HF 4" x 5" micro lathe for $72.87 ???

[cad01]

ordered mine today. does anyone know what taper the tail stock is?

[knudsen]

ordered mine today. does anyone know what taper the tail stock is?

I believe 10 mm straight shank based on the fact that LMS offers a live center to fit. Many of their parts are for a C0/Unimat 3 & 4, causing me to believe hte head/tail stocks are the same. The steady rest is also fitting the Unimat4. Could it be a Unimat 4 clone of sorts?

http://www.lathes.co.uk/emco/page3.html

[fretsman]

The tool post is 7/16", spindle 13/32" (10mm), chuck 1 3/4" according to the pdf manual.

I received the shipped via FedEx email from Harbor Freight this morning.

Could you please share the link to the PDF manual?

Thanks so much-
Dave

EDIT: I believe I found it: http://www.siegind.com/product.php?id=21

[stephenrc]

The above link is a page describing the lathe and accessories.

The manual link is right below the add to basket link for the HF 95012:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...m&ItemID=95012

[fretsman]

The above link is a page describing the lathe and accessories.

The manual link is right below the add to basket link for the HF 95012:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...m&ItemID=95012

lol, can't believe I missed that!!

[blades]

I'm interested it in for machining small wood parts.

Not sure I get what all the eye rolling is about.

Should be absolutely great for wood. The eyerolling is mostly because this lathe is not taken seriously, and is considered a "toy" by many. Be that as it may, it is still obviously useful and valuable in the proper context, and it is far from a toy, as it's built like any other lathe, just scaled down and without the benefit of power feed. I still say this would make a pretty cool CNC project, and you can bet I'll be evaluating it for that! At $82 shipped, it's a great value for anyone. At $300, people were not beating a path to HF's door to buy it. I think if they had priced it under $200 they may have been more on-target.

[knudsen]

Back on the tapers, parts available from LMS and this about unimat 3:

"The headstock spindle was bored through a generous 0.4" (10.2 mm) and carried a nose thread of M14 (similar to DIN 800)"

and this

"The tailstock barrel had a travel of 0.9" (23 mm), but did not have a taper - instead it carried a replica of the headstock spindle thread."

and from the manual:

Electrical Requirements 110 VAC / 60 Hz / 150 Watts / 1.4 No Load Amps / 0.6 Start Up Amps
1/5 HP Motor
Fuse Type: F2AL250V
Power Cord Type: 18AWG x 3C / 4’-7” Long
Power Plug Type: 3-Prong, Grounded
Variable Speed Capacity 0 to 3800 RPM
Chuck Type 3-Jaw Self-Centering
Chuck Capacity 1-3/4”
Tool Post Capacity 7/16”
Hole Through Spindle 13/32” (10mm)
Swing Over Bed 4”
Distance Between Centers 5”
Cross Slide Scale 0.002” Per Each Mark
Longitude Feed Scale 0 to 2” Per Each Mark
Tail Stock Quill Travel 1”
Tail Stock Quill Scale 0.002” Per Each Mark
Bed Dimensions 14” Long x 3-5/16” Wide x 5” High
Overall Dimensions 17.35” x 10.63” x 8.27”
Additional Features Lockable Tool Post/Lockable Tail Stock/Hardened Ways
Net Weight 30.80 Lb.

I summize:

Head and tail have M14x1 threaded mounting on the outside diameter. the hold through the spinal is 10 MM and the tailstock is that same, possibly with some means to secure what would normally be the tapered end of a live center (roller center by the old book).

[blades]

Thin cross-section of the spindle nose.... 10mm thru hole, 14mm od = 2mm cross-section, -1mm thread depth = 1mm (give or take) of spindle nose cross-section.
Should be plenty strong for it's intended use, but I wouldn't beat on the chuck with a hammer!

[clytle374]

Being that I desperately need something bigger and not smaller, and don't really have $100 to just blow.

When do I feel such a need to order one? I think it would look good setting on the coffee table.

[knudsen]

It probably won't be there for long, 374. Better go lift a wallet or play some poker and get $100

Isn't one of the advertisers here selling a CNC version of this lathe for like $1700? Seems to me I recall clicking on a link one time. It was a very clean-looking conversion.

Edit: www.novakon.net was the seller, but they don't appear to have it on thier site anymore. Just higher-end stuff.

Interesting, blades, Sieg has a similar pic, with the belt gaurds for the driving of x and z:



http://www.siegind.com/product.php?id=38

So, I guess a CNC'd version is "factory and available... somewhere. Perhaps someone will find a way to order the factory parts. Looks like the lead screw is driven by a shaft under it going back to the main motor.

[blades]

I also ran across the Sieg pic last night when I was doing some poking around. Impressive they took a closeup shot of it with rust on the ways.
They did do a very impressive job on the belt guards, looks really professional. I'm not terribly fond of conversions where the motors are sticking straight out from the leadscrews. This thing must use one heck of a tiny Y axis motor! For such a small conversion, it's an extremely professional looking conversion.

clytle374, the price is very motivating to order one. When I saw it for that price, I didn't even pause before ordering it.

BTW: got my shipping confirmation email today!

[knudsen]

Wow, fast response!

Hi Jon,


Welcome to visit our workshops during your trip to China.

Regards,
SIEG Industrial Group

They sent the parts list and drawing for their CNC version.