CNC lathes?

[JWB_Machining]

Hey,
I'm loooking to invest in a CNC lathe that's capable of turning up to maybe 3 or 4" Diam Al 6061. I'd also like something that is capable of uploading previously made G code. i'm familar with Haas Controllers so something similar would obivously be perfect but I'm willing to learn.

What are my options? Where should I look to get information? I've been searching around but i'm pretty much clueless. I use a Haas TL-1 at work and would love one of them but idk if I want to shell out that kind of dough.

I'm looking to make parts around a foot long, sometimes more sometimes less with varying features. The Key here is being able to upload Programs made from mastercam and just let this baby do it's magic.

[Journey_Man]

I have a Syil America C-6 Lathe;I have owned it for 18-20 months,I pitched the 3 jaw chuck and put a Bison 5" 6 jaw set true chuck;Bison 6" 4 jaw independent chuck;Bison 5c Collet Chuck(i am going to replace it with an ER32 Set-up soon) I made a QC tool post riser and added the tool holder... with a varity or tools...I have cut 6-32 to 3/4-14 thds. Measured over wires to the number! I use Mach3 Turn version??? The Machine will do what you program it to do. I have posted with BobCadCam...works great. The Canned Cycles in Mach also work Great! I am very confident with the machine and I believe it was well worth the money spent...Again you are the one that has to make the decision...It isnt A ROMI...or an EZ Path...But it will run Pgms that are drawn rite! I have done it way too many times! and made too many widgets!
You need to have a Stand alone P/C Optimised per Mach's Specs. Nothing else on the P/C but Mach3 Lathe Software and an add on graphics card (64meg).
I have NEVER HAD MACH or THE LATHE LOCK UP..Using the rite SetUp.
The Lathe is a Seig 9X20 retrofit with Syil Drivers ect. When I first got the Lathe I put a 14" shaft in it and took a .025 cut 12"(using tailstock/livectr) it had .oo2 deviation..I just let it ride...I dont think it was too bad...If I were going to do some shaft work, I would adjust the tailstock...I mounted my Lathe on a Jet Lathe Stand and some times when I am pushing things it will set up some Harmonics through the stand...But I live with it..I have taken .065 per side on some 6.0" 303 stainless and had some very blue chips flying ALL OVER but it didnt bog down...just laughed at me! as I got nailed acouple times by the Chips. I am sure there are others on the zone that will help you in your Quest..Smithy makes a fully enclosed Lathe too. But I Like my Lathe and can turn Whatever..Bob

[Crevice Reamer]

The $1050 Grizzly G0602 is a MUCH better base lathe for CNC (and WAY less expensive) than even the NEWEST Syil C6:

http://grizzly.com/products/10-x-22-...al-Lathe/G0602

It even comes WITH a face plate.

It is fairly easy to DIY CNC:

Grizzly G0602 10" x 22" Lathe Conversion

I recommend THESE electronics for the G0602:

$289 G540 http://geckodrive.com/product.aspx?c=3&i=14469
$049 One $39 KL23H2100-35-4B 318 oz motor for X
$049 One KL23H284-35-4B 387 oz motor for Z
$060 One KL-350-48 48V/7.3A power supply.
$010 Estop switch
$005 2 Home switches
$009 Straight thru parallel computer cable.
-------
$471

All of this is available from Keling:

http://kelinginc.net/

CR.

[Farasien]

Journey Man... That is a very cool tool changer... is it made from the plans ISS International sells at:

http://www.issintl-inc.com/latheturret/

...? Is so, was it a fairly simple build? If not, did you get plans from someone else or was it a self-conceived idea?

Either way, very nice...

-Farasien