Anyone running an NLX2500 lathe?

[Carbide dude]

I have several NL2500 lathes and wondering how the NLX measures up? I see that it has a 10 station turret but there looks to be more space between the stations which would provide more clearance for ID tools... Am I correct in this? It also circulates coolant around the bed; anyone notice if it holds size better with less thermal changes?

[DryRun]

it has the same turret as your NL newwer mits control tho

[ripachip]

It has to better than an NL. Mine (with Y-axis, sub-spindle) at best repeats for .0002", grows a tenth per hour forever. horizontal alignment for axial live tools is off by up to .008", depending on station. backlash is horrible, can't program out minor deflection. way lube use literally sucks, about a gallon per 24 hours. you have any of these issues? wanna buy it?

[c-y guy]

I have been running an NL2500 for a few years now. If your axial toolholders are off .008 there is something wrong. Either your turret is out of alignment from a crash etc...or you are not indicating the straightness of your toolholders when you put them on the turret. Mine easily indicate within .0002 regardless of brand.

As far as growing .0001 per hour thats pretty good considering some of the machines in our shop grow up to .0005 an hour untill reaching their warmest operating temperature. Is your shop air conditioned? If not than it will always have at least some dia. growing issues as it gets very warm during the day.

As far as the waylube goes...you can adjust a lube timer parameter within the control to make it lube differently. I think the way it works is it's set to stay on for so many seconds per so many minutes. We changed ours to lube a little less (be careful not too go crazy with this as NL's are supposed to use quite a bit of oil) and it's not bad...uses about 1 tank of waylube every five 10 hour days. I suggest getting a skimmer no matter what to remove the tramp from the coolant though. Check with your local mori people to get info on the lubrication timer.

Hope some of this helps? Don't give up on your NL their really good machines!

[hacdlux]

Originally Posted by ripachip It has to better than an NL. Mine (with Y-axis, sub-spindle) at best repeats for .0002", grows a tenth per hour forever. horizontal alignment for axial live tools is off by up to .008", depending on station. backlash is horrible, can't program out minor deflection. way lube use literally sucks, about a gallon per 24 hours. you have any of these issues? wanna buy it?

i think something is wrong, my nl 2000 can make it from close fiday to monday morning on one tank of way lube

the tools do need to be indicated paralell to the spindle axis, dont rely on the dogs to be perfect there is a way to adjust the dogs if necessary

the y axis offset on all my live tools(4 axials 6 radials) is under .002 and if your over .005 your drive wont line up right and will start getting loud

my machine cuts about .0015 taper over 6" and i program around it when necessary

[underthetire]

Ya, something wrong with your machine. Alignments should be within tenths. There seems to be a lot of confusion on how the Waylube systems work. The amount of oil to the ways is not controlled at all by the pump. It's controlled by the metering manifolds at the axis. The pump pressurized the manifolds and closing a piston. The piston meeters how much oil goes through the line. Your pump should start, go to 10 mpa then you should see it jump up to 15 or so. That's the manifolds closing. Excessive way lube consumtion is always a broken line or stuck manifold. Low lube pressure is almost always from the same problem.

[ripachip]

my machine is an MSY. the dual plane Y-axis has some inherent inaccuracies, which is why I chose the Mori, thinking it would be the least. you've got four surfaces that need clearance instead of two. this would account for .0002" best repeatability.
Mine is a 2008. I've been told (by the tech) the earliest ones used less lube, but there was an issue with the ways locking up. Mori upped the lube, and a bit more clearance between ways. and yes I'm talking millionths. but times four planes and being x-axis it adds up to poor accuracy.
lube parameter is not available (or protected/hidden) on mine because of this.
as for horizontal alignment, not there on mine, using Mori/Alps tools. it is what it is. and that is stupid. How are your's adjustable? I can't see anything short of machining the dogs.
I proved the alignment error by this process:
Bore a good diameter in bar stock. using co-ax indicator, in the live tool, zero your x and y on it.
now put your co-ax in the spindle and zero x and y on the collet angle of live tool. i would be surprised if you're not quite a bit different.

what really ticks me off is that mori will not give a number that this machine will repeat for. They knew there were problems. they publish NO accuracy/repeat specs. all but the crappiest machines publish this.
and the new model has coolant passages thru the casting, they knew thermal growth was terrible. but it's a Mori!! don't worry about it! I would also bet I'm not the only one who is disappointed with this machine, maybe just the only one who will admit he spent $300k on a POS. but the milling is awesome, I'll give them that. as long as you don't need to hold any thing close.

[hacdlux]

the way the tech explaained it to me it you can loosen the bolts that hold the dog plate on and twist the dog plate, there is also a pin in there that bends when crashed. unfortunately i had jury duty the day he did the adjustment so i can only speculate.

when i indicate i throw a test indmighty mag onto the chuck jaws and sweep

[underthetire]

There are almost always adjustments. I'm not following how you tested it. I have also never seen the lube parameter locked out, may not be easy to find granted, but I haven't seen one actually locked. I do see you are local, and I can guess what tech was helping you. I haven't been too impressed with a couple of the local guys here. I have had to go fix stuff they have "repaired" at a friends shop. There is a very good local Mori independent if you need/want his help.

[matty555]

Hi I work for Mori in the UK and the lube may be adjusted via a parameter but it's highly regarded as a no no! So I wouldn't recommend it at all.
With regards to the alignment you can adjust the locating ring that the tool holders locate onto but this is held into position with a dowl and the factory "clocks" these in before they leave for the customer! Are you using Mori holders or another?
The NL machines are the best single turret lathe on the Market and you do get exactly what you pay for!!!

[ripachip]

why are there so many recent year machines for sale? I found one web site with 16!! of them. Now 17 because mine is on the block.
getting the typical blow-off response from Ellison, and I've had enough. If I end up having to sell this taking a $150K loss there will be videos of indicator travel posted.
Maybe if you Brits had higher standards for accuracies, you wouldn't outsource Aston Martin, Mini, and Rolls Royce engines to Germany.