Thread: Qt10n

Hi, I have a chance to buy a 1986 Mazak QT10N lathe with a T2 control, What do you guys think of this machine, What is a fair price, Is the control good and reliable. Are parts available cheaply? The lathe looks to be in good condition, The maintence guy did tell me that there was a chattering issue. I am having them put power to the machine, What should I look for? Any help would be appreciated, I dont know how to run this control. It would be great if anyone could tell me the procedure to home out the lathe. thanks

to home out a t-2, hand wheel machine in to kindof the center of travel then put control in "home", move by joy stick up in -x- and to the right in -z- when the machine gets to the home switch it will slow down and finish referancing by itself.
once your referanced out the machine will move by joy stick and crash into what ever you ask it to. don't ask me how i know.

qt10N is a solid old mazak model that has made millions and millions of parts
i have many T-2's still in service at my place
service and support is good but i wouldn't call it "availible cheaply"
this is a top shelf CNC and parts can be exspensive, but that is true of all cnc's

Thanks I am going to see the machine under power In the next couple of days. The procedure will at least let me move it around.

Had a QT8n for a while couple of years ago it was a money pit.

Cheap Mazak parts? LOL A set of drive belts was quoted to me at 600.00.

New Z drive was 2500.00....it's all expensive.

Solid machine. But a serious pain in the wallet if not working.

Make sure it's in good running condition and set aside 5k just in case because old machines do not like being moved.

The T2 control....I hated it. Mazatrol is just one of those things I think you either get it or you don't. The thing just drove me nuts.

I had to learn to lie to it to get it to do what I wanted.

One of my fondest memories was that lathe leaving my shop on a flatbed trailer with a $12k check in my hand.

Dave

I can buy the machine for 5K, is it worth that, I dont do a whole lot of production, small runs 20 pcs at the most and lots of 1 or 2 pcs. Am I barking up the wrong tree so to say? I was thinking that having a machine like the mazak would help me on short runs where my profit margin is not much, and if the machine would sit for a couple weeks I would not have to worry about a big payment. I am mostly a repair shop, and thats were I plan on staying But would like to have some cnc capabilities, thanks for all advice and info. and let me add I am new to this site and it is great

If it's running, no repairs needed it's a bargain and a sweet deal all around.

If it's needing this and that and has "chatter issues" ....it's someones problem you are buying.

"Chatter issues" could be because they were hanging a boring bar out too far or it could need a new spindle...you should see which it is before you plunk down your 5k.

The machine was in a big plant, I am dealing with the maintenace guy(general maintenace not machine repair) he does not know alot about the machine just that someone told him that it chatters. He told me the reason for taking it out of service is that they are gradually doing away with mazak and going with Haas, said it is easier for them to find workers that are familar with haas. Do you think I could take a cut with the machine by hand to see if it chatters, I am not familar with the T2 control and neither is the maintence guy but I would like to bring a piece of good stock and a cnmg tool with me and and see what I could do by hand. anything else off the top of your head I should look for when I have the machine under power?? thanks again

you can take a manuel cut in "jog"
run the spindle up to a 1000 rpm's
hand wheel it to where you want to start your linear
put the feed rate at about 140 %
put it in jog mode and point joy stick where you want to go
your gonna want to try this away from the spindle first to make sure you got it right

chatter could be a height issue
or a spindle issue
both can be checked with an indicator

one big suspect in chatter would be end play in the spindle
should be no more than a tenth(.0001) or 2
run that thing up to 4grand and see what it sounds like

as D says 5k could be sweet or just admission to a money pit
but that is true with ALL used cnc's

I think all the advice above is very good. A nice test cut will tell you some things. As for cheap mazak parts?.... they don't exist! We have 6 mazak machines in our shop as well as a haas... and the haas doesn't compare. The cost of parts may be high... but they don't break down much and have paid for themselves countless times over. A Mazak is a rock solid machine, if it is free of issues.... 5K is a good purchase. (I can't imagine a place phasing out Mazak for Haas, but maybe thats just me).

If I were in your shoes, I would do more than home out the machine and take a test cut. I would try to find a good machine tech that is up to snuff on Mazak and take him with you.... It might cost a little upfront... but it could save you big $$$ down the road or right away. If they find a problem... you may be able to negotiate the price down... Thats the way I would approach it if I were buying ANY used machine. I'd seriously consider going this route.

I would try to find a good machine tech that is up to snuff on Mazak and take him with you....

tru dat....

Originally Posted by D. Rey

The T2 control....I hated it. Mazatrol is just one of those things I think you either get it or you don't. The thing just drove me nuts.

Didn't it take you forever to get that thing running? I remember back when you
had sold that, through KD Capital if I remember right, I was in the market and stole a '84 QT20 for 4k. That machine has been going hard and strong for 2.5 years with only one 39 cent o-ring in it. (I'm going to go give it some lovin' now in case it heard me)

On the Mazatrol, I learned on a T+, it was nice, easy, fast. Now I've got a T1, and its pretty archaic, lots and lots of lying to it, I'd rather be writing G-code for it, but no EIA on this one.

Correct

I can laugh about it now.

I have no doubts that very machine is making good parts right now as I had replaced EVERY DAMN THING IN IT and it was a practically new machine when I sold it.

Tool setter repaired, belts, way cover wipes, monitor, drives, oh I could go on and on.

I pretty much was a mazak tech (at least for 86 QT8s) when that thing left my shop LOL

They are good machines, I just bought a dog, my fault and lesson learned.

Yea for me I'll take g code any day.

Send me some pics of the machine, and your maintenance guy's phone number....

Don't have pics anymore

I may have sacrificially burned them

Whipping boy was actually my maintenance man, via the practical machinist, I was just the tech monkey turning wrenches.

Serious I think that guy has Mazak blue in his veins. Along with a little 12 yr old scotch hopefully.

it was the 60's
and we all were told it was ok at the time
toted tea ever since
learned t-2's under fire with people screamin' for action back when they
were the newest thing on the block
loved every minute of it (the 60's too)

Don't have pics anymore

D. Rey,

I meant for the original poster to send me pics...I was joking about buying the QT10N out from under him

Seriously though, if the OP doesn't buy the machine...

Coolkat: I am going to look at the mazak Monday morn. I am going to make my decision on buying then. thanks for all the help

Went and ran the Mazak , had high hopes, and was let down. I could pull the turret up

.050 I am thinking that the machine may need a turcite job, along with some other things

I think I will let this one set, no time to be rebuilding. thanks again for the help

Is this the one in Co? He wants $5K for it

No not in Co ,, In Va