I recently did some shopping at
If anyone is looking for a CNC X3 mill, this one is (now) 1/3 of the arceurotrade price (but you'll have to pay duty and VAT, and service might be a problem):
-- Peter Fairbrother
Interesting - how does this compare with the ArcEuro/JS offering?
I think that you will find that their's comes with drive electronics which this one does not!
"YES" !!
Ouch!
Talking of things Sieg of which I don't know much, has anyone seen/used a C4 lathe? Any good?
Ketan, any plans to sell them?
-- Peter
It had problems in the early days with the motor/board combination. To the best of my knowledge, these have been fixed. Axminster and Chester sell them. Regardless of what is said, it is a metric machine with metric leadscrew. No tumbler reverse. The gear which turns it into an imperial is open to question. The physical weight is good, overall. After considering John Stevensons comments on this machine, ARC has thus far decided it is better for Axminster and Chester to continue selling them.
Over to you then John...
Wot ?????????????
Any thoughts on the C4 that you might care to share.
No. I though Ketan had explained it OK and even pointed out who was selling them in the Uk.
Oooooh. Abrupt!
But we wanted to know more about what *you* thought about the C4. Or is that just as Ketan said, or can't you say?
For someone who wants a table-top lathe it seems to be the biggest and perhaps best equipped available at non-Myford prices.
The problems with the imperial conversion wouldn't affect those like me who work in metric anyway, and the lack of a tumbler reverse - well that's curious as the C3 has one, but I've never actually used it to cut a left-hand thread, and if the carriage and cross-slide drives reverse it won't often be a problem.
Of course if they don't reverse that would be a real problem - do they? Over to anyone who has seen and used one ...
-- Peter Fairbrother
To reverse the carriage and cross slide screws you need a tumbler reverse. That's what they do and this machine doesn't have one. Ketan did say as much.
John S.
To reverse the screws, perhaps, but to reverse the motion no - there could well be gears in the carriage to do that.
Are you saying that you can only face cut under power feed in one direction?
That would be *highly* objectionable, and if I bought such a lathe I'd send it back immediately, as not having proper cross slide drive!
Though I have long had doubts about cross slide drives which run on the leadscrew rather than a seperate shaft.
-- Peter Fairbrother
That's what they do and this machine doesn't have one.
Here is a post I found in the Chester forums:
However, the power crossfeed seems a little more hinkey. According to the review here:
It seems no lathe has the exact features you want and they are all compromises. It is perhaps no wonder that, in this size range, the Myfords are still so popular. They are very versatile. Except, of course, for this money you have to take a chance on the condition of a used Myford. That is your compromise.
Peer Harrison
That's fine, as I for one seldom if ever want to cut LH threads and don't mind a bit of razamagoo when/if I do.
Ouch! Could anyone be so stupid as to design a lathe like that? You can't even turn in both directions?
If this is so then the C4 is well off my list!
Maybe a Boxford? Not table-top, but ...
-- Peter
A recent edition of one of the Village Press (USA) magazines had an article on adding a tumbler reverse to an imported lathe. Seemed a very good job and not terribly difficult.
Don Young (USA)
If you spend time to read the mini lathe article you will see that it has purposely been designed that way so with the spindle disconnected and using reverse it has power feed in both directions for the milling attachment.
I have never understood the fascination for power cross feed on a lathe that only has 3 inches of movement anyway. When you compare the number of small machines built to the ones with power cross feed it must be a very low percent but it's never stopped anyone from making parts yet.
It seem only of importance to armchair machinists and nit pickers who wouldn't even buy one anyway.
P Riedie.
Why is this, Peter ?
Surface finish ?
Unless it has Constant Surface Speed you won't get a true finish as the feed rates change with diameter. However on only 3" if you can't wind steadily enough either take more water with it or learn to do so. It's not hard and only requires practice as you go hand over hand, no jigs and fixtures needed and you get a nice warm feeling afterwards. Either that you you have pissed yourself................
John S.
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.