Ordered a 1340GT Lathe & PM-935TV mill today

Rich V · Jan 12, 2015

I’ve been looking for a quality mill and lathe for a while to replace my current machines. Based on the features and recommendations from posters here and on other forums I ordered a PM-935TV mill and PM-1340GT lathe from Quality Machine Tools today. Considering my current machines are a 9in SouthBend table top lathe and an older drill/mill with a round column this will be a real upgrade in capabilities. I have had these machines for many years and learned a lot using them. I’m now looking forward to taking a real cut on the lathe without bogging down the motor or having a lot of tool deflection. Same for the mill, more power, more rigidity and no more losing index changing the head height on a round column

).

I talked with Matt on the phone and by e-mail. He was very responsive to my questions and concerns. Contrary to what some have reported he was not difficult to reach and he replied quickly.

I’ll take delivery this summer so no pictures in the near future. I am looking forward to having some quality machinery to play with.

What I ordered:

PM-1340GT Lathe with Preferred Equipment Package
220V Single Phase motor
Easson ES-8 2 axis DRO
Work Light

PM-935TV Variable Speed Milling Machine
220V Single Phase motor
Easson ES-8A 3 axis DRO
Work Light
X axis power feed
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w

unctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w

oNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w

ontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w

ontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]-->

wrmiller · Jan 12, 2015

Yea! Spending the Big Bucks.

I don't have the 935 but have talked to those here who have them and believe them to be a very nice machine. I'm fairly certain that you will appreciate it.

I have a 1340GT coming in this month, and ordered it after talking to those here who have one. I've heard nothing but good things about them.

Are you going to keep your existing machines, or get rid of them? Just curious.

Rich V · Jan 12, 2015

wrmiller19 said:
Yea! Spending the Big Bucks.

I don't have the 935 but have talked to those here who have them and believe them to be a very nice machine. I'm fairly certain that you will appreciate it.

I have a 1340GT coming in this month, and ordered it after talking to those here who have one. I've heard nothing but good things about them.

Are you going to keep your existing machines, or get rid of them? Just curious.

I'm not sure about the SouthBend since a small lathe can be handy at times. The mill will be given to my son if he wants it or sold.

I'll be retiring in a few years and these upgrades will be keeping me home and out of trouble. Well that's what I tell my wife at least.

)

wrmiller · Jan 12, 2015

Rich V said:
I'm not sure about the SouthBend since a small lathe can be handy at times. The mill will be given to my son if he wants it or sold.

I'll be retiring in a few years and these upgrades will be keeping me home and out of trouble. Well that's what I tell my wife at least. )

My 1340 will round out my machinist machines: two lathes and two mills. I have a small South Bend 8k lathe that I love and the PM25 and Charter Oak 12Z mills. I'm not getting rid of any of my machines and will be adding some more basic metal working/fabricating tools over the next couple of years. Maybe a small surface grinder. Not sure about welding though...

And I too will be retiring (well, probably semi...) here in a few years and am looking forward to spending lots of quality time with my toys.

)

raven7usa · Jan 12, 2015

Damn, looks like I'm getting left in the dust because Publisher's Clearing House won't bring me a check. Nice choices for a big upgrade.

zmotorsports · Jan 12, 2015

Rich V said:
I’ve been looking for a quality mill and lathe for a while to replace my current machines. Based on the features and recommendations from posters here and on other forums I ordered a PM-935TV mill and PM-1340GT lathe from Quality Machine Tools today. Considering my current machines are a 9in SouthBend table top lathe and an older drill/mill with a round column this will be a real upgrade in capabilities. I have had these machines for many years and learned a lot using them. I’m now looking forward to taking a real cut on the lathe without bogging down the motor or having a lot of tool deflection. Same for the mill, more power, more rigidity and no more losing index changing the head height on a round column ).

I talked with Matt on the phone and by e-mail. He was very responsive to my questions and concerns. Contrary to what some have reported he was not difficult to reach and he replied quickly.

I’ll take delivery this summer so no pictures in the near future. I am looking forward to having some quality machinery to play with.

What I ordered:

PM-1340GT Lathe with Preferred Equipment Package
220V Single Phase motor
Easson ES-8 2 axis DRO
Work Light

PM-935TV Variable Speed Milling Machine
220V Single Phase motor
Easson ES-8A 3 axis DRO
Work Light
X axis power feed

Rich, congratulations on that machine combination. I have the exact setup and love it.

If I could make one suggestion though, you may want to consider the lathe in a 3-phase version and use a VFD to control it. During low RPM threading or operations a single phase lathe can get a rythmic pulse to it and the 3-phase eliminates that. They are the same price for the lathe in either single or 3-phase the only addition would be a VFD and Matt has a really good deal on the Hitachi WJ200 series VFD for under $300.00.

Just a suggestion Rich. I think you will be happy with the quality of those machines though.

coolidge · Jan 12, 2015

wrmiller19 said:
My 1340 will round out my machinist machines: two lathes and two mills.

Bill - and multiple VFD's and DRO's, did you win the lotto?

Rich - congrats on the new machines, look forward to your reviews on them.

Rich V · Jan 12, 2015

zmotorsports said:
Rich, congratulations on that machine combination. I have the exact setup and love it.

If I could make one suggestion though, you may want to consider the lathe in a 3-phase version and use a VFD to control it. During low RPM threading or operations a single phase lathe can get a rythmic pulse to it and the 3-phase eliminates that. They are the same price for the lathe in either single or 3-phase the only addition would be a VFD and Matt has a really good deal on the Hitachi WJ200 series VFD for under $300.00.

Just a suggestion Rich. I think you will be happy with the quality of those machines though.

I read your threads and watched your vids on both. You had a lot to do with me selecting these two machines.

I originally wanted to go with a 3 phase/VFD controller but the factory installed version would take a long time to get here and apparently it has fewer gears. Can Matt install a VFD? He only mentioned the factory option when I discussed it with him. Installing it myself in not something I want to do.

Rich

wrmiller · Jan 12, 2015

My 1340GT is showing up as a single-phase, and he is converting it to three-phase with VFD, so yes, he will do it. Carries the motors in stock, and orders the VFDs on an as-needed basis.

Rich V · Jan 13, 2015

I checked with Matt, they are not installing a VFD on the lathes at this time.

Welcome back Guest! Did you know you can mentor other members here at H-M? If not, please check out our Relaunch of Hobby Machinist Mentoring Program!

Ordered a 1340GT Lathe & PM-935TV mill today

Rich V

Registered

wrmiller

Chief Tinkerer

Rich V

Registered

wrmiller

Chief Tinkerer

raven7usa

Active User

zmotorsports

Registered

coolidge

Active User

Rich V

Registered

wrmiller

Chief Tinkerer

Rich V

Registered