keeping my options open. The Hafco AL-340A or the Machtech Turner 320x 1000 providing the Prices are close are My Budget Limit.

    I will be using the Lathe for General Workshop use : Bushes, Shafts, Making Parts, Thread Cutting, Repairing Machinery etc.
    Thankyou.
    All The Best steran50 Stewart



    The shortest way to do many things is to do only one thing at once.

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  3. #2
    Dave J Guest

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    Just remember to leave some money for tooling as it does cost a bit.
    Dave

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
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    Bendigo
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    All the usual disclaimers.

    Whilst I dont own any of these lathes, I have done the rounds like yourself.

    Machtech Turner 320 x 1000
    assuming this is the the Turner 320 which I looked at about a year ago. Definately a solid looking machine at around 800 Kg. Decent looking stand. I know there is heaps more to a lathe than weight, but if dabbling with my mill has taught me anything, then mass certainly helps wrt to keeping things rigid. This would be my first choice.

    Next in line wold have to be the AL-340. To me its just looks to be better built than the AL-336.

    Good luck with it. Am sure there will be some lathe gurus post soon who can help you more with the tech stuff.

    Tooling costs---- yeah I thought the lathe stuff looked dear... until I started milling
    www.lockwoodcanvas.com.au

    I will never be the person who has everything, not when someone keeps inventing so much cool new stuff to buy.

    From an early age my father taught me to wear welding gloves . "Its not to protect your hands son, its to put out the fire when u set yourself alight".

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Burleigh Waters
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    I own a 340A, since May, 2005. I bought it part way through a Tafe course on machining. I looked for geared head; mass/rigidity; a decent throw; spindle diameter; footbrake.
    Problems: 1st had to adjust contacts in switch (tailstock end) so that the motor ran when the (forward-reverse) lever was thrown. Very simple actually. 2. Leaks oil a bit, esp carriage gear box. Learnt to wipe it up. Really nothing to complain about. That said many posts on any number of forums slag off the Chinese lathes. Taiwanese is better (eg AL 960, I think, but no footbrake). Then of course, you will get those who favour US & English lathes with very good reason. However, some of these manufacturers are extinct. Then there's the new v. second hand - now that's a whole new topic for another thread.
    You get what you pay for. I'm very happy with mine, but it's my hobby not my work. Most of us can't afford $20K for a good Korean lathe like my Tafe bought (3 of) in 2006 from 600Machinery Co. Neither do we have the time nor the skills to refurbish worn ways etc in an old machine, more's the pity.
    Cheers, Richard

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Adelaide
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    68
    Posts
    834

    Default

    I have the AL960B - will send you a PM re details.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Ballina N.S.W.
    Posts
    371

    Default Al series lathes

    Steran50
    From my experience with Hare & Forbes and other dealers there is a build quality difference between the Chinese and the Taiwanese. The Taiwanese are clearly the better machine. I have a AL-1000D lathe and it preforms pretty good . I notice in the for sale section that .RC has a AL-1000C lathe for sale, have you considered this machine.
    Bob

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Bairnsdale
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    I own the AL-340a, For the most part it is a great and accurate machine, Mine has no oil leaks at all, And only needed the most intricate of adjustment upon getting it home.
    Foot brake is essential to me now, Don't know how I ever lived without one before this.
    All in all I have o complaints at all......Exept the price I paid !!!! I arrived at H/F 4 days after theirprice rise a couple of years ago......Do you think they would negotiate?
    All the usuall disclaimers.....
    Matt
    Warning Disclaimer

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    sydney
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    Pity help you if the Foot brake ever stuffs up.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
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    Default

    I paid $4295 and then it went up big time. Now it's $5 cheaper than when I bought it.
    We remade some ally handles to replace the horrid plastic ones (went in to H&F Brisbane yesterday and there are some minor differences - no plastic handles being one). Also changed the plastic coolant nozzle for a metal one.
    Tooling has gone up less than I would have thought too. I'm very happy with the quality of the tooling I've bought.
    I haven't used the face plate, but I did true it up as it had a little axial and radial run out.
    One day I'll get around to making a qctp...
    Cheers, Richard

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    near Rockhampton
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    Default

    Makes my for sale AL1000C look cheap..

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Australind ,WA
    Age
    58
    Posts
    849

    Default

    Ive got a AL-335. It is a pretty good machine for the money although I don't test it to its limits. If I did it again I would get a Taiwanese machine and I'd get a foot brake and a DRO!....lol
    I tried to keep the cost down when I bought it ( as you do...) so now I would not let my wallet influence my decision ( within reason.

    Sterob)

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Mallacoota,VIC,Australia
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by krisfarm View Post
    Steran50
    From my experience with Hare & Forbes and other dealers there is a build quality difference between the Chinese and the Taiwanese. The Taiwanese are clearly the better machine. I have a AL-1000D lathe and it preforms pretty good . I notice in the for sale section that .RC has a AL-1000C lathe for sale, have you considered this machine.
    Bob
    HI Krisfarm, As much as I would like an AL-1000C I can't afford it. The lathe .RC is selling would be a good Buy for someone though. Taiwanese Machines have always been better, but the Chinese Machines are always getting a lot better. I have a Chinese TopTech DM-45 Mill Drill (bought from Standaco). I am quite Happy with it, the Table is very Accurate. It would be a better Machine though if it had more Speed Steps.
    All The Best Steran50 Stewart

    The shortest way to do many things is to do only one thing at once.

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Mallacoota,VIC,Australia
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    Quote Originally Posted by rpepper View Post
    I paid $4295 and then it went up big time. Now it's $5 cheaper than when I bought it.
    We remade some ally handles to replace the horrid plastic ones (went in to H&F Brisbane yesterday and there are some minor differences - no plastic handles being one). Also changed the plastic coolant nozzle for a metal one.
    Tooling has gone up less than I would have thought too. I'm very happy with the quality of the tooling I've bought.
    I haven't used the face plate, but I did true it up as it had a little axial and radial run out.
    One day I'll get around to making a qctp...
    Cheers, Richard
    HI rpepper, I take it You mean the AL-340A ?. Are You Happy with the Machine ?. I had the same thoughts on the Coolant Nozzle, if it came with a Plastic one I would change it to a Metal Coolant Hose. You say the Face Plate had Axial and Radial runout, what were the 3 and 4 Jaw Chucks Like ?. The Aluminium Handles sounds like a good idea - I thinkYou would get a better feel with them than Plastic ones.
    All The Best steran50 Stewart

    The shortest way to do many things is to do only one thing at once.

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
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    Mallacoota,VIC,Australia
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Dave J View Post
    Just remember to leave some money for tooling as it does cost a bit.
    Dave
    HI Dave J, Yes the Tooling does cost a Bit. I have some 12mm Tools that would be okay for the Al-960B , AL-336 and the MachTech Turner 310 x 1000. They would be usable, but not really suitable though for the AL-340A. At least Metal lathe Tooling doesn't Cost as much as Milling Machine Tooling. I know when I bought My Mill Drill, My Boss (Qualified Fitter & Turner) told Me the Tooling never stops on a Mill. He is right, there is always a different Cutter or attatchment needed.
    All The Best Steran50 Stewart

    The shortest way to do many things is to do only one thing at once.

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Burleigh Waters
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    56

    Default

    Hi Stewart,
    Yes, it's the AL340A. The plastic coolant "hose" was difficult to adjust finely for position and it leaked I think. It was messy IIRC.
    The plastic handles were replaced because one was split or the internal thread was no good. It became an exercise in itself, both on the lathe and for tapping threads - easy in aluminium with my $15 tap set POS. Later bought a more expensive metric set from Gasweld Tamworth.
    It now looks like the plastic handles are no longer fitted.
    The 3 & 4-jaw chucks seem quite good. I'm a bit lazy, don't use the 4-jaw much because I use bright steel, aluminium or brass (round & hex). I would definitely use the 4-jaw for black steel, & of course, square stuff.
    I have not run an indicator on the 3-jaw, however it seems to run true enough. The faceplate had a visible wobble. My Tafe teachers said that was pretty normal and just said to machine it in the lathe. I did punch a mark on the face plate and the back plate to line it up again subsequently.
    I use a dial indicator to set the compound to turn a taper (MT3) and it has produced a fairly accurate result. I have run some metric threads and have had no problems for what we've done so far. (External threads only.)
    As I've said before on this thread and others, I am very happy with it.
    You could machine some tool holders to fit the AL340A. I wonder if a rectangular cross section (16 wide by 20+ to start) would eliminate packing under, like with the 16 mm holders?
    Cheers,
    Richard

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