Thread: Shopping for a new lathe

I had a look at this lathe at Machinery Disposals (which I expect is where you saw it) about a month ago, and it's a nice lathe except for the morse 2 tailstock (although it has camlock). It's a bit of a runt for a lathe that size.

Construction wise it was OK but I didn't think it was any better over all for the $$$s than this similar one at Paramount Browns.

METAL LATHE & STAND - 610MM BC » Paramount Browns'

Once you get to this size the change gears jump up a lot in size and quality over the smaller siblings.

The extra bed length would be handy.

Apparently the Paramount one is fairly noisy at high speed according to a few reports I read (it has a spindle gearbox for the reverse tumbler that's in constant mesh).

The Machinery disposals one has that in the QC Gbox. so theoretically it should be a lot quieter. Does this one have toothed belt drive to the motor?

Interesting spec.

Rob

Had a look at the AL-320, the Paramouunt F!-610 and the Impala 280x700 again today. The Paramount is $1695 and a pretty rough old thing, acres of bog and the bench is so low I'd have to raise it up at least 200mm to make it comfortable to use. I also noticed the leadscrew is a very fine thread - considering it runs the autofeed and didn't look to be acme or square. The tailstock is MT3, but the barrel is quite small not providing a lot of meat around the taper.

The AL-320 is $2189 (optional bench @ $275) and is nicely finished but it's big - I'll have to check to see if there is a place in my shed to fit it. Problem will be getting it around the back and into the shed. Parts are easy to get for anything Hafco. Curiously it only has a 1hp motor, I would have expected bigger for this size lathe.

The Impala is $1950 and much better finished than both. Despite what the add says, it has 125mm chucks not 100mm. I noticed the leadscrew block has two bearings and the backlash on the crosslide seems non existent, wondering if it has thrust bearings in there. The leadscrew is a course and deep square thread and runs the autofeed. It is the odd one out having no reverse tumbler gear though. It comes with a proper manual including test certificates, listing the allowable and actual run outs.

Ozmestore have the Workman CQ6125x250 @ $1690. It also has some odd specs: cuts all the usual threads plus 13tpi, it only takes 10mm tools but has an MT3 Tailstock. Unfortunately, I can't view the machine so I'd have to buy blind - I won't be doing that again.
More procrastinating needed I think.

Originally Posted by th62

It is the odd one out having no reverse tumbler gear though.

Unless my eyesight is worse than I thought, the knob on the left of the quick change GB on the Impala is the reverse tumbler.

That also means that the gbox only has three feed rates - but that's no big deal as three is all you really need. My CQ9325 is like that - no problem.

The AL320 doesn't even have a QC gbox - I would take the Impala over that any day.

Rob

I think you're right, I never noticed that when I looked today, I assumed both knobs were for the QC box. All the QC gearboxes I have seen have two knobs - one with numbers and one with letters. So it just has one 3 position knob and lots of gears to change by hand. The AL-320 has a similar setup at the headstock - a two speed pulley system feeding the geared head.

[QUOTE=th62;1671673So it just has one 3 position knob and lots of gears to change by hand. The AL-320 has a similar setup at the headstock - a two speed pulley system feeding the geared head.[/QUOTE]

You will find that three feed rates are all you need. If you are threading then you will need to change a few cogs - how often will that happen?

The AL320 DOES NOT have a qchange gear box.

It has a geared head, which is not remotely like a qc gbox - has nothing to do with the feed rate.

That's just spindle speed change.

Rob

That's what I was talking about, in essence the 320 has a (geared) headstock with x amount of speeds changed via the spindle speed lever, and a two speed pulley system driving that.

Originally Posted by th62

That's what I was talking about, in essence the 320 has a (geared) headstock with x amount of speeds changed via the spindle speed lever, and a two speed pulley system driving that.

How you change the spindle speed is inconsequential, be it belt or gears, it's no big deal.

A variable feed rate is however something completely different, and if you want to crawl along at one speed, then fine, that's up to you.

That's why they put QC gboxes on decent lathes, so you can finish the job in 1/3 of the time, and not be stuffing around changing cogs on change gears.

That's just my humble opinion, but anyone that has done any serious machining would put a QC gearbox (for feed rate) first on the list.

Rob

Read my post again. I said and I quote:
in essence the 320 has a (geared) headstock with x amount of speeds changed via the spindle speed lever, and a two speed pulley system driving that.
I made no mention of variable feed rates or quick change gearboxes. Why are you going on about variable feed rates and the need for QC gearboxes. What have I missed?

I'd go for the al320g personally. It's been around for years and is a proven quantity. Hafco can't be beat in my books.

Originally Posted by nearnexus

That's just my humble opinion, but anyone that has done any serious machining would put a QC gearbox (for feed rate) first on the list.

Rob

No, I'd put a big spindle bore and a camlock chuck mount higher up.

There are a number of ways you can deal with a missing QCGB but no (practical) way you can deal with spindle bore or chuck mount issues.

On the Hafco, I had a look 2 weeks ago. If that's the best of breed in that size range I'd be hanging out for a good used machine.

PDW

ETS Machinery in Loganholme also sell this machine re-branded as the WM280F, It is available in many guises including variable speed. sent them an email this morning. I also sent an email to Foshan Dasheng China enquiring about parts. Recieved an answer almost immediately in the affirmative. Looking good for this one.

Originally Posted by gngh

I'd go for the al320g personally. It's been around for years and is a proven quantity. Hafco can't be beat in my books.

x 2.

How much threading do you do anyway? I am very happy with my AL320G which I bought in January. the larger spindle and bigger chucks has been invaluable. I bought a 5C collet adapter for it which needs a minimum 38mm spindle bore. I think the proven ability by Hare & Forbes to support the stuff they sell is worth quite a bit. I think I got mine on special at $1925 so you might be surprised if you ask for a deal (Or wait until their November sale).

I don't think it's about how much threading you do, it's more about the ability to do it when you need it, that said, they all have a pretty comprehensive thread cutting table, I haven't checked the AL320s thread chart yet. I was wondering when the H&F sale was, five months is a long time without a lathe. I think I will try and hang out though, H&F's after sales is hard to beat and if I can get a few hundred off, all the better.

Originally Posted by th62

I don't think it's about how much threading you do, it's more about the ability to do it when you need it,

It's not about thread cutting at all. That's just a side issue you might do once in a blue moon.

It's about the ability to choose and swap between coarse, medium, and fine feed rates when turning. You can use a coarse feed to quickly rough cut the job (multiple passes with a heavy cut). Switch to medium to get close to spec, and then switch to fine to finish off.

Without a QC gbox you can't do that. Your gunna be stuck at one feed speed, either fast or slow.

Your choice, but that's why QC Gbox on a lathe is a top priority IMHO. They cut the time taken to do a job by 75%.

Otherwise it's like buying a car with one speed in the gbox - you get there but it's an ordeal.

Rob