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

Ballendo;
I'll check that group out!
And my Lathe isn't a "Central" from HF.. it's an older "Centre"...
Still made in China/Taiwan, but I've never seen another quite like it.
And I *can* work to .0005 on mine.. it just takes more work! .002" it does easily...
If I don't stop looking at eBay.. I"m going to end up with a new Lathe, and a Surface
Grinder in pretty short order!

Paul F.

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "ballendo" <ballendo@y...> wrote:
> 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.