Assistance please - metal working tools

[JimGore]

Good afternoon gents,

I am in looking for good quality floor standing drill press, and a mini metal working lathe.  The lathe must be a mini - I don't have space for a full sized one.  It will be used to machine plastics, aluminium, and copper.  Both machines must be single phase (220 V).

New or good condition second hand, willing to spend about R 5k on each.

Please let me know if you have, or know of anything I can persue in this regard.

Thanks,
Ian.

[Apocalypse Boy]

Depending on how hard you want to use them , try Adendorf, it's all imported fong kong stuff, but as long as it's not seriously heavy work, you'll be fine. For better lasting :Spend more on the lathe and less on the drill-press. A tabletop press you can get from makro for R1000'ish, not much can go wrong with it, but a out of true lath is going to piss you off, but for R8000 you can get a good Minni lathe. There's a place in Anderbolt you can try, I'll post they're number tomorrow when I'm back at the office. Also consider a small mill in place of the drill-press

[Gerhard]

I've got a Rexon floor stander and it is everything you'll ever need. Excellent workmanship and built to last. I've got a contact to get them from the wholesaler. Will find out what's available and how much.

[JimGore]

Thanks for the assistance guys.

I went to Adendorf yesterday to look at their bigger machines.  While the machines look reasonably solidly built, all the adjustement wheels have play which is a bit of an issue since it has measurement markings.  What use are those when you have about 30 degrees play?  It means you can do work to within 2 or 3mm tolerance, which is just not good enough.

Fong Kong sh*t...

[chris]

I ve got one of those Adendorf lathes(500mm), had it now for about 7 years and although it not the best and truest out there it served me well up to now. For 5k you will not find better, if you do please let me know. NS just don't go to small on the chuck as you always want to fit someting just bigger than the chuck allow.

[Ruan]

Don't underestimate the Chinese made lathes. They are a bit crude,
but if properly set up they will surprise . Most of the lathes on
display at Adendorf aren't properly adjusted ,usually there is a lot
of play on their slides.

Some pics of air rifle silencer and a casting nozzle I made on
http://www.tooltime.co.za/ProductDetails.aspx?id=484
All of the larger thread cutting was done on the lathe/mill combo.

[JimGore]

Those look good 

Three questions:
1.  How well can one of those machines be set up if you had the patience?
2.  How much play is acceptable?
3.  Why did you do the screw cutting on another machine?

[chris]

Don't underestimate the Chinese made lathes. They are a bit crude,
but if properly set up they will surprise . Most of the lathes on
display at Adendorf aren't properly adjusted ,usually there is a lot
of play on their slides.

Some pics of air rifle silencer and a casting nozzle I made on
http://www.tooltime.co.za/ProductDetails.aspx?id=484
All of the larger thread cutting was done on the lathe/mill combo.

Got the same one.

[Ruan]

I think u can cut accurately to 0.01mm when measuring with micrometer,
0.2 mm when using lathe adjustment markings.

There should be no play on the slides after adjustment.
On the leadscrews my lathe/mill combo has about 1/8 of a turn of play.
The play on the leadscrews are not critical because a cut is only taken
in one direction.
Only when a machine is equipped with a ball leadscrew will there be on play
in the screw.

All the screw cutting was done on this lathe/mill combo.

Don,t buy any cutters from Adendorf, they are useless. Rather buy high speed steel
blanks and grind them yourself.

This lathe/mill combo is already equipped with a very sturdy cross slide vice, ideal for milling
and drilling.
All u will need extra is a live centre and a collet chuck set for the mill.

When cutting short lengths of threat the chuck must be turned by hand because the lathes
lowest rpm is to fast.

Some pics of what a REAL skilled craftsmen can do with this lathe.

http://barronaviation.com/Default.aspx?tabid=130&pid=0

[JimGore]

Thank you very much for your insightful response.

The link you posted is wild!  The guy is seriously good to make those things in a workshop.  28 cylinders ?!?

To be fair, the machine does look a bit more serious than the Adendorf machine 

I have an appointment with a guy at Toolquip Allied today to look at some of their machines.  Will give feedback here after.

Ian.

[Ruan]

It is the same machine. Sold in US under Grizzly name.
I actually use the Grizzly owners manual because it is more comprehensive
than the adendorf one.
http://cdn4.grizzly.com/manuals/g4015z_m.pdf