Vectrax 1340 lathe

[Schutzen2]

Does anyone have experience with this lathe? If so, opinions ? Are they well supported? I haven't found much on them.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Does anyone have experience with this lathe? If so, opinions ? Are they well supported? I haven't found much on them.

Not finding much on them may be a clue as to the support youll get

 

[Alex Wheeler]

That brand is sold through MSC I bought a 10x54 mill from them in that brand. My experiance with MSC and customer service is top notch. I bought a new lathe from MSC. It did not cut a consistent thread pitch diameter. Im certain a gear in the gear box had some id to od runout. Anyhow, they came and picked it up and brought a new one. From Ga. to Mt. If your buying it second hand Id call MSC to see if that one is supported.

 

[Schutzen2]

Not finding much on them may be a clue as to the support youll get

Yes that is my concern. Usually you can Google reviews on just about anything but I've found very little.

 

[Schutzen2]

That brand is sold through MSC I bought a 10x54 mill from them in that brand. My experiance with MSC and customer service is top notch. I bought a new lathe from MSC. It did not cut a consistent thread pitch diameter. Im certain a gear in the gear box had some id to od runout. Anyhow, they came and picked it up and brought a new one. From Ga. to Mt. If your buying it second hand Id call MSC to see if that one is supported.

You can't ask for too much more than that. This particular one is at an unaffiliated reseller so I would definitely contact MSC for their input.

Do you still have that lathe? Has it performed to your expectations?

 

[Alex Wheeler]

The lathe was not a vectrax. That was just a comment on msc service. My mill is a vectrax. Its about 1000 pounds heavier than a bridgeport and does better work than either of my bridgeports

 

[ridgeway]

That brand is sold through MSC I bought a 10x54 mill from them in that brand. My experiance with MSC and customer service is top notch. I bought a new lathe from MSC. It did not cut a consistent thread pitch diameter. Im certain a gear in the gear box had some id to od runout. Anyhow, they came and picked it up and brought a new one. From Ga. to Mt. If your buying it second hand Id call MSC to see if that one is supported.

My Grizzly had an issue with thread pitch variation and in turn caused a large variation in pitch diameter. Weird problem. You could visibly see a variation on the crest where it would vary every other thread or so. My machine was lightly used so no warranty. I narrowed it down to the lead screw. I purchased a nice USA acme rod and fitted it to the machine. Threads come out nice now.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

My Grizzly had an issue with thread pitch variation and in turn caused a large variation in pitch diameter. Weird problem. You could visibly see a variation on the crest where it would vary every other thread or so. My machine was lightly used so no warranty. I narrowed it down to the lead screw. I purchased a nice USA acme rod and fitted it to the machine. Threads come out nice now.

Ya, the lead screw would be the first place to look. But I measured mine and it was not the problem. Mine was only a thou or so variation but still not right

 

[sean68]

I do all my barrel work on an MSC Vectrax 1440 lathe. It’s made in Taiwan by Frejoth. It does OK for such a light lathe. My 14.5” Monarch weighs over 5 times what the Vectrax weighs.

Support is good, but has a time limit. About 3 years after it went out of production MSC told me it has “limited “ support which as near as I can tell means only some parts will be available going forward. I would call MSC and ask about the exact model you are considering if parts and service are a question.

 

[Skattergun]

I teach manual machining classes and some firearm classes at the local community college here in MT.
We purchased two of the Vectrax 1340 variable speed machines about a year ago from msc. They seem to be pretty decent machines, they do a wide range of TPI without any gear changes, in fact I don’t think we have had to use the change gears yet. Foot brake works well. I’m not a huge fan of the variable speed it’s quite sensitive adjustment vs our sharp machines. Students are hard on equipment, and these are holding up ok.
One thing I’ve noticed is every variable speed machine i have used has a resistance to get the spindle rotating by hand, once in motion it’s as free and smooth just getting it started is less then desireable. Not as user friendly when doing fine dial in on barrels.

The 4tpi leadscrew is user friendly for students to hit same spot w/ half nuts and thread dial.

Took all the safety shrouds and such off, built d1-4 inboard and threaded outboard spiders to process barrels, can put a 23”barrel in the headstock pretty easily maybe even 22” can measure when I’m back in class. Currently enjoying some time at home with my new little boy born 3/31. Tailstock adjust isn’t as nice as some lathes I’ve worked on but it works.

Overall these seem to be decent machines.
We have Sharp, Vectrax, Ganesh, grizzly.
That would be the order of quality best to worse.

 

[Walt Krafft]

Congrats on your new student!!!