hi all
would love a bit of opinion from engineers out there.
its to do with metal lathes..
i have been running a small lathe for last few years now, has small spindle bore 20 mm. pretty simple, but effective and i have made loads of custom bike parts and other things on it.
i happened to get a good tax return this year and can afford something more substantial.
i really dont want to buy another lathe after what i get next, so here is the deal- asian made lathe single phase is what i can manage, two options 38 mm spindle bore or 52 mm. both have a 1000mm BC, both have DRO, and spindle brake, but the latter has x, y, and z, its also got a jogger button and wider bed, both have gap bed function about 500 swing.
the difference is the cost about $1000 more for larger spindle one.
in my heart of mechanical hearts i think the bigger version, but my sense of worth kicks in and says dont blow all your cash in one area! it would take all my dough. however, i see it (if i went for bigger version) as an investment in my future retirement years , and i wouldn't need to buy larger than 52 mm after that.. the work i do is variable, and you can make small stuff on a bigger lathe but not the reverse relatively speaking. i looked into used lathes but most are worn out adn generally 3 phase which i cannot use, at least not without a VFI, and even then the amps to my shed aint great!!
any thoughts? i am deep in thought lol..
would love a bit of opinion from engineers out there.
its to do with metal lathes..
i have been running a small lathe for last few years now, has small spindle bore 20 mm. pretty simple, but effective and i have made loads of custom bike parts and other things on it.
i happened to get a good tax return this year and can afford something more substantial.
i really dont want to buy another lathe after what i get next, so here is the deal- asian made lathe single phase is what i can manage, two options 38 mm spindle bore or 52 mm. both have a 1000mm BC, both have DRO, and spindle brake, but the latter has x, y, and z, its also got a jogger button and wider bed, both have gap bed function about 500 swing.
the difference is the cost about $1000 more for larger spindle one.
in my heart of mechanical hearts i think the bigger version, but my sense of worth kicks in and says dont blow all your cash in one area! it would take all my dough. however, i see it (if i went for bigger version) as an investment in my future retirement years , and i wouldn't need to buy larger than 52 mm after that.. the work i do is variable, and you can make small stuff on a bigger lathe but not the reverse relatively speaking. i looked into used lathes but most are worn out adn generally 3 phase which i cannot use, at least not without a VFI, and even then the amps to my shed aint great!!
any thoughts? i am deep in thought lol..
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