Recent purchase of PM-932 and PM-1236

[JR49]

We have four of the PM-1236 lathes in the student machine shop I manage for a university.

Ssaxer1, just read your post about you working for a university and casually went over to the left to see where you live, and HOLY C--P !! I live in Lakeside also. Nice to know there is a fellow "hobby machinist" so close (although, with all the great members here, I feel close to all). Happy Machining, JR49

 

[chargerman111]

I just recently bought a PM1440LB and I love it. I got more for the money than if I went Grizzly. I made the right choice going with PM. I recommend them to anyone hobby or production.

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[mksj]

Nice machines.

On the lathe if it does not come with a shield guard, I would seriously look at getting some form of Lexan shield. I use this one from Flexbar which is a medium. Prior to the shield oil and swarf went everywhere. Polycarbonate plastic also will not shatter like acrylic, so adds a safety factor if something (small) lets go. The shield is easily detachable, so about once a month it gets taken off and cleaned.
http://www.flexbar.com/shop/pc/LATHEGUARD-MEDIUM-89p3525.htm
http://www.penntoolco.com/13061

 

[CalRon]

I just recently bought a PM1440LB and I love it. I got more for the money than if I went Grizzly. I made the right choice going with PM. I recommend them to anyone hobby or production.

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Nice man, I definitely think you made the right decision going with PM over Grizzly. Glad to hear you like your 1440LB. I really like that yours comes with a cast iron stand. I wish the stand on the 1236 was beefier.

My lathe seems to have a lot more vibration than I thought it would. When the chuck spins, there is enough vibration to cause the DRO to shake pretty noticeably and Im wondering if Id have an even better finish with less vibration. The vibration may be due to the rubber feet I'm using. Maybe I need to rest it on something more solid?

 

[darkzero]

My lathe seems to have a lot more vibration than I thought it would. When the chuck spins, there is enough vibration to cause the DRO to shake pretty noticeably and Im wondering if Id have an even better finish with less vibration. The vibration may be due to the rubber feet I'm using. Maybe I need to rest it on something more solid?

I had the same issue but mine didn't shake the DRO display noticeabley. I had all rubber feet also, 8 of them which is overkill. I ended up replacing 4 of them with solid mounts. Made a huge difference for me. I too wish it had a beefier stand but I'm fine with it now for the most part.

Details in post #2 here (sorry it's at the end of the post, I copied most of that thread over from another forum I posted on so many of the posts are consolidated): http://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/my-pm1236.11475/#post-94082

 

[chargerman111]

Wow, you have a nice looking lathe. Mine does have a guard for the chuck . I may build a little bit better one or modify the stock one a little. Over all though it's not too bad .

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[LEM]

Just noticed the bottle opener on the wall above your lathe. Made me smile.

 

[CalRon]

I had the same issue but mine didn't shake the DRO display noticeabley. I had all rubber feet also, 8 of them which is overkill. I ended up replacing 4 of them with solid mounts. Made a huge difference for me. I too wish it had a beefier stand but I'm fine with it now for the most part.

Details in post #2 here (sorry it's at the end of the post, I copied most of that thread over from another forum I posted on so many of the posts are consolidated): http://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/my-pm1236.11475/#post-94082

Thanks for your help. Your threads are very informative and they helped me decide to buy these machines, plus a few other little tools I must admit. Wife wasn't too happy, but I feel it's money well spent.

I noticed my lathe is standing taller than yours by an inch or two. Maybe if I shorten the bolts to lower the lathe, it will help reduce some vibration? When I attach the 8" 4 jaw chuck, the vibration is reduced significantly. I hate using the 4 jaw chuck though, takes forever to center the piece. I will definitely try to make 4 solid mounts like you did. Hopefully that will do the trick.

 

[Bob Korves]

(snip)I hate using the 4 jaw chuck though, takes forever to center the piece.(snip)

Take the time and get more practice with the four jaw. Use the rings on the face for rough centering. Then use a simple mantra to keep it moving the right way. I use "clockwise to push the part away, counter clockwise to pull it back" on an O.D. with the indicator on the work in the same clock position as I am using the chuck key from. A little practice focusing on achieving a simple spatial understanding of what is going on will rapidly make things go better for you. Just chasing numbers and clock positions is a disaster...

 

[CalRon]

Take the time and get more practice with the four jaw. Use the rings on the face for rough centering. Then use a simple mantra to keep it moving the right way. I use "clockwise to push the part away, counter clockwise to pull it back" on an O.D. with the indicator on the work in the same clock position as I am using the chuck key from. A little practice focusing on achieving a simple spatial understanding of what is going on will rapidly make things go better for you. Just chasing numbers and clock positions is a disaster...

Is it better to use a dial indicator instead of a dial test indicator? I've been trying to use my dial test indicator to clock the piece and its been a nightmare.