How do you think about Opti lathes.

[Kost]

I want buy not expensive lathe for hobby gunsmith works. I know about Grizzly lathes, but it doesn't sell in my country. I can buy Jet or Optimum lathes machine. Which ones better?

http://www.optimum-machines.com/

I think will buy this: http://www.optimum-machines.com/products/lathes/d-320-x-630-d-320-x-630-vari/index.html

What do you think about my choice?

 

[gamma]

Cheap Japanese junk! Buy a decent secondhand 3 phase old machine, Harrison m300, colchester or similar.

 

[Kenny474]

It says they are made in China and designed in Germany, with German product and quality managers at the plant in China.
I like the German design, but I am not at all familiar with Optimum machines. Germans usually have good designs and make quality stuff. But that's not to say these lathes are going to be great either, as I don't know.

I do know of a friend with a Jet lathe, not all that bad really. It cuts decent for what he needs. Doesn't seem to be the same quality as an older South Bend or a Hardinge, but it's not bad for hobby use at all.

 

[butchlambert]

Specs look good on the OPTI and it has a 1.5" spindle bore.
Butch

 

[gamma]

Specs look good on the OPTI and it has a 1.5" spindle bore.
Butch

Sorry, China well whats the difference. Trust me the are shite.
Been there.

 

[butchlambert]

gamma,
What does the shite mean? If you lived in Russia, what would you buy.
Butch

 

[Kenny474]

It's not like the guy wants it for producing high end parts that need to be within ten thousandths tolerance. He wants to do some hobby gunsmithing with an inexpensive lathe and he has limited options as he is in Russia.

It does look to have decent specs and is plenty big enough to do the work necessary. I don't see why it won't work for his hobby smithing needs.

I say go for it man. As long as you can get decent customer support if you have any issues, which you may not even have, than it will be worth it for sure.

My Grizzly lathe and mill are both made in China, and they cut really well and hold really tight tolerances considering what they are and what I paid. I have used more expensive machines that don't cut near as nice, though they are older than my machines. They aren't a South Bend or Hardinge, but they didn't cost nearly as much either.

Considering the circumstances, I think they are a good option.

Kenny

 

[BoydAllen]

After looking over their catalog, I am impressed.

 

[gamma]

The guy asked for advice and thats my advice. I dont live in Russia so I dont know what else is on offer. Ive had one of these and there was no backup service for parts when they packed up and that was regularly. The gears were made from mill finished mild steel, the bushes that held the gears in place were made very small and weak and also from mild steel, as soon as they have to work they just break so you just had to sit around for 6 months waiting for spares or make them yourself. That pretty much equates to shit as far as Im concerned.

 

[X Ring Accuracy]

Its always the same......go find an old workhorse (insert brand name) for a lathe. Problem always arises of the crating and shipping of the wore out lathe costing a fortune. I have a Taiwan made lathe. Its ways are not wore out from years of repetitive motion, shipping was 400 to my door, I check it monthly for 4 corners of level and cuts as well as anything I have ever used. I say go for it, you will be pleasantly surprised if you do your homework on the equipment. Happy chip making

 

[Kenny474]

Its always the same......go find an old workhorse (insert brand name) for a lathe. Problem always arises of the crating and shipping of the wore out lathe costing a fortune. I have a Taiwan made lathe. Its ways are not wore out from years of repetitive motion, shipping was 400 to my door, I check it monthly for 4 corners of level and cuts as well as anything I have ever used. I say go for it, you will be pleasantly surprised if you do your homework on the equipment. Happy chip making

Very well said.

 

[clowdis]

Yep, I pretty well agree. Worst lathe I ever had was an old Clausing. Worn out from one end to the other and would have cost a fortune to have it fixed. Bought a Chinese lathe that is solid and very accurate. If I wear it out in 20 years so what! I'll haul it to the scrap yard and buy another one, I didn't pay for a lathe that would last for 50 years and I know that and I'll deal with it!

 

[Kenny474]

I think one issue would be the difficulty in finding parts in Russia for one of the older machines that most would see as a "good machine" and worth repairing. Buying new will eliminate this, as you won't need new parts, and if you do, they are still made as well as available in Russia.

My Chinese stuff works plenty good for me. And I got it cheap too. No real drawbacks there. At least the ways are not worn out, which is hard to fix.

 

[Kiwishooter]

I have a Optimum mill drill, this model in fact http://www.optimum-machines.com/products/milling-machines/bf-46-vario/index.html and have to say it is an excellent machine. My guess is that there lathes would be just as good quality.

Like all machines made in China or Taiwan, they are all sold under multiple different names through out the world the only difference is they are spec'd according to the market the machine is aimed at.........Kiwi

 

[NORZ]

Optimum machines are pretty good for the money. I´ve got a small D240 x 500 DC Vario wich I retrofitted for cnc operation. Its performed very well for me and holds tolerances to my liking.

Optimun also have cheaper versions of their lathes, called Quantum.

 

[eskimo1]

Never used an Optimum but they are everything but cheap. You can get good chinese stuff if you pay for it. It all have to do with the specs you require. We have a chinese Teach in lathe in the shop i work and it´s not that bad actually. Sure you get a better machine if you pay for it but the one we have is pretty accurate. I can produce stuff with 0.001" accuracy over and over. Not bad for a chinese

 

[WayneShaw]

All the specs are in metric. Is the machine set up for English work? Does it have a 4tpi lead screw? Most machines can thread English or metric, but usually an English machine must never disengage the lead screw while threading.

To me, the occasional metric job is no biggie, but if I had to do it every time, I would think twice.