Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Build my own CNC lathe - possible?

----- Original Message -----
From: "Alan Rothenbush" <alan@...>
Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Build my own CNC lathe - possible?

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Consider a look at the various versions of the Hardinge 5c lathes....
first, it's American Made (g).

Then, there are about a zillion of these around, most good shops have one or
more versions of these ... including the HC Chucker ( I have this one )...
also the Speed Lathe ( just the spindle head and the dovetail main rail.

Oh, I should mention on my HC, after some 30 years of almost daily use for
2nd ops ..... if I put a really good gauge pin in a collet, the lathe shows
NO visible runout on a 0.0001 reading indicator .... interested now (g) ?

with the current financial situation, I think you could find a Speed Lathe
for maybe $1-3 K area

Oh yeah, there have been several decent ripoffs of the Hardinge .... I
think Taiwan had a mole at hardinge... these should be even cheaper, and
close to as good ...

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Also, if everything else fails, there are some people who make cnc
conversions-in-a-box for the Hardinge 5c types .... I have a friend that I
sold a couple HNC to... he used a commercial conversion for it, it runs
really fine now, he does production contracts also.... the HNC was
basically a Speed Lathe , +turret slides, with a dinosaur GE controller.

Just some thoughts .. ken campbell, deltawerkes