Nice Home Shop Lathe???

[rbertalotto]

This thing might be a good answer for a home shop. 28" is a bit of a limitation, but with a 1.5" hole in headstock, other than turning a barrel you would be able to do most gunsmithing procedures "through the headstock"

http://www.busybeetools.com/products/METAL-LATHE-12IN.-X28IN.-WITH-DIGITAL-READOUT.html

$2600 with Digital Read Out!


Product Description
CX701

12" x 28" Metal Lathe with Digital Read Out - Craftex CX-Series

This new CX-Series Metal Lathe is has the features a serious turner would be looking for. Features include a powerful 1.5HP motor, a large 1.5" spindle bore digital variable speed readout, gear box transmission, precision bed ways and is built with superior accuracy and tolerances.

Other feature include power cross feed, large bed width for added capacity, right & left thread cutting, precision ground and hardened v-way beds and high end gear box transmission design. Like all CX-Series machines, this unit features powder coated paint, sharp looking two tone colours and a full 3 year warranty.

Features

Digital Variable Speed
Power Cross Feed
T-Slotted Cross Slide
Adjustable Gibs for Slideways
Equipped with High End Belt & Control Board
Gear Box Transmission
Overall Heavy Duty Construction
Hardened and ground cast iron bed
Lubricated slide ways
Full length Splash Guard
Full Length Chip Tray
Easy to use carriage controls
Four way tool post
Powder Coated Paint
3 Year Warranty


Specifications

Motor - 1.5-HP, 1.1 KW, 110 V, 12.3 Amp, 4600 r/min
Distance between centers - 27.5"
Swing Over Bed - 11.5"
Swing Over Cross Slide - 6.5"
Width of Bed - 7"
Taper of Spindle Bore - MT5
Spindle Bore - 1.5"
Number of Speeds - Variable (Digital Variable Speed)
Range of Spindle Speeds - 50 - 850 RPM and 110 - 1800 RPM
Range of Longitudinal Feeds - 0.07 - 0.40mm/r
Range of Cross Feeds - 0.02" to 0.28mm/r
Number of Imperial Threads - 21
Range of Inch Threads - 8 - 56 T.P.I
Number of Metric Threads - 18
Range of Metric Threads - 0.2 - 3.5mm
Max. Carriage Travel - 22"
Max .Compound Slide Travel - 3"
Max. Cross Slide Travel - 5.5"
Max. Tailstock Quill Travel - 3"
Taper of Tailstock Quill - MT3

Packing Dimensions - 55" X 27.5" X 27"
Weight - 250 kg (556lbs)
Approx. Shipping Weight - 285kg (634lbs)

Standard Equipment

One Face Plate: 8"
8-pcs Change Gears
4-Jaw Chuck: approx 6-1/4" (160 mm)
3-Jaw Chuck: approx 6-1/4" (160 mm)
Steady Rest
Follow Rest
External Jaws for 3-Jaw Chuck
Dead Center: MT3
Reduce Sleeve (No. 5/3)
Oil Gun
Powder Coated Chip Tray
4-Way Tool Post
Wrenches (8-10, 12-14, 17-19)
Hex Wrenches (3, 4, 5, 6, 8)
3-pcs Chuck Keys
2-pcs Screw Drivers: Phillip & Slotted
Toolbox

 

[ChipEckardt]

This seems awfully cheap. Anyone here have experience using one?

Chip

 

[Greatwhitenorth]

I have used a very similar model for some tool work and they are not bad for 90% of what you use them for. The main issue for more serious work like blueprinting actions/barrels ect are two fold...rigidity and the spindle bearings running very true. Some of these lathes do not offer the versatility to tighten up the bearings and would require a full replacement if they get excessively worn or loose. I like to see a TIR of .0002 on indicated parts and often these machines are more than that on the spindle when new. The steady rest/followers and such often need to be modified or beefed up to work right on these also to get them to work as they should . Get a couple spare drive belts for it if you decide to get it, they can be a pain to match years later after the model is discontinued. It may very well serve your purposes and take what I say with a grain of salt...Ive been spoiled by having access to tool room lathes that are ten times the weight of this and can get very fussy with the smaller ones. Try to google reviews on it or visit redflag sites to see if anyone has had known issues with this model.

 

[itchyTF]

Looks like the digital readout is for speed only.