Originally Posted by
shred
Yeah, it's doable, but I'm not sure how many Tormach customers are going to want to do it with this machine, which maybe why they haven't announced anything. A production shop is probably going to look at a SL15 or something more industrial like a GT27 or CL-1 and so on. That said, Taig makes a little 5C gang-tool lathe setup on their CNC mill base. Short parts only, but lots of X, so somebody seems into the idea.
I think tool clearance to the spindle is going to be a concern on the 8L with gang tools and limited X travel. I already see it on my Yellinized SL15. If you work close to the spindle, you have to be careful not to crash the tools you aren't using into it (he had a 5C chuck as well to get more clearance for that sort of thing).
If I got an 8L, I'd probably leave it with a toolpost and put a lever-closer on it like an old chucker. I don't do much production work, but do prototypes with curves, odd threads and angles all the time. YMMV..
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