Just getting to know a new(to me) circa 1999 Summit 1440B lathe. No subform for Summit, Lion, ZMM, or other Eastern Euro machines so "various" it is!
This Bulgarian made lathe is no longer imported by Summit in the US. The currently offered Summit 1440 is made in Taiwan, and weighs 1000 pounds less than this series. It's a beefy machine, and very well made. Separate forward and reverse clutches, motor driven rapid on both the carriage and cross. A zillion different inch and metric thread pitches, and a healthy 2-1/4" bore D1-6 spindle. 18 speeds, and a 2000 rpm max.
After adjusting the six leveling feet, took a test cut on an unsupported aluminum bar. The collars are about 6" apart, and the end is about 8" from the chuck. Could not measure a difference between them using my Mit digital caliper, so I passed them under a DTI on the surface plate, and the collar on the free end of the bar was three tenths larger than the chuck end. Pretty happy with that. At least some of that had to be bar deflection, as it was pretty skinny for that much stickout. The machine seems to have weathered the 3700 mile trip from its former home in OK just fine.
Look forward to making chips with it, but have a lot of bells and whistles to get used to, compared to my old Craftsman!
This Bulgarian made lathe is no longer imported by Summit in the US. The currently offered Summit 1440 is made in Taiwan, and weighs 1000 pounds less than this series. It's a beefy machine, and very well made. Separate forward and reverse clutches, motor driven rapid on both the carriage and cross. A zillion different inch and metric thread pitches, and a healthy 2-1/4" bore D1-6 spindle. 18 speeds, and a 2000 rpm max.
After adjusting the six leveling feet, took a test cut on an unsupported aluminum bar. The collars are about 6" apart, and the end is about 8" from the chuck. Could not measure a difference between them using my Mit digital caliper, so I passed them under a DTI on the surface plate, and the collar on the free end of the bar was three tenths larger than the chuck end. Pretty happy with that. At least some of that had to be bar deflection, as it was pretty skinny for that much stickout. The machine seems to have weathered the 3700 mile trip from its former home in OK just fine.
Look forward to making chips with it, but have a lot of bells and whistles to get used to, compared to my old Craftsman!