I had a Weiler Matador that I bought and really had no place to keep it. I sold it to a friend. A year or 2 later,we bought a bother house,and I built a much larger shop. Now,when I call my friend,I have to listen to how great the Matador is!!
They are putting Weiler lathes on some of the new aircraft carriers that just came out. They are very fine lathes,and very handy to operate.
GEORGE WILSON Esq
U now getting me all flummoxed
We thought we would be getting our "DREAM MACHINE"
This is a slight deviation from the Topic but leads on.
Hear me out as U would be the best Guy to make an informed input here.
We are in the process to finalise a Deal on a nice 12 x 24 Sturdy solid Lathe from Taiwan with VSD Increased to 2500 RPM (as requested), 5C Draw Bar, DRO and a Beefier 3HP Motor,(also as Ordered).
Comes with a D1-4 Camlock Spindle Nose, MT5 Taper with 40 mm Bore and a MT3 Tailstock
Weighing in at around 620 Kgs we are sure it is solid to well serve our needs.
We already have both Sets of Metric and Imperial Collets and this Machine will be perfect for the jobs we intend.
Now that U talk about a MATADOR, there is a VS1 one in Holland with a DRO and not much in Tooling.
The Seller will change the DRAW BAR to 5C, at a Price obviously.
It is in pretty good nick as we had been informed and from what one could see of the BED pics, albeit with the usual Body paint scrapes, which may require re-do.
The Seller ran a test piece and came up with 0.02mm run out on a 250mm bar length. (We are presently getting this from our 8 year old 14 x 40 also Taiwan made "Tool Room Lathe")
The question now begs, which to settle on ??
We don't want a Rolls just 'cos it is a Rolls and nurse it as a "Museum Piece", without getting the run for our money. We require a "work horse" as one, we are not trained machinists and two, we must be able to easily understand and operate the Controls on the machine.
Add to this quandary the age of the Machine and availability of Spares. The Euro, which has no specific Country, is suddenly stronger than the almighty Dollar. So there is no such thing as a "free Lunch".
And we don't need "keep up with the Jones"
Akin to the REVOLVER-AUTO Debate, this would aptly suit that other thread on Imports versus Local Machines.
We are keen to hear Your thoughts, and if some one is prepared to chime in as well.
Thanks "a mill" in advance. No pun intended !!
aRM