tried to machine titanium

Which is why you haven't earned one in decades.

Cites? indeed fascinating "I've not" buffoon "hold that thought" backhoe "the list" cull 264mph "3/5/8 years street cop" "800 meters" swingers leftists

A Sherline is a good start and AFAIK does what it is meant to. However when you bang up against its limitations it's time to think about a larger machine instead of fighting its inherent weakness.

Unfortunately I don't know of a better currently available hobbyist lathe to step up to. I bought old American iron with its problems of scarcity, wear and abuse. My first lathe, a 6" Sears/AA, was NOT a good choice due to its easily bent 1/2"-20 spindle nose.

--jsw

Engineering R&D was being paid for what I'd do for fun, but once I succeeded the job was over.

--jsw

I have a 1938 Bridgeport round-ram that I converted to CNC. I make parts that are exported all over, as well as sold domestically. One of my major customers is L. S. Starrett, they use my servo amps in their high-end Force Measurement Systems. I don't even want to KNOW how much they get for those! (The part I make for those servo amps is a mounting bracket, machined 1/8" aluminum, bent and then rigid drill-tapped on the Bridgeport.) The rest of the servo amp is a printed circuit.

Jon

You're confusing me with somebody else.

Well hell, I have a sherline and it makes the parts I need just fine too.

I have the Unimat 3 which resembles an actual lathe since it has a cast bed with V ways.

Perhaps that is gunner's secret.

If you never succeed then the job is never over.

Likely a far more respectable career than being a lifetime loser.

Hmmm.... "Weeber the Lifetime Loser" certainly has a certain ring to it, doesn't it. Descriptive too.