suitable hobbyist lathe for plastic (and occasional metal) turning

[james]

All,

Some background:

I'm after a lathe for turning plastic on to make formers for
electromagnet coils. These coils will have a maximum diameter of up to
_50mm_ and a max length of 100mm. They will be formed as a bobbin, so
I require the ability to cut into the material by up to 20mm to form
the bobbin shaft.

In terms of materials, would nylon be suitable for turning on a lathe?

I would like a hobbyist lathe with the ability to perform these tasks.
My budget, with tools and all, is about £350. Does anyone know of any
manufacturers they would recommend? Or any sources from which to buy
from?

People have mentioned the UNIMAT series and I have also seen a Clarke
CL300M in Machine Mart for £470. Any thought on these machines?

I'm not bothered about milling gears or circular saws or even cutting
screw threads. It would be nice to get a basic lathe that I can expand
by buying the tools as and when I need them. I'd also like (not
immediately) to turn small metal objects too.

The size is also important as I currently have not much room i my
spare room / workshop.

To summarise the requirements

-- up to 50mm material diameter
-- suitable for metal and plastic
-- modular approach to tools and attachments?
-- fairly compact
-- fairly cheap

If anyone can help with these vague requirements, it would be
appreciated.

thanks in advance,
James

http://www.thedatastream.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

[fragged]

hiya
e mail me i have a lathe for 150 quid it may be a bit bigger than you
wanted but for the price you can make it fit :-)

richard
fragged8@hotmail.com

"james" <thedatastream@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:16a7c3ae.0212020517.28225aa1@posting.google.c om...
> All,
>
> Some background:
>
> I'm after a lathe for turning plastic on to make formers for
> electromagnet coils. These coils will have a maximum diameter of up to
> _50mm_ and a max length of 100mm. They will be formed as a bobbin, so
> I require the ability to cut into the material by up to 20mm to form
> the bobbin shaft.
>
> In terms of materials, would nylon be suitable for turning on a lathe?
>
> I would like a hobbyist lathe with the ability to perform these tasks.
> My budget, with tools and all, is about £350. Does anyone know of any
> manufacturers they would recommend? Or any sources from which to buy
> from?
>
> People have mentioned the UNIMAT series and I have also seen a Clarke
> CL300M in Machine Mart for £470. Any thought on these machines?
>
> I'm not bothered about milling gears or circular saws or even cutting
> screw threads. It would be nice to get a basic lathe that I can expand
> by buying the tools as and when I need them. I'd also like (not
> immediately) to turn small metal objects too.
>
> The size is also important as I currently have not much room i my
> spare room / workshop.
>
> To summarise the requirements
>
> -- up to 50mm material diameter
> -- suitable for metal and plastic
> -- modular approach to tools and attachments?
> -- fairly compact
> -- fairly cheap
>
> If anyone can help with these vague requirements, it would be
> appreciated.
>
> thanks in advance,
> James
>
> http://www.thedatastream.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

[Guy]

thedatastream@yahoo.com (james) wrote in message news:<16a7c3ae.0212020517.28225aa1@posting.google.com>...
>
> I'm after a lathe for turning plastic on to make formers for
> electromagnet coils....
>
> In terms of materials, would nylon be suitable for turning on a lathe?

Yes, very. You need to make sure the cutting tools are very sharp, or
the workpiece edges get ragged: IMHO a cheapo bench grinder and some
HSS blanks are necessities, and don't cost much (£40 total?).

Guy

[Lionel]

http://www.rejon.co.uk/machine.htm

Seen these?


"james" <thedatastream@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:16a7c3ae.0212020517.28225aa1@posting.google.c om...
> All,
>
> Some background:
>
> I'm after a lathe for turning plastic on to make formers for
> electromagnet coils. These coils will have a maximum diameter of up to
> _50mm_ and a max length of 100mm. They will be formed as a bobbin, so
> I require the ability to cut into the material by up to 20mm to form
> the bobbin shaft.
>
> In terms of materials, would nylon be suitable for turning on a lathe?
>
> I would like a hobbyist lathe with the ability to perform these tasks.
> My budget, with tools and all, is about £350. Does anyone know of any
> manufacturers they would recommend? Or any sources from which to buy
> from?
>
> People have mentioned the UNIMAT series and I have also seen a Clarke
> CL300M in Machine Mart for £470. Any thought on these machines?
>
> I'm not bothered about milling gears or circular saws or even cutting
> screw threads. It would be nice to get a basic lathe that I can expand
> by buying the tools as and when I need them. I'd also like (not
> immediately) to turn small metal objects too.
>
> The size is also important as I currently have not much room i my
> spare room / workshop.
>
> To summarise the requirements
>
> -- up to 50mm material diameter
> -- suitable for metal and plastic
> -- modular approach to tools and attachments?
> -- fairly compact
> -- fairly cheap
>
> If anyone can help with these vague requirements, it would be
> appreciated.
>
> thanks in advance,
> James
>
> http://www.thedatastream.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk