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

That is strange. Any other experts out there have a clue on this one?

Regards
I have heard that quite a lot of older asian lathes had the wrong feed plates fitted, set it up and do some test cuts, then you'll know exactly what you've got.
 
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Terry. Did you note that the cross feed is 1/2? But even when those numbers are doubled they don't match yours. Doug
I don't do a lot of threading, Doug, but it's my understanding that the cross feed values are usually one-half the stated values. Here's a photo of my Harrison M300 faceplate. Note the 1/2 ratio below the dial in the lower left corner. I'm pretty sure the ratios you're reading on your table are directly comparable to the ratios on mine, and to get the cross feed values, you halve them. No clue why they're different.

Regards,
Terry
IMG_1119.JPG
 
I have heard that quite a lot of older asian lathes had the wrong feed plates fitted, set it up and do some test cuts, then you'll know exactly what you've got.
Interesting. Since the lathe I had is older than Doug's (1976 v. 1980-ish), I wonder which is wrong. Doug, I'd be very curious to know the results if you conduct Bob's experiment.

Regards,
Terry
 
Interesting. Since the lathe I had is older than Doug's (1976 v. 1980-ish), I wonder which is wrong. Doug, I'd be very curious to know the results if you conduct Bob's experiment.

Regards,
Terry
Interesting. Since the lathe I had is older than Doug's (1976 v. 1980-ish), I wonder which is wrong. Doug, I'd be very curious to know the results if you conduct Bob's experiment.

Regards,
Terry
I was taught when an apprentice, that if your not entirely familiar with a lathe always do a test cut before attempting any screwcutting . also check the operation of the thread chaser dial if you intend to operate the half nuts. Over the years I estimate I have operated at least 50 or 60 different lathes. Some were great machines, a few I wish I had never met them. they were absolute shockers. Probably as many as 5% had errors on the screw cutting charts. There may have been more, I just didn't find them. I have also come across some badly damaged lathes and mills terribly abused by uncaring an probably untrained operators.
 
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Something has occurred to me. This has been a very interesting set of posts for two reasons. First, the technical issues raised include some relatively common factors but also some that are curious because of their original nature. A second and equally interesting observation is that responses to this issue have come from all over the globe. Quite literally. The original post is from Australia, and responses have been offered from Texas, USA; Ontario, Canada; Australia; New Zealand; Sweden; and here in Madison, GA (SE USA). I suspect most of us have responded with the natural assumption that all of us are approaching the issue as if we are all coming from the same frame of reference. Technically, that's probably accurate, except for different levels of expertise and training. But what about environmental? A quick perusal of a global time clock indicates the following:
Even as I write, in Texas, it's 10 AM; Australia, midnight or so (why aren't you in bed, Bob!?),; in Ontario, Canada, 11 AM; New Zealand, 3 AM; and in Sweden, 5 PM. And that's only part of the story. I wonder what the climatological differences are as well?

I'll start. Right now, it's 11:26 AM, bright and sunny, not a cloud in the sky, and HOT. 92 degrees F, headed to 96, current heat index is 100. Just mowed about half the lawn (no easy task - all total, it's 2+ acres) and am recovering before going to my non-air conditioned shop. My earlier posts today were a little after 8 AM. Conditions slightly more comfortable but about the same. Anybody else?

Regards,
Terry
 
G'day Terry, as it happened I did go to bed immediately after my last post. That is typically when I retire for the night. I'm up at that hour for a number of reasons, I'm typically a night owl, my daughter lives in Colorado and I often stay up so we can have a chat. I also have other relatives and friends in USA ad Canada so chat with them as well. I have travelled extensively over many years in Nth America, so am quite familiar with your local geography, including your weirder than our climate.

Right now it's 4.40am and your going to say "why aren't you in bed''. Well, I was until I woke up for a pee, old man's bladder. I also needed to stoke and reload the fire, It's 5c 45f here, and will probably drop a couple more deg, before sunrise at about 0700. and it might warm up to 15 or 16c a bit after lunch. The fire keeps the house warm, typically around 22c 68f. The slow combustion heater has a water jacket and heats a large 400 ltr, tank of water. this not only supplies all the hot water for the house but is connected to the under floor heating, which keeps us nice and cosy all winter. The only down side is it needs attention every 4 - 5 hours.

One thing I got used to fairly quickly is that this is a global community. here, Yes the issues raised are often very interesting and are global, also I always like to put my 10c worth in. I feel I have a lot to offer as I am formally trained as Fitter & turner, plus toolmaker, I also have a wide experience having spent most of my working life at sea as a marines engineer, having to fix all kinds of things with only the tools at hand. So I'm well versed in the philosophy "there is more than one way to skin a cat."

Having said that it's jut gone 0500 so I'm going back to bed, until about 0800.

Bob.




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G'day Terry, as it happened I did go to bed immediately after my last post. That is typically when I retire for the night. I'm up at that hour for a number of reasons, I'm typically a night owl, my daughter lives in Colorado and I often stay up so we can have a chat. I also have other relatives and friends in USA ad Canada so chat with them as well. I have travelled extensively over many years in Nth America, so am quite familiar with your local geography, including your weirder than our climate.

Right now it's 4.40am and your going to say "why aren't you in bed''. Well, I was until I woke up for a pee, old man's bladder. I also needed to stoke and reload the fire, It's 5c 45f here, and will probably drop a couple more deg, before sunrise at about 0700. and it might warm up to 15 or 16c a bit after lunch. The fire keeps the house warm, typically around 22c 68f. The slow combustion heater has a water jacket and heats a large 400 ltr, tank of water. this not only supplies all the hot water for the house but is connected to the under floor heating, which keeps us nice and cosy all winter. The only down side is it needs attention every 4 - 5 hours.

One thing I got used to fairly quickly is that this is a global community. here, Yes the issues raised are often very interesting and are global, also I always like to put my 10c worth in. I feel I have a lot to offer as I am formally trained as Fitter & turner, plus toolmaker, I also have a wide experience having spent most of my working life at sea as a marines engineer, having to fix all kinds of things with only the tools at hand. So I'm well versed in the philosophy "there is more than one way to skin a cat."

Having said that it's jut gone 0500 so I'm going back to bed, until about 0800.

Bob.




'
Well, when you rise, let me say "Thanks" for your reply. Had a feeling your climate would be significantly cooler than ours this time of year. Sounds like you've had an interesting working career that positions you to be a valuable resource to us rank amateurs. Many thanks for sharing your knowledge. From some of the posts I've seen, there is clearly a load of members like myself who have no formal training in machining but have always enjoyed hands-on activities. Since my professional life kept me tied (no, shackled) to an office environment, my extra-curricular activities tended to be quite physical - woodworking, horse training, street rod building, tractor repair, etc., etc., etc. We have been living on a farm for 24 years and, as you can appreciate, there is never 'nothing' to do. Some of my more gentrified family and friends often ask, 'What do you do during the day?' My stock answer is, I close my eyes, spin in several circles, then open my eyes. Whatever direction I'm facing, it's a certainty there will be something to do. I love it that way. Somewhere in the course of all that, I developed an interest in machining. I needed a part for a street rod modification that I couldn't buy, so I bought a Smithy 3-in-1 instead and made it. That lead to bigger machines and more projects (I've become the local 'go-to guy' when tractors and attachments need a part that's not readily available). Now I'm hooked and have been having fun learning for the last 3 or 4 years, and I hope you veterans realize how invaluable you are to us rookies and how much we appreciate you.

Pleasant dreams and stay warm.

P.S.: VERY familiar with the 'old man syndrome' that causes you to rise in the middle of the night. I'm usually thrilled to death if I can make it to 4:40 AM.

Regards,
Terry
 
Terry,

I am in Broken Hill NSW, 360 miles NE of Bob and we are in the same time zone.
Climate is effectively the same except it almost never rains here, whereas Adelaide is on the coast.

Ditto to bladder demands.

I am a 56 y.o. Electrician by qualification, but have spent most of my life in the accommodation business. Hence the 3 decades absence from lathes. In short, this Hafco lathe came up for sale and I evaluated it as a good buy. I am somewhat puzzled as to how much use it will get, but often these things attract projects that we otherwise would not have considered due to not having the facilities.

Regards
Doug
 
Terry,

I am in Broken Hill NSW, 360 miles NE of Bob and we are in the same time zone.
Climate is effectively the same except it almost never rains here, whereas Adelaide is on the coast.

Ditto to bladder demands.

I am a 56 y.o. Electrician by qualification, but have spent most of my life in the accommodation business. Hence the 3 decades absence from lathes. In short, this Hafco lathe came up for sale and I evaluated it as a good buy. I am somewhat puzzled as to how much use it will get, but often these things attract projects that we otherwise would not have considered due to not having the facilities.

Regards
Doug
Must be beautiful up there this time of year! 40's Fahrenheit at night, and I assume with little rainfall the humidity is relatively low? Humidity is a big factor around here. It's not unlikely for both the temperature and the humidity to be in the 90's.

I think you're right about the opportunities that will arise now that you own the lathe. As I mentioned in an earlier post, except for the larger size your lathe seems to be a dead-ringer for my Kin Shin. It's an extremely well-built machine, and I've had seller's remorse almost from the day I sold it. As with most of us amateurs, I needed the space more than I needed a third lathe. Too bad that one sold first. Such is life.

Every one of my stationary pieces of equipment is used. And all needed some amount of work. I have spent several years restoring and modifying old cars, and I discovered that the best way to appreciate a car or piece of equipment is to know how to work on it. That axiom served me well on my milling machine (Supermax BP clone also made in Taiwan), my Harrison lathe and the Kin Shin. I suspect you'll have the same experience on your new acquisition.

Please keep us posted on your progress. I'm especially curious about the result of Bob's recommended experiment on the threading convention.

It's 7:14 PM, Wednesday here in GA, down to 93 degrees from a high of 98 - hot and pretty humid. I guess it's Thursday morning in NSW?

Regards,
Terry

P.S.: Maybe you've already addressed this, but what came with the lathe by way of tooling?
 
What I would do, not knowing how it sat all those years, is to level the headstock first and then let the casting relieve itself of any stress that the previous owner put into it. I would monitor the Tailstock end and with less pressure on the screw/foot that you want to drop. In the mean time you can offset the tailstock for the jobs as required and hopefully in a few months the two ends will be on the same plane.
Pierre
 
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