I am just looking into getting a small lathe like the Jet 14"x40"
Geared Head Lathe. I have a Bridgeport Mill running off a phase
converter. If I get the lathe should I just get a single phase motor
or use the lathe through the phase converter? I know the Jet is no
Clausing, does anyone else know of a low cost lathe besides Grizzly?
Thanks
If I was you (and I was a year or so ago) I'd check out eBay, or CraigsList
(or it's equivelent where you are) for a used American built machine. You
can find SouthBends, Clausings, Sheldons, Logans etc in the $2000.00 price
range. You own a BP so you KNOW how good old iron is, trust me you'll be
disapointed my anything new and imported. FWIW the SF CraigsList has some
VERY nice lathes up right now, most under 2K.. there is even a LeBlond for
under 2K (Damn wish I'd seen that a year ago...)
--.- Dave
Hey Carbonite,
No reason to use single phase if the "new lathe" comes with a three
phase motor. If, and it may very well be, this 14 X 40 has a larger
motor than your existing phase converter uses (I'm assuming a Rotary
Phase Converter), and the lathe does not have a "clutch", you may have
a bit of a problem. But, if the RPC you already have would be large
enough to start the lathe you want to buy, then in operation ANY
motors running off the RPC will only INCREASE the capacity of the RPC
circuit.
In other words, say you have an RPC just large enough to run the "new
lathe", and while you have it running "someone else" wants to run the
Bridgeport, or that you have the Bridgeport running and "someone
else" wants to use the lathe, you are OK because the second motor
running is an additive to the RPC capacity.
While what I'm writing may well be true, I would also assume that the
existing RPC has, to this time in your shop, only been required to run
a Bridgeport vertical mill, of probably (what?....), a maximum 2 or
3HP, and therefore probably has only a 5HP motor on the RPC, while the
normal size motor for a 14 X 40 lathe would nominally be in the 5 to
7.5HP range. So your existing RPC alone may well be not large enough
to start the geared-head lathe, and might require a 10HP on the RPC.
What I have done to accomplish this, in a similar situation to yours,
is to install a number of "three phase wall outlets" in my shop, to
power some various stuff in a given location on the shop floor at any
given moment. So then I bought a second 5HP motor for my RPC. It is
mounted on a 4 wheel cart (so I can store it out of the way) and with
it's own disconnect. If I want to run my larger lathe, I start the
existing RPC, plug in this "second motor" and turn it on, then I can
use the larger lathe, as I have in fact "doubled" the size of the RPC
effectively so it can handle the 7.5HP lathe's starting load.
PLEASE NOTE: All that being said, you must have the proper ampacity
in the wiring to handle the additional load(s).
Take care. Good Luck.
Brian Lawson,
Bothwell, Ontario.
First, I'd say that a 14" lathe really isn't a small lathe.
Second, I once bought a 14 1/2" Southbend for $2000, and a 12" Chinese
lathe from Harbor freight for $2000, and I think the Chinese lathe was
a better lathe. Though the castings looked crude and the hand dials are
crap, at least the ways are hardened and have no wear. Same with the
chucks.
The Jet, and the Grizzly and the Central Machinery and the Enco and the
Vetrax and the Turn-Pro etc are all mostly the same crap painted
different colors.
A GOOD used lathe on ebay or Craig's list would be the best deal. But
some "good old iron" isn't that good.
I would use a lathe through a rotary phase converter, but perhaps not a
static due to the high starting torque.
I picked up a South Bend 14" lathe (the variable speed model, newer that the
flat belt) that is in great shape, has the hardend ways and a d-4 mount.
Nice machine and they don't seem to go for a bunch of money.
Thanks for everyones replies! I was also looking at a 1340VS made by
Sharp. Maybe be a better choice than Jet. I know there all the same
imports and since this machine has a variable speed controller, I may
not get that major load (dimming of lights) when I turn on the spindle.
Carb> I am just looking into getting a small lathe like the Jet 14"x40"
PolyTech Forum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.