A better lathe ....

David Urwicks Metalmaster must be a candidate if cost is ruled out as a factor.

Mike

I'm not convinced I'd be looking at the likes of the Metalmaster or any of these all-in-ones. Apart from not wishing to spend half my life endlessly reconfiguring the thing between operations, there are many compromises that make them jack of all trades and master of none, starting with rigidity.

If we I posed the "Desert Island Disks" question ie "you are only allowed one machine tool, so what will it be", then perhaps I might be persuaded. Until then, I'd have a lathe for turning, a mill for milling etc etc. And if cost were truly ruled out as a factor, I'd be ringing an industrial architect to plan the new factory!

For "old metal", perhaps it would be a Hardinge, although I've never given the question any serious thought. There are some absolutely superlative modern machine tools around nowadays that cost the same as a small house - CNC controlled, mostly.

Murray

But that could leave the hobbiest with the problem of how to get that 4" traction engine out of the spare bedroom and down the stairs without damaging the carpet

I don't think there can really be an ideal hobby lathe as the hobby itself is so varied what may suit one user would be completely impractical for another.

J

Edited By JasonB on 03/02/2015 17:47:48

The Boxford ME10 - good solid structure, big enough for most modelling before people got into 4 in TEs and half ton NG locos on 7 1/4 . Just too expensive for me back when launched, However it was aimed at the ME market and hence a second hand one should be in good condition not misused in school or factory.
Nowadays I think people are moving up in size - The Myfords heyday was when people built 3 1/2 , Boxford for 5in, now one probably is looking for a bigger machine for 7 1/4.

.

Very true, Jason

I think Neil will need at least three 'Classes' for this competition.

MichaelG.

I don't want to make the competition so complicated it puts people off, the basic spec would be a machine a beginner can afford as a first machine tool but flexible and capable enough for them to want to keep it as their skill and ambition increases.

I'd like to follow the spirit of the original competitions, but though I have the three entries from 1947, there doesn't seem to be any result published! Also it was launched back in 1945, but for some unspecified reason (linked to sponsors Garners?) there was a big delay. Unfortunately In don't have any of the pre-1947 articles.

Can anyone let me have a copy of Percival Marshall's rules for the 1920 and 1945 competitions?

Neil

There's nothing in the ME, it was all done through Garners in 1945, and only a few people ever bothered to enter

Well-found, Ady

Methinks Neil should start afresh with his rules for any 2015 competition.

MichaelG.

Just found this, which may be of some interest to the Garner/Myford historians.

MichaelG.

Looks very much like Mr. Garner was trying for free designers.

Although I'm more of a tool / machine maker than a model maker, I wouldn't dream of attempting to design a lathe myself when there are so many excellent industrial products out there already, available for less than it would cost to make one. Like most MEs, I have only a very superficial understanding of any of the design considerations and decades (centuries almost) of experience.

Even then, I would struggle to design something that I couldn't realistically expect to see made either - and I'm not vain enough to believe anybody would do so. Most machine tools rely on heavy cast iron to provide the basic rigidity and core framework - this isn't something any of us could sensibly attempt, even if we understood how to design it. I suspect you'd have a very short list of entries....

Call me a coward but I'm happy to have a bun fight and vote for a favourite lathe, though!

Murray

Thanks Michael,

I rather like the idea of giving people a completely free hand, then allowing readers to vote and choose the winner - from a shortlist, if need be.

Neil

Quite agree Neil, but the question was "who's done it" not "who scribbled some ideas on the back of an envelope" Leonardo also sketched out the ideas for a helicopter, although not for one that would have flown very well, but it would have worked, there are however, no Da Vinci lathes or helicopters in the South Kensington science museum

Phil

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Neil,

The readers' vote sounds fine; but I am less convinced by the 'completely free hand' ... It's typically very difficult to pick a winner when you are comparing "Apples, Oranges, and Bags of Cement".

[noting your previously suggested scope] One possibility would be to allow free rein within a maximum 'space-envelope' and a maximum weight. ... 'though I am sure there are plenty of others!

Now; a question: Would the 2015 competition be an academic exercise, or would it be 'sponsored' by an interested company ?

MichaelG.

Neil, have a look at the Hommel UWG site, about half way down is a special tail stock to extend the length available, just thinking of the Mega Adept conversion, you could get maybe 2" more between centres.

My mate with the private museum just down the street from me has a pair of cast iron machine bases, these things are a heavy box section about 5" sq x 30" long with a slot about 1 1/2" wide down the length, they look just like lathe beds......... Well perhaps.

Ian S C

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___^^^ ___

I had hoped this might prompt some further discussion ... but all has gone quiet.

... any offers ?

MichaelG.

Yes - if I don't stop myself rising to your bait I will paint myself in a corner ... this needs proper thought!

Neil

Maybe Sofa World, Land of leather, etc

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Miaow !!

.

Understood, Neil

But I was also surprised to find no-one else joining-in with the discussion of Scope.

MichaelG.