Bench Top CNC Lathe Opinions

[NewCNCist]

My company is new to turning and is trying to get a few bench top CNC lathes to do some small ceramic piece turning with. So my question is this: anybody got any manufacturers they have particularly liked? Particularly hated? Why? Any general advice?

For further background, in our attempts to be economical we now have a MircoKinetics lathe that we have not been very satisfied with. I have read/heard to avoid lathes assembled from Chinese parts, which are typically of lower quality, but obviously more competitively priced. Currently looking into Optimum and MDA precision, but would like some experienced input and more choices. Any opinion on Mach3 control software? Thanks tons for any advice.

 

[ornerynorsk]

Do you have a preference for a slide or a turret type?

It is better to have enough ideas for some of them to be wrong, than to be always right by having no ideas at all.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

You get what you pay for

 

[NewCNCist]

Do you have a preference for a slide or a turret type?

Would prefer a slide type.

You get what you pay for

A lesson I've learned the hard way. Do you have any input as to a specific manufacturer by chance though?

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Sorry - NO - not my area of expertise... but as you I have learned the hard way.

 

[BillPSU]

You haven't mentioned what tolerances you are making and your volumes.

For tight tolerance a Hardinge Lathe will produce whatever part you can make however you will pay for it.

If you only have very low volumes send it out or live with what you have.

Bill

 

[mfgenggear]

I agree with BillPSU, I recommend Hardinge super precision with bar feed, because it can hold .0005 " all day.
if you are making thousands of parts then there is multi axis screw machine with bar feed attachments.
but there are many just as good machines out there. Start by contacting them and ask if you may contact their customers who have purchase machines near your area. ask them if you may contact to verify the machines in practice.
ask their customer if they are satisfied.

Mfgenggear

 

[MiketheEngineer]

I think there used to be a mfg named Unimat or Unimast - saw some very precision contact lens being made on them about 35 years ago...

 

[berkshire]

They are still around Unimat they make jewellers lathes and mini lathes.
B.E.

The good engineer does not need to memorize every formula; he just needs to know where he can find them when he needs them. Old professor