We have the tool setter (probe) on all three machines. I wouldn't get a lathe without it, not to imply that I have any say on what we get on the machines (large corporation). We received the 1st machine about 2 years ago & I ran it for about a year & half. That machine has a 15" chuck that doesn't interfer with the probe. It's the length of the part more than the diameter that would interfer with using the probe with the part in the chuck. Normally you would set the tools without a part in the chuck & the tool setter then swings up & out of the way.
All three machines came with all the goodies. C axis, live tooling, high & low range. They have plenty of power, we can run a 4 inch insert drill @ 400 rpm (low range) & .004 feed/rev.
One of the machines came with a larger chuck (24" IIRC) that required a special removeable probe.
All three machines needed service within the first few months but have run without problems since. The other 2 machines are about 9 months old. |