Mini-Lathe, what to buy, where to start.

[ewest]

I know people LOVE to tell other people how to spend their money, so here's your chance!

I'm looking to buy a mini-to-small size lathe. I already have a big monarch 10x40 that's awesome, but it's manual, and most everything I work on is relatively tiny. Putting ball screws and servos on the Monarch is not an option as it's too nice to risk screwing up.

I've been prowling ebay for some time now, but it seems that I'm looking for a hard-to-find size, and that is a bench-top lathe with the balls to occasionally do stainless steel. There's one on there now that looks pretty awesome -

Auction HERE

but they call it "Rare" and "Hard to find" which to me says when it breaks down it's a call to the scrap guy because you can't find parts. It also represents just about exactly what I want / need, plus a ton of other nice bells and whistles, and I know it will do threading without any f-ing around with Mach-3 (which is awesome and all, but still)

In reality, I'd be happy with 2 axis and about 1 HP of spindle. A motor on the tail stock would be good too, but then again so would a bar feeder, live tooling, etc etc etc etc etc etc etc.

It wouldn't be out of the question to get like a 9x18 grizzly or something and put ball screws in it, but that all ends up being work and thousands of dollars to do correctly... and to sink in to a freakin' grizzly. At the same time, it's a machine that I'll know inside and out. I'm a little space restricted too, so I'm really looking at that ebay auction hard... Occasionally you see actual turning centers for $5000, but I'd need to hire a rigger to get it in to my shop, plus I just don't have the space for a 4 ton machine.

Now on to the familiar lament - If only Tormach made a stand-alone lathe (GREG JACKSON DO YOU HEAR ME!!!!!) The tormach mill handles 99% of every job I get, I need a lathe that will do the same.

Does anybody have any advise? (good or bad)

[escott76]

Originally Posted by ewest I know people LOVE to tell other people how to spend their money, so here's your chance! I'm looking to buy a mini-to-small size lathe. I already have a big monarch 10x40 that's awesome, but it's manual, and most everything I work on is relatively tiny. Putting ball screws and servos on the Monarch is not an option as it's too nice to risk screwing up. I've been prowling ebay for some time now, but it seems that I'm looking for a hard-to-find size, and that is a bench-top lathe with the balls to occasionally do stainless steel. There's one on there now that looks pretty awesome - Auction HERE but they call it "Rare" and "Hard to find" which to me says when it breaks down it's a call to the scrap guy because you can't find parts. It also represents just about exactly what I want / need, plus a ton of other nice bells and whistles, and I know it will do threading without any f-ing around with Mach-3 (which is awesome and all, but still) In reality, I'd be happy with 2 axis and about 1 HP of spindle. A motor on the tail stock would be good too, but then again so would a bar feeder, live tooling, etc etc etc etc etc etc etc. It wouldn't be out of the question to get like a 9x18 grizzly or something and put ball screws in it, but that all ends up being work and thousands of dollars to do correctly... and to sink in to a freakin' grizzly. At the same time, it's a machine that I'll know inside and out. I'm a little space restricted too, so I'm really looking at that ebay auction hard... Occasionally you see actual turning centers for $5000, but I'd need to hire a rigger to get it in to my shop, plus I just don't have the space for a 4 ton machine. Now on to the familiar lament - If only Tormach made a stand-alone lathe (GREG JACKSON DO YOU HEAR ME!!!!!) The tormach mill handles 99% of every job I get, I need a lathe that will do the same. Does anybody have any advise? (good or bad)

Skip the 9x18, it's not really worth the time. I've got one (9x20) that I paid like $200 for used, but it's not even really worth it for me to CNC it. If you have to go with an import there are a couple of better options.

[dgoddard]

I also have a larger manual lathe which I continue to find projects that it requires. For CNC I converted Grizzly's G0602 and find it to be a good choice for that size lathe. Has it's limitations, but more than fits my needs for a smaller lathe.

[the4thseal]

look into emco on eBay they made some cnc lathes in the size you a looking at for good prices.. just put in new steppers and a gecko 540 some even have tool changer . check it out.