Myford or new

I have a Myford ML7 lathe on which I have spent a decent amount over the last few years. I am now thinking about a new motor and controller. Also, fitting a DRO.

Probably cost in the region of £650.

Would you do this or move it on and buy a new lathe?

What condition is the ML7 in? Do you have much specfic tooling like chucks, steadies etc? If it's not worn out out and big enough for the work you are going to do then it's worth considering upgrades.
Putting a 3 phase motor on a ML7 will do wonders for smoothness, noise and power. I in the process of fitting one to my early ML7 and with the VFC just rigged up the reduction in noise and vibration is remarkable.

Robert

G8RPI.

Depends entirely on the condition of the Myford! If the lathe is in good order,, then it will be improved with a speed controlled 3-phase motor and DRO, I guess if you're thinking of replacing it, maybe she's not in good order? If the bed, bearings, belt, motor, lead-screw, half-nuts and gears are all knackered, then it could be 'Beyond Economic Repair'. Or maybe you fancy a change!

Dave

What doesn't the Myford do that a different lathe would? If the current lathe is big enough, keep and upgrade it. If you need more capacity, a gearbox or other modern features then a replacement would be sensible.

If you have lots of toys for the ML7 then why not look out for a super7. Had mine a fair few years now & although I'm always doing mods to it. If I had anything else i would be doing the same. (Cannot leave things alone.) I have not seen any other brand that i could say was better. Wonderful gears, a great gearbox, good quality castings from a British foundry (I think). Acme threaded leadscrew.

There's a guy on youtube who has just renovated a Southbend circa 1938. That is a lovely old machine & about the same size as the Myford. Probably better too.

Steve.

I would keep the ML7 if it is in good condition. And they are endlessly rebuildable and repairable if not. Even to the point of a bed regrind if they are totally clapped. Or you can do a Wide Guide conversion if it is a pre-1972 model, which avoids needing a regrind. Headstock bearings are almost infinitely adjustable via removing shims or rescraping in absolute worst-case scenarios. Cross slide nuts and half nuts are available from Myford as are most other parts.

I am quite happy with mine after fully rebuilding it. I might consider upgrading to a Boxford-etc South-Bend clone as they are a little bigger and were a better quality machine from the start. But nothing else.

Edited By Hopper on 09/12/2022 12:08:03

If the lathe is in good condition and your budget is tight fit a modern inverter and 3 phase motor. A smooth start is a joy to behold after the old single phase motor.

A DRO on a lathe is just another "a nice to have" item (unlike on a milling machine).

I see little reason for getting rid of a good Myford unless one needs a larger lathe.

JA

A new motor/controller plus DRO will be an improvement only you can tell if it's worth it? OR do you want a shiny new thing?

Tony

The lathe is in decent condition and big enough. Just unsure if a motor upgrade is worth the money and suitable. Heard many stories of white metal bearings not being good enough on faster speeds.

Fitting a variable speed drive is not a means of extending the safe operational speed of the lathe. You would simply wear out the bearings faster, or much faster (and maybe to the point of simply destroying them), by operating outside their range. A three phase motor and VFD have far more going for them, than that.

I suspect all (but the cheapest, perhaps) can be programmed to operate within a set range of speed..

It's really down to what the ML7 is not doing well for you and what capabilities and or features you are looking for on a replacement.

If you want faster speeds then a hardened spindle and bronze bearings are availablefor the ML7 from (new) Myford.

Robert G8RPI.

Yes white metal bearings are good for about 1,000 rpm. But do you need higher rpm badly enough to buy a whole new lathe? It;s one of those things that is nice to have but not essential for most users.

Does the ML7 do all that you need?

If YES, fit the VFD, but bear in mind the caveats about excessive speed vs the bearings.

If not (I was frustrated by the 2 MT Headstock Mandrel, and consequent waste of material. So sold it and bought something a lot bigger, with a VFD. )

If you go for a new, more modern, machine, probably the bed will be prismatic, hardened, and the machine will be variable speed.

Being of far eastern manufacture, it may need some fine tuning to optimise it's performance. (Recently, I came across a brand new, basic, machine with the centres out of line! Curable, but still wrong )

It may be that the sale of the ML7 plus the £650 will buy something that better suits your needs.

You are the only one who can make that decision.

Howard

Hope that all goes well, whatever you choose to do.

Howard