Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Buying an Old Lathe to Retrofit... Worth the Effort?

Sounds just a little pricey to me. If you drop an inch or two in both
dimensions, you can get a brand spanking new lathe for that price. Of course
condition, features, and attachments etc., affect things, too.

Bill

On Sun May 9 08:50:17 2004 shyningnight@... wrote:

>I was trolling eBay, and happened to do a completed items search for metal lathes of 10"
>swing and smaller...
>
>I noticed DOZENS of older South Bend (and others) 9-10" swing, 18-30" bed lathes having
>sold for under $500 or so...
>
>That kinda got me to thinking... (which is usually dangerous).
>
>Turning an old lathe into a "hobby class" CNC machine would involve (roughy speaking, of
>course!), stripping off most of the drive gears to be replaced by a Stepper/Servo drive.
>Replacing the Acme lead screw with a balls screw. Probably removing the compound.
>Maybe replacing the AC motor with a DC motor and speed control. and the usual cleaning
>up..
>
>So really, if it's got good bearings in the headstock, and the ways are good...
>
>Would it be worth doing, I wonder?
>It's a lot of work, yes... but a guy could either start with his "good" lathe (a chinese import
>in my case.. and bigger than I need in a CNC, requiring a longer expensive ball screw, and
>bigger more expensive motors)..
>OR he could get an older South Bend Model A (for example), strip a lot of the parts that are
>worn, rusty, or useless..
>And go from there.
>
>And for reference, I'd put forth an accuracy standard of " +- .002".. since that's what I can
>hold on my chinese "Centre Machinery" Lathe...
>
>Curious to get opinions... Not thinking of jumping out and doing it IMMEDIATELY...
>Paul F.


--
********************************************************************************
* *
RKBA! * Blessings on thee, oh Israel!!! * 4-19!
* *
********************************************************************************

An _EFFECTIVE_ | Insured by | All Matter is vibration. | Let he who hath no
weapon in every | by Colt; | --Max Planck | weapon, sell his
hand = Freedom | Dial | In the beginning was the | garment, and buy a
on every side!! | 1-1911-A1 | Word. --The Holy Bible | sword. --Jesus Christ

********************************************************************************

Constitutional Government is dead! LONG LIVE THE CONSTITUTION!!!!!!

********************************************************************************