pistonskirt
Hot Rolled
- Joined
- May 9, 2004
- Location
- Plymouth, Devon, England
I run a small workshop involved in motorcycle engine & chassis tuning here in England. I have a couple of Boxford lathes (ME10 & VSL500) & a Bridgeport mill plus several boring bars etc. Any job too big for my machines was usually entrusted to local general engineering shops. Unfortunately these type of shops are rapidly dissapearing as ridiculous UK overheads / taxes / property values continue to kill off small businesses.
The largest diameter turning job I need to cater for is a 17" wheel, usually to modify the hub faces. Whilst I would dearly love to own a suitable Dean Smith & Grace lathe my workshop is just too small for such a huge machine at present. I recently heppened across a Wilson 6.5 slant bed lathe (exported to the USA as Ensign or Elliott) which has the capacity to mount a 17-1/2" face plate, the machine is very compact at 67" x 36" and although not of DSG quality looks perfect for the relatively light work I need to do. I would be gratefull for any opinion upon the merits or otherwise of slant beds (I notice that most modern CNC lathes are slant beds) & any personal experience of this particular machine.
As production of these machines ceased (along with every other British machine tool) during the 70's I may have to consider reconditioning one & wonder if slant beds can be reground readily ?
The Boxford ME10 is likely to soon be replaced by a Smart & Brown 1024 11 x 20 toolroom lathe or possibly a CVA Mk1A series 3, but thats another story.
The largest diameter turning job I need to cater for is a 17" wheel, usually to modify the hub faces. Whilst I would dearly love to own a suitable Dean Smith & Grace lathe my workshop is just too small for such a huge machine at present. I recently heppened across a Wilson 6.5 slant bed lathe (exported to the USA as Ensign or Elliott) which has the capacity to mount a 17-1/2" face plate, the machine is very compact at 67" x 36" and although not of DSG quality looks perfect for the relatively light work I need to do. I would be gratefull for any opinion upon the merits or otherwise of slant beds (I notice that most modern CNC lathes are slant beds) & any personal experience of this particular machine.
As production of these machines ceased (along with every other British machine tool) during the 70's I may have to consider reconditioning one & wonder if slant beds can be reground readily ?
The Boxford ME10 is likely to soon be replaced by a Smart & Brown 1024 11 x 20 toolroom lathe or possibly a CVA Mk1A series 3, but thats another story.