Used lathe pre-buy

[SouthernChap]

My only advice would be, wait on the DRO. You said you were just starting out with machining, learn to use the lathe itself without having to mess with a computer on top of it. You'll have plenty of fun just making stuff.

A more rigid, more capable lathe without a DRO would be preferable to a smaller less rigid one with, I'd agree.

But a DRO on a lathe isn't like training wheels on a bike, it's not a crutch.

I suppose learning to deal with backlash and remembering to count your dial turns, might be a useful skill for some, but frankly, the most challenging aspects of working on a lathe are getting a feel for feeds and speeds versus the cut you're taking and the tool you're taking it with, and learning how to spot the best workholding setup.

A I'd say a DRO, used for just it's basic functions, can help to remove one cognitive burden and allow a beginner to concentrate on the really important learning.

 

[Dhal22]

My only advice would be, wait on the DRO. You said you were just starting out with machining, learn to use the lathe itself without having to mess with a computer on top of it. You'll have plenty of fun just making stuff.

Absolutely. I have a big lathe and mill, both with DROs. I have zero machining skills and mostly just make fun stuff. I use a caliper more than the DRO.