Hafco AL900A lathe, is anyone able to identify what it really is?

Be a couple of days Doug, I'm away at the moment but heading home tomorrow. You'll also need to check if yopurs is imperial o`r metric lead`screw, the do make both, I specifically ordered imperial but of course I can still cut metric with the 120 x 127 gears. the norton gearbox gives a wide variety of pitches in both. I hope your pitch guide is good enough to read when you get it.

Interestingly yours is painted the same green as mine, and most Hafco machines are grey. The cabinet stand looks almost identical as well.

When you get some better photos we'll know a lot more.
 
G'day Doug, I got home a couple of hours ago had a quick look in handbook for lathe it just lists change gears, but doesn't itemise them I'll have a look tomorrow when I get out in the shop.

From memory I don't think there are any loose ones, just the ones set up on the lathe, which do include the 120 x 127, for metric, but they can be changed around in their configuration to get different ratios there is a chart on the front of the machine. Mostly all the feeds and speeds come from the Norton box.
 
Bob.

Thanks for that.

I will wait for your reply tomorrow.

Regards
Doug
 
G'day Doug, see pics below my lathe is set up with 40T driving a 40T via the 127 as idler. there is also a 30T and a 23T in the box. This set up is for imperial gears. the metric set up uses the 120 x127 in the same position and some gears from the norton box also setting it up with the 30 and or 32 T will give more metric gears. The chart is self explanatory. sort of. Hope these pics help.

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Bob

Thanks for that.

I phoned today and should be able to get access (all going well) tomorrow arvo. Hopefully get some pics and get back to you.

Also to go on a missing gears hunt!

Regards
Doug
 
Hopefully you'll find them under the cover at headstock end.
 
Bob

Got access to the lathe today at lunchtime.

See attached photos. I forgot to get one of the plate above the
feed levers, but it was pretty damaged and not really readable.
Would you mind taking a clear photo of yours please as the
one in your post above is all blurry?

Also, the bronze coloured plaque on the gear cover has been
damaged as has the main plaque to the left of the L/R lever
(feed/thread lever).
Can I have a photo of yours too please?

There looks to be a 120/127T gear and 2 x 40 T gears currently on
the lathe with the 120 aligned. The family's agent says that he
has never seen any additional gears for the lathe. So looks like
I will have to try and source them.

Can the lathe do any metric threads at all without the 30T and 32T gears?
Or is it 30T and 23T?

Regards
Doug

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G'day Doug, sorry about the blurry pic of the thread chart. I'll get another one tomorrow, Car is in the way at the moment. Looks like the gearing is the same. You can cut about half the metric range using the 120 x 127 gear, without using the 30 or 32 T gears, you will need them for the remaining pitches. It will be clearer when I get you a better pic of the chart.

Speaking of Hafco and Hare & Forbes. I have been told by one of their reps that it is one and the same. Hare & Forbes is the name of the company and Hafco is the name of the product. I can't say it's true but that's what they told me. It appears that the bulk of their products come from china with a few of the better ones from Taiwan.

If Hare & forbes can't supply you the gears it looks like the LD ones will probably fit And i'm sure I can get the parts form the dealer in Melbourne. Juist check your lead screw is it 4TPI or 4mm pitch. Also the graduated collars on the cross slide and other handwheels are they calibrated in inches, mm or both

Your lathe looks to be in fairly good condition, needs a bit of a clean but not too bad considering its age. So when do you move it in. can we ask what you paid for it? Do you get any tooling with it or do you have to start from scratch. Is there a decent tool shop in the Hill?
 
Bob
Interesting, the rep tells a different story to H&F. Doesn't surprise me.

I will check lead screw, but thought that 8TPI was standard on most lathes?

It certainly needs a clean. No indication of there ever being a cover used. The agent said the owner mainly only used it for armature refacing, so hasn't done much work or hard work. Sounds good, but time will tell.

When I have it in my custody, no problems about letting you know the price.

Tooling:
Some taper drill bits.
Both types of steady rest.
4 jaw chuck.
Face plate.
Live centre - how do you internally clean one of them?
Chuck for tail stock.
Knurling tool.
Several micrometers, inside gauge set (forget the name) that you use with a micrometer - telescoping dodads that are shaped like a T and have a screw lock?
Magnetic base with dial indicator. 2nd one that is just the dial, suspect it is broken.
Boring bar and tool holder set - both carbide insert type.
So has the advantage that other than no materials what so ever, is ready to cut metal, after I clean it and level it.
Noticeably absent is conventional tool steel, I saw none at all!

Broken Hill has only Black w--ds for anything remotely close to lathe supplies. Not exactly bargain shopping......

I just noticed you are in Adelaide. Please advise best place to buy material stock?

Regards
Doug
 
Hi Doug,
I'm following your progress with interest, a new tool acquisition is always exciting. Sounds like basically ready to go.
Snap gauges is the name of the internal gauges. Live centres are usually sealed but if you want access to the bearings most have a screw in retainer at the back of the head. Insert tooling is great but HSS is just as great and better for some things so you may want to keep an eye out on auction sites.
For inserts pretty hard to go past Ebay. I can buy a packet of 10 inserts for less than one locally and they will get delivered faster!
Stuff out of Hong Kong 2 days. Other side of Auckland a week if they arrive.
Looking forward to your pictures.
 
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