Re: cnc lathe/mill

Once again, Thanks for all the replys. I have gotten more info in
the past few days than what I gathered myself over the past couple
of weeks and I really appreciate it. Actualy I am quite overwellemed
with it all because there is soo much to take in and soo much to
read, and on top of it, I have final exams this week that im
studying for. From what I have been reading, the sieg c6 and c6b are
supposed to be really good lahtes. I am also reading that the
lathemaster 9x30 is supposed to be pretty good, but the downfall is
that you have to change gears for diffrent speeds etc. Now a really
big plus about the lathmaster 9x30 is that I just found out that the
company is only 4 miles away from where I am going to school (LSU).
So, instead of paying 300 or so for shipping of a lathe, I can just
go pick it up. Besides the fact about the company being right by me,
would you all agree with what I said sofar, or do you all have a
diffrent opinion.
About the mills. Once again,from what I have read so far, sieg is on
top of the list as an excelent manufacture of small mills around the
size of the x3 and super x3 but I have yet to find a price for the
super x3. I have also read that lathmasters 7045 is also a really
good design with the dove colum way. Lathemaster also sells the x3,
but it is on the smaller size, and the 7045 weighs in at 600lbs so
it is alot sturdier and can handle steel alot easier than sieg mills.

So pretty much I think I may have narrowed down my list between Sieg
and lathmaster for both the lathe and mill. Does anyone have a price
on the sieg lathe including shipping, as I can't find it anywhere.
Also the other factor I have to keep in mind is which ones are
better for converting to cnc later down the line. Another question I
had is: after converting a lathe to cnc, would it still be possable
to use it manualy for simple turning. I know I have seen people
convert their mills to cnc, and used stepper motors with the shaft
going all the way through the motor with the handle connected on the
back side so they can still use it mannualy. But is the same
situation apply to lathes too?

I'm sorry for such a long message again, and I hope I am not
outdoing my welcome on this group. If it seems I am askign the same
questions over and over, I'm sorry as I dont mean to. Its just that
there is so much info to take in on the subject that it is all
smashed up in my head.
Thanks. you guys are great.
-Jason

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "stockley0883"
<stockley0883@r...> wrote:

>
> I have just bought a fully functional Hardinge TFB for under $2400
> specifically for converting to CNC. The TFB is less desirable than

the

> HLV-H because it has no screw cutting gearbox (not needed for CNC
> anyway). By the time I sell all the electrics, the compound slide

and

> some of the saddle drive mechanisms I may get another $300 to $500
> back. So for under $2000 I have a lathe that is in a different

league

> to the ones you are looking at.
>
> I plan on fitting servos with Rutex drivers. I need it for

precision

> work so I will be fitting ground ballscrews. I also want to get
> constant surface speed and a slower bottom speed (125rpm is the

limit)

> so I will be replacing the 2 speed motor with a 2hp vector drive.

This

> gives me 100% torque all the way from 0 rpm up. However, this is

an

> expensive luxury you could add later if required.
>
> Paul
>