Mini/Micro Lathes.....

Just in case anyone else wanted one, I found these very
reasonable lathes.
Perfect for making mic bodies/capsules etc......at least
that's what I'm going to use mine for!

http://www.axminster.co.uk/product.asp?pricing=INC&pf_id=33289&recno=2&cid=SOVFD40DM08X3XB0JAWXFD5FZ45E3S4Z

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tony.jeffree/

Yep - that looks good!

I thought these affordable lathes were reserved to people in the US - I've not seen them in europe before. Maybe I should check out what it would cost delivered to denmark...

Just found this too:
http://www.axminster.co.uk/product.asp?pf_id=33370&recno=3&cid=SOVFD40DM08X3XB0JAWXFD5FZ45E3S4Z

...a micro mill

Jakob E.

[quote author="gyraf"]

Just found this too:
http://www.axminster.co.uk/product.asp?pf_id=33370&recno=3&cid=SOVFD40DM08X3XB0JAWXFD5FZ45E3S4Z

...a micro mill

Jakob E.[/quote]

It looks very similar to Central Mashinery one, sold in US. I have one. To be honest I dont like it much. The motor is only 1/4 HP. It is good for milling plastics and Aluminum. With brass, I have problems of kicking, and it is almost impossible to work with iron. Basically, waste of money. I'd recommend one with 4/5 HP motor.

i just ordered a Clisby lathe to start experimenting with mic body designing.

www.clisby.com

they are unfortuntely in Australia, so shipping to US is about 50$.
but they are top notch and can still do ten thousandths incriments so real precise.
they sold their design to Sherline, which are just a little fancier but cost alot more.
lathe is 150$ and vertical mill is 350$. hopefully mine will be in in a couple of days!

-another plus is the size and weight. thing only weighs like 15lbs so you can throw it in your car when you need to move it. unlike those 200lb Grizzly cast iron lathes.

I have wo small lathes One is the taig, its a toy. The cantlever bed design vibrates when cutting. I might turn it to a capsule finishing lathe machine the jaws and mount 2 dial indicators for the fine cuts

The other is a speedway made in china by seig. $299.00 USA from homier I picked it up a a local tool show,check the web site for shows. You need to buy alot more stuff tool bits, micrometers, and for capsules you will need to adjust the parts of the lathe so it is true. I am still working on mine with adjusting it.

I need to lap the cross slide and machine the tailstock mounting point.

Google minilathe .com