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

Paul,

Might want to ask this on my 9x20Lathe Yahoo group... We've got 1935
opinions that you might find useful...<G>

And we can probably not only get you set up with cnc(just had a whole
thread on an electronic lead screw), but we'll also help you get
better than .002 from your HF lathe...

Ballendo

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, shyningnight@y... 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.