Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: In-between machines?

----- Original Message -----
From: "ballendo" <ballendo@...>
Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: In-between machines?
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Dangit, I hate to let this secret out of the bag... but a terrific cnc lathe
for the bucks is a South Bend Magnaturn, I have one about 1986, and there
have been a few new models since then. This is a full cnc, no manual
features, has a ibm pc glued on the front of it, with dual 3.5 floppy
drives, and for some reason is stupidly put down by most shops. Their loss,
your gain.

It has about 10 inches of swing:: ( there is a 6 inch tabletop model.. no
experience with it )
BUT: is very easy to program, although the word is out that it is not!!
( only does arcs, threads, and staight cuts ... 99.9% of what you
need!! )
WOW! takes standard g codes ( g0 g1 g2 g3 g4 g32 threading ... M codes
collet open, closed, oil on, tailstock forward ( against hyraulic pressure,
manual adjust for tailstock thrust ) and repeat cycle ( or not ). oh yeah,
catcher arm forward and back, we usually don[t use that.
TAKES 16C ( 1.625 ) !!!!!! or 5c with adapter.
ours came with 10 inch hydraulic pressure 3 jaw chuck... very accurate ...
spindle tube is 1.625
glass encoder
10 tool turret, uses 3/4 inch square holders ( #3 or #4 circle usually ) for
drills we have it setup with mostly Erickson collet holders..
**********
Eveyone in the shop loves this thing ... oh, did I mention it has a genuine
dovetail bed? a real lathe !!! It's probably the most stable (
temperature wise ) lathe in our shop ( mostly Hardinge ).
*********
Here is the bad news: we got it used, because the PO had dropped it and
broke the glass encoder ... stupid shop, but we fixed it for about $1500
back then, yearly maintenance now is about $200-400... but we run it 8 hours
a day .... oh, and it's hydraulic, so its loud; leaks a little ( floor dry )
and squeals a lot ...(g).

Oh, and its 1986 ibm likes to thread ( G32 ) at about 200 or 300 rpm,
otherwise single point doesn't follow perfecty. Maybe the newer ones do
better, I dont care, we have made a zillion production parts in 18 years.

If you can find one, seriously check it out, and usually the owners will
tell you nobody can program it .... incredible !!! I have found a few,
but always ( usually ) being ethical, I tell the owners they are stupid to
get rid of it, and they usually put it back in service. You can learn to
safely program this thing in 20 minutes. Oh, the chuck that comes with this
is worth about $5K, so if they throw that in, you get a free machine !!!!

Ok, I have done my duty for the month, I am not gonna tell you again...
used these go for $5 to $10K, ( about 50K$ of 1986 $ new ) .... I recently
bot an old nostalgic 13 x 39 Southbend manual for about $4.5 K delivered....
for comparison ...
*********
Oh, you might find that some small job shop in Iowa (g) could make your part
for you for less than the hassle of doing itself is worth.... but I agree
the satisfaction could be the thing! I think that is why I keep going
despite the Mexican and Chinese make-it-for-free competition !! Would be
glad to give you a quote on that part.
***********
regards, ken campbell, deltainc-usa.com



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