Hi to all and THX for all the wonderful reading! This is a very informative site, thx to all who have shared their experiences.
Back in the dark ages, I spent a summer in a machine shop during college years (early 1970's), caught on quickly to the basics. Went on to other things and worked in aviation for a year or so, then life got in the way... probably happened to many of us...
Life has allowed me to come back to the fun of flying and tinkering with EAB (Experimental, Amateur Built aircraft), and I find having the ability to make parts would help a bunch!
My screen name is based on owning, in the midst of rebuilding, and hopefully soon to fly a gyrocopter. If anyone is interested to learn more about gyrocopters, google 'Benson days Florida', one of the larger gyro gatherings. Watch some videos, they are fun machines to fly, and a sizable number of them are homebuilt. This is kinda like the barn-storming days of yester-year... complete with some of the most interesting folks you will ever meet... <grin>
Back on the subject of machine tools:
I started reading about machine tools in July, first looking at a Smithy Granite (thought the Industrial series with the 40" length would be the better idea, due to its better build quality). It did not take long to realize what most folks know... the lathe is not bad, the mill is not good.
Went to looking at separate machines, and found Precision Matthews machines. After about a month of reading, I have pretty well settled on a PM932PDF mill, however I am still going back and forth between a 1236 lathe and a 1340GT lathe. The Taiwanese quality just intrigues me... however I am not really a fan of the Norton gearbox style (like the knobs feed/thread gearbox controls more).
A couple of things I have learned, THX to all the wonderful folks sharing their thoughts and experiences here and a couple other forums (CNC zone is one of them):
*I plan to get 3PH motor machines and do the VFD myself
*The stands, while adequate, could be improved on... am thinking about some custom mods for the stands
*Am just starting to read up on tooling and measuring tools... this probably is gonna cost as much as the machines... :whistle:
The question I am asking with this thread: folks who have experience with one or the other (or both) of the lathe's, to share their thoughts on each machine (and compare them if they can).
I realize folks will ask me what I plan to use it for; so here is an overview:
Early on (first few years), probably the majority will be aluminum and mild to moderate steels: mostly 6160T6 AL and some mild to moderate steel; maybe some 4140CM and SS. I do some shooting, so some very basic gun-smithing, however that would probably be less than 10%, even down the road.
I do have friends that do lots of auto restoration, when I said I was thinking to set up a small shop in the basement, they asked if I could make parts for them. I suspect this will be mild to middle grade steels. I did stress up front there would have to be compensation for the work, they agreed. (Insert icon of 'relief' ).
Sooner or later, I am sure I will need to work with some SS... middle grades.
As to precision... well I am probably somewhere between a Noob and dangerous :thinking: or :nuts: LOL... My approach has always been to buy things which have a bit more capacity and quality than I need... both so I can grow into them and so I will not be dis-appointed later on with the limitations. This thought process is what brought me to the indecision between the 1236 and the 1340GT...
THX to all that post their thoughts... I hope to be in a place to make an order from Matt by the middle of Sept.
John/GA
(GA is a nickname I have on different online forums, based on my residence in the state of Georgia).
Back in the dark ages, I spent a summer in a machine shop during college years (early 1970's), caught on quickly to the basics. Went on to other things and worked in aviation for a year or so, then life got in the way... probably happened to many of us...
Life has allowed me to come back to the fun of flying and tinkering with EAB (Experimental, Amateur Built aircraft), and I find having the ability to make parts would help a bunch!
My screen name is based on owning, in the midst of rebuilding, and hopefully soon to fly a gyrocopter. If anyone is interested to learn more about gyrocopters, google 'Benson days Florida', one of the larger gyro gatherings. Watch some videos, they are fun machines to fly, and a sizable number of them are homebuilt. This is kinda like the barn-storming days of yester-year... complete with some of the most interesting folks you will ever meet... <grin>
Back on the subject of machine tools:
I started reading about machine tools in July, first looking at a Smithy Granite (thought the Industrial series with the 40" length would be the better idea, due to its better build quality). It did not take long to realize what most folks know... the lathe is not bad, the mill is not good.
Went to looking at separate machines, and found Precision Matthews machines. After about a month of reading, I have pretty well settled on a PM932PDF mill, however I am still going back and forth between a 1236 lathe and a 1340GT lathe. The Taiwanese quality just intrigues me... however I am not really a fan of the Norton gearbox style (like the knobs feed/thread gearbox controls more).
A couple of things I have learned, THX to all the wonderful folks sharing their thoughts and experiences here and a couple other forums (CNC zone is one of them):
*I plan to get 3PH motor machines and do the VFD myself
*The stands, while adequate, could be improved on... am thinking about some custom mods for the stands
*Am just starting to read up on tooling and measuring tools... this probably is gonna cost as much as the machines... :whistle:
The question I am asking with this thread: folks who have experience with one or the other (or both) of the lathe's, to share their thoughts on each machine (and compare them if they can).
I realize folks will ask me what I plan to use it for; so here is an overview:
Early on (first few years), probably the majority will be aluminum and mild to moderate steels: mostly 6160T6 AL and some mild to moderate steel; maybe some 4140CM and SS. I do some shooting, so some very basic gun-smithing, however that would probably be less than 10%, even down the road.
I do have friends that do lots of auto restoration, when I said I was thinking to set up a small shop in the basement, they asked if I could make parts for them. I suspect this will be mild to middle grade steels. I did stress up front there would have to be compensation for the work, they agreed. (Insert icon of 'relief'
). Sooner or later, I am sure I will need to work with some SS... middle grades.
As to precision... well I am probably somewhere between a Noob and dangerous :thinking: or :nuts: LOL... My approach has always been to buy things which have a bit more capacity and quality than I need... both so I can grow into them and so I will not be dis-appointed later on with the limitations. This thought process is what brought me to the indecision between the 1236 and the 1340GT...
THX to all that post their thoughts... I hope to be in a place to make an order from Matt by the middle of Sept.
John/GA
(GA is a nickname I have on different online forums, based on my residence in the state of Georgia).
