Setup for testing basic lathe functions was a yesterday activity and things checked out well as far as I took them. Made a few chips along the way. Quick change tool post installed and basic new machine setup maintenance completed. Since I'm missing several key components; ,for example a MT-2 Jacobs 1/2" chuck for the tail stock, I didn't much bother with testing machine accuracy. In addition since I've some mods planned the lathe is sitting loose on it's stand until I've made my mods.
I mounted a 3/4" diameter length of 6061 aluminum through the bore of the three jaw chuck with 2. 5 " stick out and faced it, turned it down 20 thou for clean up and then turned to a .250" shoulder gradually increasing feed and spindle speed. I limited my rough cuts to a maximum .008" and feed was set using them slowest gear setup (too fast) provided with this machine. The spindle speed was 550 rpm and the brazed cobalt tool broke good chips with no birds nests or even occasional stringing during these simple operations. I finished with a couple of spring passes @ 850 rpm. Finish was quite acceptable. I worked dry, no lube only applied blue to aid seeing concentricity along the way.
Not setup in the least I was not expecting good results only testing functions on this one but I was gratified with the results, minimal though the are, but as I stated in an earlier post my recent experiences with setting up the "Sieg" manufactured mini lathes have been really good. One of these is setup in a commercial operation (not recommended) and motivated to and the operator was a complete novice but very competent and motivated to turn out accurate finished parts for the aviation market which he has a really great reputation with. He's become quite good with the items he specializes in, none of which are "high tolerance" but still need to be close tolerance in order to function well.
Of all the things I'm missing at this point the MT-2 Jacobs 1/2" tailstock chuck is what I'm immediately in need of to actually go much forward in my testing. however I'm pleased that the only real damage was the breakage of the useless plexiglass chuck guard...no loss there.
The heavy tail stock assembly must have come loose in transit and singled out the guard as a target of destruction. Cross slide was lightly marred in a non-critical location so I was fortunate that more damage didn't occur. The tailstock is a serious chunk of steel floating loose in an international delivery crate. Otherwise the packing itself was terrific.
The quality of the metal gear sets is very good the best of any I've seen to this point and equal to the 1
$150. aftermarket change gears I've seen offered by the better specialty vendors. No plastic gears or controls except where they make sense for motor control and power functions. Also the Chinese version of "Cosmolene" a ;transport grease that requires a torch to burn off wasn't used, just a light film of oil and no corrosion
Now I must have a moment of patience and wait for required stuff.
Rick C.
