Leaving old shop and my machine tools, what to buy to rebuild?

schilpr

schilpr

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OK, this is a serious question.

I'm about to move halfway across the world and have to leave my large and machinist tooling behind. I'm taking all of my hand and portable tools and have already purchased a nice RF45 like mill with DRO (like this one: http://www.hbm-machines.com/product...eesmachinesssub/hbm-45-profi-dro-freesmachine ).

My new shop is small (2.6m by 8.7m) or 9' by 29' but has good light, good access and lot's of power (2 x 220v single phase circuit and a 400v 3 phase)

Let's say I have a reasonable budget, around Euro 5,000 (US $7,000) and want to add a lathe and a small work envelope CNC mill, what should I get?

Lathe requirements:
- Metric and Inch thread capable
- T slots on the compound
- At least 1500 rpm (2000+ very desirable)
- 150mm swing or larger
- 500mm bed or larger
- D1 or similar spindle attachment
- 3 jaw and 4 jaw
- Steady rest and follow rest
- MT2 or larger tailstock
- Possibility to add (or comes with) taper attachements
- DRO (Do I really need it?)

Any requirements I should change? or add and if so what is the lathe I would end up with? new or used?

CNC Mill
- NO IDEA
- Something with a 200x150x150 work envelope or larger
- ER25 collets or similar
- Linux CNC or what else?

Any ideas or input appreciated.

In case it matters, I'll be moving to the Netherlands, so please keep in mind that I need to buy machines that are available there or at least in Europe.
 
I know Europe runs on different voltages. Are you going to wait to buy something over there or are you planning on buying here and shipping?

Chris
 
Wait until you get there then buy your tools. You will get a much better selection of machine tools in the Netherlands than just about anywhere else in Europe. They were a manufacturing superpower in the day and their native AI Hembrug brand is fantastic:

http://www.marktplaats.nl/z.html?query=AI+hembrug&categoryId=0&postcode=&distance=0

You will find manual machines sell for more than CNC so I would probably set the money aside for a manual lathe before going down the CNC mill route.

Paul.
 
Yes, I'm waiting till I'm there until I buy.

i know marktplaats, it's a great place to buy stuff.

I'm not only going to the Netherlands, we're going back there, that's where my wife and I were born and raised so I do speak the language.

So the question really is; what features would you buy if you had a chance to start over like I do?
 
I think your original list of requirements are good. For the most part you will likely be cutting metric threads, however many lathes in the price range you mention will have the ability to do both. I have not used a taper attachment and most people I know don't even have one so it's not a deal breaker in my opinion. I think the ability to have a lathe that is rigid like the AI and the ability to do high speed turning is ideal - which is why I bought a Colchester Chipmaster myself.

If you can get an AI Hembrug that does 4000 rpm with tooling you will be set. There are a broad range of models but make sure you get one with the spindle control shaft so you can thread easier. They are really common so getting one shouldn't be a huge challenge. For those who don't know of the AI, it is one of my "holy grail" small toolroom lathes:

http://www.lathes.co.uk/hembrug/

The reason I bought the Chipmaster I have today is because I couldn't find an AI Hembrug in Norway.

Paul.
 
Rob, I don't think you can go wrong with a Colchester. I was initially looking at buying a Colchester Triumph 2000 which is very similar to the Master. They are large and very rigid lathes, however due to their physical size and weight, are not ideal in a workshop where space is an issue. Your shop is going to be tight on space since you want 2 mills (CNC and manual), so I would be considering a smaller lathe personally.

If I might ask, what type of projects do you work on? This will help you choose a lathe as you might be able to scale down to something like this:

http://www.marktplaats.nl/a/doe-het...285449651fa109c354bbabe740c1b&previousPage=lr

and save a great deal of space while stilling having a top shelf machine. A rule of thumb I have used is to buy a lathe and mill that are similar in weight. For my machines they are both 550 kg and can handle similar work envelopes. You may be intereste in the EMCO CNC mills like this:

http://www.marktplaats.nl/a/doe-het...285449651fa109c354bbabe740c1b&previousPage=lr

The great thing about Europe is that you are spoiled for choice with regards to machines. If you wait a while you will find what you are looking for. If you are interested have a read of my blog as it explains my considerations for a machine and how I have built up my shop:

http://wanderingaxeman.blogspot.no/2012/12/colchester-chipmaster-continental.html
 
Paul, my plans as to what i'm going to do are not that clear yet. Right now I do mostly custom car stuff, engine and transmission parts. But I won't have the space in the new shop.

So it will likely be motorcycle related pieces and parts, maybe some cameras and robotics here and there.

I do a lot of inventing, so I tend to make a wide variety of things.
 
Given what you plan on doing, I would probably scale down the lathe a little then. With inventing and tinkering, you need all the space you can get since you will likely need large benches and a welding table. Do you have an accurate drill press, grinders and press? These would also go a long way in creating a universal workshop for the inventer.

I opted for a smaller work envelope with my machines in order to save space. I did get the most accurate machines I could afford because like you, I work on all kinds of things.

Paul.
 
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