Thread: Mazak QT10 questions

I am thinking about buying a cnc lathe for my home shop where we make pulling tractor transmission gears and other things like clutch shafts and transmission shafts.

I found a Mazak QT10 with a Mazatrol T+ control and I just wanted some input on these. I have never run one but I have run a Mazak QT25L at work with a Mazatrol T+ control. Would this T1 be much harder to program?

I'm guessing typo on the qt10 with T+ and then asking about a T1.

I went from a t+ where I worked to buying a T1.

Its pretty close to the same, it however is not as friendly. It only has 2 grooving cycles, so chamfering and then parting off can take some more time.

Lead in chamfers, it doesn't do the math to get a nice chamfer and you get a little lump, unless you start on the face and then come around the chamfer.

On the manual process, there is no option for return to tool position, so no matter where the turret is, it changes tools immediately, need to put in a seperate manual
process that uses the tool thats up, and move back for clearance.

Just takes some lying to.

The memory on mine is also very very small.

Basically if you are familiar with the T+, then you have all the knowledge you need, T1 is just not as friendly, not as powerful, doesn't have as many options.
Some of the buttons are different, what some things are called are a little different. Not a big deal.

Originally Posted by cuttergrinder

I am thinking about buying a cnc lathe for my home shop where we make pulling tractor transmission gears and other things like clutch shafts and transmission shafts.

I found a Mazak QT10 with a Mazatrol T+ control and I just wanted some input on these. I have never run one but I have run a Mazak QT25L at work with a Mazatrol T+ control. Would this T1 be much harder to program?

The t1 control is simple but at its age you will have problems with the control we had the mazak service rep out on one of our machines and ended up flying the control man in and two weeks later and 4000.00 it went down again. We scrapped it We wouldn t have spent the money on it but had a superfinishing attachment on it. Unless the price is give away don t spend the money get a manual machine if your funds are low.

Sorry guys that was a typo. The machine I was looking at has a T1 control. I also found out that the machine does not work because the parameters are gone. The guy wanted $6200.00 for it but he acted like he would take a lower offer. I already have a Leblond 16" x 96" manual lathe and a gisholt turret lathe but I was just looking for a cnc to speed up production a little.

He claims that the machine ran before he bought it but it has been sitting for a while. How much would it be worth in this condition? Also how long of a shaft can you get in one of these machines. I know our 25L at work will take a 48" long shaft. I am sure that this machine is much less.

Is it possible to save programs from the t1 to a laptop?

The parameters are only 2 pages long. Mine was missing them also(I had seen the machine run, it just sat too long before I started using it).
Problem being, not everything works properly, and that all boils down to a single parameter.
99% of the parameters are self explanatory, and backed up in the manuals. Probably takes 5 minutes to type them all back in.

I'd want to see it run before putting out a nickle for it, you could just be buying a giant pile of scrap.

Originally Posted by cuttergrinder

Is it possible to save programs from the t1 to a laptop?

I think there is an RS232 port back there. I've got a big old box that takes a 5.25 floppy that came with mine, never used it.

And honestly, your programs end up being so simple and short, really no use in backing it up. I just keep editing
the same programs over and over, from part to part.

if its something complicated, take
a picture of the program screen, then just type it back in when you need it, probably take longer to find the program and get it loaded anyways.

I also found out that the machine does not work because the parameters are gone.

then its not a lathe any more, its an assortment of loosely associated iron and copper
that puts it at $250 a ton and any dealer knows that

Originally Posted by wippin' boy

then its not a lathe any more, its an assortment of loosely associated iron and copper
that puts it at $250 a ton and any dealer knows that

And that is the cold hard truth right there! Take this advice, its the voice of experience.

I have 3 sets of parameters for my '84 QT10 with the square turret. It orginally had a tailstock but at somepoint it and the support systems were removed. The factory parameter list I assume thinks it still has the tailstock. There is one limit switch jumped out as well on one of the boards. At somepoint the parameters were updated and penciled in next to the first ones. Then there is the set that is currently in the machine. It seems to work fine. The load meters are broken and the spindle drive has some components that have fallen off. I paid $0.20/lb for it, there is now way it is a $6k machine. Mine also has a very poorly designed (IMHO) pneumatic chuck.

I think a machine doesn't run is worth less than scrap as you have to deal with moving it to get scrap unless they will pick it up. It is probably worth more as spare parts to someone with a similar lathe that wants to keep it going.

Here is the deal guys. I thought the owner said that the machine does not work but what he meant was that the tailstock does not work. He actually used the machine for a while without the tailstock. Later he disconnected the machine and hasn't used it for a while and it lost the parameters. He is trying to get the parameters reloaded and get it it up and running so I can check it out. How much would it be worth running but the tailstock not working? Also what would it likely cost to fix the tailstock?

Run Forest run.....away unless you very good at trouble shooting and have spare cash and time, how much you ask ? lots.

IMHO

Originally Posted by cuttergrinder

Here is the deal guys. I thought the owner said that the machine does not work but what he meant was that the tailstock does not work. He actually used the machine for a while without the tailstock. Later he disconnected the machine and hasn't used it for a while and it lost the parameters. He is trying to get the parameters reloaded and get it it up and running so I can check it out. How much would it be worth running but the tailstock not working? Also what would it likely cost to fix the tailstock?

Find out how long it has been sitting. CNCs do NOT like to sit powered off for too long.

it is a dicey project
it could turn out to be the sweetest deal around if it works and you get it for 3-5 grand.
but its an old cnc
in a heartbeat it could cost you multiple thousands of dollars over a burnt drive or some other failure.
if you have distinct machine repair skills with some electrical thrown in
go for it
if not and you really need a cnc in the garage
trade your wifes car in on a lttle haas or something later model, supportable and less likely to leak money all over the place.
this coming from someone that sheads more than a couple tears every time i have to dumpster one of theses old classics. they deserve better
but life just ain't fair