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What is the ultimate lathe for model engineering

Machine selection

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John Olsen05/09/2010 08:10:35
1294 forum posts
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Well, my ML7 manages stainless on occasion, as has the little Unimat a little further along the bench. Use carbide tooling if you can, and don't go too fast. The stuff does not conduct heat well so take it quiet, but also don't allow the tool to rub, as it will workharden. I drilled some holes about quarter inch diameter four inches or so deep in 316 stainless on the Unimat once, took a while but we got there in the finish.
 
The ML7 is also hardly a one man lift, unless you are training for the Olympic weightlifting. The saddle based toolholder is of course an excellent idea, must get a round tuit one day.
 
But of course there is rarely one optimum answer for anything, the guy who has to contain his entire workshop in an open out cupboard in a small flat will have different ideas to the guy who has a 1000 square foot concrete floored workshop with drive in access. (Well it would be drive in if it wasn't full of boats and machinery. )
 
regards
John
 

Ian S C05/09/2010 10:51:29
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7468 forum posts
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My no.,2 lathe does'nt have a slotted cross slide, I don't think they would be any use on it,Oh and it will turn stainless----slowly (its a Super Adept). Ian S C
Andrew Johnston05/09/2010 11:14:52
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7061 forum posts
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I knew I'd made a mistake when I bought my lathe; now I know why. It hasn't got T-slots on the cross slide, dooooh! There are two triangular slots along the length which can be used for bolting accessories onto the cross slide, but I guess that doesn't count. Mind you it will turn stainless at speeds and feeds appropriate to carbide tooling.
 
I have to make up for my deprivation by resorting to plenty of tea slots during the day. The kettle is always on for a brew.
 
Regards,
 
Andrew
JimmieS05/09/2010 17:04:33
310 forum posts
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What small(ish) lathe, Myford apart, would be suitable for cutting BSC threads ie 40, 32, 26 and 24 tpi?
 
Jim
JasonB05/09/2010 18:10:07
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25215 forum posts
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I think most ove the variable speed lathes from the likes of Chester & Warco will cut those pitches on the imperial machines and very close on teh metrics.
 
Do you actually want BSC or the more common ME threads which are 55deg not 60deg as BSC?
 
Jason
JimmieS05/09/2010 18:49:24
310 forum posts
1 photos
Hi Jason
 
BSC, for restoration of old pre '60 British motorcycles. Thread size would be up to 1 1/2" dia. 
 
 
Jim
JasonB05/09/2010 19:29:19
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25215 forum posts
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You should be Ok with what I said just check with the maker what the exact range includes before you buy as they usually just say something like " 20 imperial threads 12  - 60tpi" its the 26 thats sometimes left out.
 
If you want a similar vintage lathe then any of the british lathes from that period would more than likely have these pitches but possibly not slotted slides
 
Jason
JimmieS05/09/2010 20:46:58
310 forum posts
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Many thanks for your advice/suggestions. Much appreciated.
 
Jim
Stub Mandrel05/09/2010 21:42:10
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4318 forum posts
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I have several t-slots here. To cheer up Ady, I'm happy to pop one in a jiffty bag and email it to anyone who feels deprived.
 
You'll have to mill a suitable recess in your cross slide (with a T-shaped cross-section) for it, but once that's done it should just slide in.
 
Neil
 
BTW before I made my alternatiove t-slotted slide, I just made a few tapped holes in the cross slide of my C3, a handful allow for dividing head, vertical slide and angle plates.
John Olsen06/09/2010 02:10:56
1294 forum posts
108 photos
1 articles
For those of you who think no T-slots on a lathe is a problem, I have a shaper that has no T-slots on the main table. Perfectly usable, they made them like that for about 35 years. It does have a pattern of tapped holes for bolting things down. The rows of holes are in shallow slots to allow vices, dividing attachments, rotary tables and the like to align with keys. I think the manufacturers reason for doing it that way is that the table does not need anything like as much metal in it, or if you like the table is stiffer for any given amount of metal. Same would of course apply to a cross slide, a few tapped holes if you find you want them are not the end of the world.
 
Of course back when a guy was lucky to have a lathe at all, it was more important for it to be easily adaptable for milling. Now that small mills are so much more accessable to so many people,  it is perhaps not quite so important for the amateurs lathe to be so adaptable.
 
I could also machine up some Tslots if anyone wanted them, using either the mill or one of rather too many shapers, but shipping from NZ might be too expensive....
 
regards
John
Ian S C06/09/2010 07:43:12
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7468 forum posts
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Hey John, you can E-mail the slot anywhere, its the metal that surrounds it thats the problem. Ian S C
Stephen Benson06/09/2010 08:10:17
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203 forum posts
69 photos
Well for me a clock and model maker the ultimate lathe would be this
 
 
 
Scaublin120 Deckel fp106/09/2010 12:34:45
4 forum posts
Hi all
 
I have a Schaublin 120 VM and a Deckel Fp1 to play with. Why i posted the question is, at the model engineer shows and in our magazine we are battered by Myfords. In the workshops of GB we have a plethora of makes and they all do good work what do we all own?
 
The readership of model engineer must realise that there are more machines out there.
Stephen I like your choice schaublins are cool all the best kids have them.(TIC)
The original post was just to provoke a reaction I HATE MYFORDS.
John Stevenson06/09/2010 12:46:38
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5068 forum posts
3 photos
Yabut the Schaublin doesn't have a slotted cross slide so it must be useless.
 
I HATE GERMAN CRAP [ they bombed ower chippie in the last war ]
 
John S
David Clark 106/09/2010 13:18:57
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3357 forum posts
112 photos
10 articles
Hi There
I use whatever good articles I have to hand.
The majority of people write articles about Myfords and C3s.
regards David
 
Axel06/09/2010 13:45:10
126 forum posts
1 photos
Schaublin is made in the French speaking part of Switzerland, as German as Citroen!
Howard Jones06/09/2010 14:36:40
70 forum posts
112 photos
the ultimate lathe for engineering is the one you are used to using.
 
try doing something remotely awkward on some one elses lathe and you realise just how much you become attuned to the equipment you use and its capabilities.
 
I think the comment I read many years ago about lathes and model engines puts it in perspective. " some truely beautiful models are built on the most horrible of lathes".
very true.
 
I know of an F2C team racer who modified his engines using his father's huge old factory lathe. took him a week to adjust all the slop out of the ways but the work was of the highest quality.
 
lathes are like wives. love the one you've got and just get on with it.
 

Stephen Benson06/09/2010 16:52:25
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203 forum posts
69 photos
Posted by Brian Todd on 06/09/2010 12:34:45:
Hi all
 
I have a Schaublin 120 VM and a Deckel Fp1 to play with. Why i posted the question is, at the model engineer shows and in our magazine we are battered by Myfords. In the workshops of GB we have a plethora of makes and they all do good work what do we all own?
 
The readership of model engineer must realise that there are more machines out there.
Stephen I like your choice schaublins are cool all the best kids have them.(TIC)
The original post was just to provoke a reaction I HATE MYFORDS.
 
 I agree hobby lathes/Mills are great as far as they go, but if we are talking ultimate lathes and mills with out the barriers of cost or space then industrial equipment wins hands down. I have a Downhams Mini Jig borer and every time I use it puts great big smile on my face, the rest of my stuff is hobby equipment due to cost or space here is a link to my workshop web page.
 
 

Edited By Stephen Benson on 06/09/2010 16:57:06

ady06/09/2010 20:03:12
612 forum posts
50 photos
No t-slots....and it looks like a shameless copy of our pultra 1590.
http://www.lathes.co.uk/pultra/page11.html
 
Posted by Stephen Benson on 06/09/2010 08:10:17:
Well for me a clock and model maker the ultimate lathe would be this
 
 
 

 

Edited By ady on 06/09/2010 20:06:15

JimmieS06/09/2010 20:18:35
310 forum posts
1 photos
Hi Stephen B
 
What a shock! I thought your web site was about Birmingham Small Arms and A J Stevens motorcycles. However what do I find? Clocks! Is nothing sacred!
 
Jim
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