Who manufactures a small CNC lathe thats affordable

Tap_or_Die · May 18, 2017

Im looking to buy a small, personal, CNC lathe. I have even thought about buying an older mazak QT or similar machine but I cant afford 20K. It would also be nice if it can fit through a standard doorway, so I could fit it in my shop. Any help is appreciated.

red beard · May 18, 2017

You didn't list many requirements, so I don't know if this would work for you, but Tormach makes a CNC lathe.
Tormach 15L Slant-PRO™ CNC Lathe | Tormach Inc. providers of personal small CNC machines, CNC tooling, and many more CNC items.

No experience with them myself, but people seem to think that their mills are decent for a prosumer/hobby machine.

Tap_or_Die · May 18, 2017

Thats almost perfect. No real specs on my end, I can use just about anything given the time to learn it. I like the turret option on this also. Thanks

skywalker4 · May 18, 2017

Tap_or_Die said:
Im looking to buy a small, personal, CNC lathe. I have even thought about buying an older mazak QT or similar machine but I cant afford 20K. It would also be nice if it can fit through a standard doorway, so I could fit it in my shop. Any help is appreciated.

maybe a small tool room lathe? i know our OT mazak wont fit through a standard doorway.

CalG · May 18, 2017

I saw these while looking for something else on the internet

GEDEE WEILER | Manufacturer CNC Turning Centre-Eco Turn

I have no idea about them.

Dangle_kt · May 18, 2017

I'm not sure how common they are in the US, but I have a DENFORD, they made a fair few different models, I have a STARTURN 8 with turret - they are pretty retro now against something like the Tormach, but are £1,000-£3,000 depending on spec, vs. 10x that for anything modern.

It will easy fit through a door, small work envelope, but good enough for basic small parts inc threads etc.

michiganbuck · May 18, 2017

Unmentionable here at PM an Ann Arbor Mi machine is $20K.. perhaps $25 with perks..($15 to $26K)

so the Mazak QT at $20 not bad...likely the better machine.

micro · May 18, 2017

Mazak still makes the QT6T (T = with turret, G = Gang tooling) which is a great little machine. I've seen used machines that are not too old in the $20K range. The conversational control(Mazatrol)alone is a huge selling point for me. However the work envelope is quite small. I see quite a few QT20 and QT20hp's around but those are all mid 90's machines so are already over 20 years old. They have 2.625" bar capacity and Mazatrol so they are very versatile machines, however they are all old and most have been very well used. FWIW I am in the market for a smaller turning center too to replace my Emco 342, but I have a bit more to spend. Even so, this question is very relevant to me too. Outside of the hobby machines (tormach, prototrak haas TL1 [sort of]) I have recently been looking at the Haas SL10. There seem to be quite a few of them out there for sale and the prices are very reasonable for a full turning center. I was about ask for opinions on Haas's conversational programming but I'll put that in a different thread.

µ

skywalker4 · May 18, 2017

I cannot help but throw a comment out on the haas sl-10.
worst lathe we have ever had, if all you do is aluminum or plastic, that is ok.
steel, no guts at all. worst tailstock design i ever saw.

micro · May 18, 2017

Good to know, Explains why used they are so cheep.

Captdave · May 18, 2017

micro said:
Mazak still makes the QT6T (T = with turret, G = Gang tooling) which is a great little machine. I've seen used machines that are not too old in the $20K range. The conversational control(Mazatrol)alone is a huge selling point for me. However the work envelope is quite small. I see quite a few QT20 and QT20hp's around but those are all mid 90's machines so are already over 20 years old. They have 2.625" bar capacity and Mazatrol so they are very versatile machines, however they are all old and most have been very well used. FWIW I am in the market for a smaller turning center too to replace my Emco 342, but I have a bit more to spend. Even so, this question is very relevant to me too. Outside of the hobby machines (tormach, prototrak haas TL1 [sort of]) I have recently been looking at the Haas SL10. There seem to be quite a few of them out there for sale and the prices are very reasonable for a full turning center. I was about ask for opinions on Haas's conversational programming but I'll put that in a different thread.

µ

Most of the QT-6's I have seen didn't have a Mazatrol control on them but they are nice little machines. We have a QT-8 with a T-32 control and its been a rock solid machine over the past 10 years but you'll get neither of them through a standard doorway.

We just sold a Hardinge gang tool lathe that was retro fitted with a Fagor control that we really wasn't using too much the past couple of years which would have been the ticket for a small shop.

rlockwood · May 18, 2017

5c gang tool lathes tend to go for ridiculously cheap, given how effective they are at certain tasks. Not the most versatile things in the world.

Tap_or_Die · May 18, 2017

I've worked with a mazak qt6t for 10 plus years, its probably the most maintenance free machine I've used. It has always held tolerances down to .0001", and the mazatrol control is breeze to work with. I just cant afford one.

I thought about maybe trying a haas, but, I have also seen the construction of the tool room machines. To me it seems it would tons have clearance issues.

Pete Deal · May 18, 2017

Can't afford? There is a mazak qt8sp on ebay for $6k. A guy had a qt15 on here the other day for $10k. Those are real machines for hobby prices. You'll no doubt need to be able to work on them yourself though.

FYI- I was up in Ohio at McKean a few weeks ago and looked at that QT8. From a distance it looks like a turd but up close it looks like a pretty good machine.

Perry Harrington · May 18, 2017

HAAS OL-1
Mori Seiki SL-0 or SL-00

ewlsey · May 18, 2017

Interestingly, making a CNC machine smaller does not really make it much cheaper. It still has the same number of motors, drives, screws, gibs, etc.

Vancbiker · May 18, 2017

ewlsey said:
Interestingly, making a CNC machine smaller does not really make it much cheaper. It still has the same number of motors, drives, screws, gibs, etc.

But smaller machines are made in larger quantities so some economy of scale is realized.

micro · May 19, 2017

Captdave said:
Most of the QT-6's I have seen didn't have a Mazatrol control on them but they are nice little machines. We have a QT-8 with a T-32 control and its been a rock solid machine over the past 10 years but you'll get neither of them through a standard doorway.

I have seen them with Fanuc controls but cant imagine why anyone would want to go from one of the easiest controls to use to one of the most obtuse. That said, the odd thing about Mazaks is that Mazatrol (the conversational language) is standard but EIA mode (G code)is a $1500 software option that a lot of machines out there don't seem to have.

Pete Deal · May 19, 2017

Mine has the EIA (G code) option but for the life of me I can't imagine ever using it. It seems to me the only way it would be a good option is if you were setting a machine up for a lifetime of running a particular part or two and really wanted to optimize every move.

Vancbiker · May 19, 2017

Pete Deal said:
Mine has the EIA (G code) option but for the life of me I can't imagine ever using it. It seems to me the only way it would be a good option is if you were setting a machine up for a lifetime of running a particular part or two and really wanted to optimize every move.

During the sad time I had to deal with an Integrex, it was always programmed off-line in EIA. That particular shop did no programming at the machines. Different environments need different approaches.

Who manufactures a small CNC lathe thats affordable

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