I got my new lathe from lathemasters the other day, this is one sweet lathe. I'm getting this DRO- http://www.cnczone.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/23 any one using it? Any heads-up on installing this?

post some pics of that lathe! id love to see it, and what all about it makes it so sweet? I am still shopping for a small lathe......

thanks

I started my review here- http://www.cnczone.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=24

Nice looking machine.
Looks like it is nice and beefy, should be solid.

Here is a good shop of the tool post.

Is the lathemaster 8x14 lathe the same as the 8x12 lathe harbor freight sells? The bed length looks the same from the photo, although the center in the tailstock looks longer. i cant tell the difference except for color...

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=44859

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/44800-44899/44859.gif

Same lathe. I have the HF one. Advertised as 12" but it actually measures 14" center to center. The splash guard is not included and was not available seperately when I bought mine.
No chip tray either. I like mine.

Eric

Actually, it's not the same lathe. HF has a different manufacturer than the Lathemaster. I'm fairly certain they share the same basic plans, but differ VASTLY in the execution. Aside from the additional accessories the Lathemaster comes with (4-jaw, steady and fixed rests, splash guard, chip pan) it has a huge 3/4 inch leadscrew. This really contributes to stability when powered cutting. The parts finish is surperb.

Larry

Mine has a 3/4" lead screw.

You are right about the 4 jaw, chip pan, splash guard, steady and fixed rests tho.

Eric

Greetings, So has anyone done a CNC conversion on the 8X? lathe?
I just got one 6/15/05 and me SUPERNEWB!
Here's a good question to prove it... does dro and cnc work together?

does dro and cnc work together?
Not really - but you could use the scales from the DRO for positioning instead of using encoders/resolvers.
It's not the norm though

Mineralman...why do you think they have a different manufacturer?

Mineralman...why do you think they have a different manufacturer?

Based on some things Bob at Lathemaster told me. Apparently, the Chinese government purchased lots of (semi-obsolete) plans for many, many things including lathes and mills, and let them to more than one manufacturer, so many similar-looking lathes may not come from the same origin. To further muddy the water, importers can demand certain specs on their machines, so one manufacturer can even export variations on the same machine.

Bottom line, I'm very happy with my Lathemaster machine. I hope others are just as happy with their machines.

I love my lathe and mill I got from him.

No doubt that my Lathemaster is a good machine....though I just replaced the bolts on the cross-slide that control the angle of the cross-slide because one stripped out, replaced them with some home-made t-nuts and grade 8 socket head cap screws...much nicer now.

I talked to the manufacturer who supplies HF and the dealer that Lathemaster uses....

I talked to the manufacturer who supplies HF and the dealer that Lathemaster uses....[/QUOTE]

Really? Who's that?

BTW, I love my Lathemaster mill and lathe (much better than the 7x12), and his accessory tooling is first rate.

Larry
New Orleans

mineralman....no doubt Bob's stuff is of high quality...I got my QCTP for my lathemaster from him.

Everything I purchased from Lathemaster is first rate! Money well spent.