Gunsmithing Lathe for gunsmithing
- Thread starter Yotepilot
- Start date
I ordred a 1340 GT because it's made in Taiwan with premium components. Grizzlies are Chinese and they (China) tend to skimp on materials quality. I don't have my lathe yet but that in a nutshell is why I chose Mathews and honestly I couldn't get passed that ugly green paint.
I have used a 1340GT for the last three years. I put a VFD on it last year and just bought a DRO to install which I got from M-DRO in the UK. All magnetic scales and Easson 12B head unit. It was less expensive than anything I could find in the US with magnetic scales.
The lathe is solid and does good work. I have zero complaints at all.
I have a PM 833TV mill sitting in Denver that should be delivered on Monday.
The lathe is solid and does good work. I have zero complaints at all.
I have a PM 833TV mill sitting in Denver that should be delivered on Monday.
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The PM DRO has glass scales which work well. With magnetic scales you get a smaller footprint which can be helpful on the cross slide. Be sure you get a 1 micron scale for the cross slide, too. I bought a 3rd axis for the tailstock and pretty much only magnetic will fit on the tailstock.
Just something to think about.
Just something to think about.
I received my special order PM1440TV from Precision Matthew's. It is Taiwan made, 5HP 3P motor, 7.5HP Yaskawa 7.5 HP VFD, 9 inch bed, one piece heavy cast iron base, DRO Pros DRO with megnetic scales, and D1-4 spindle nose.
It is rough leveled, DRO checked out,
Watch "PM1440TV Testing Cross Slide" on YouTube
It is rough leveled, DRO checked out,
Watch "PM1440TV Testing Cross Slide" on YouTube
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That is very nice.
If I had the money I'd buy an ERL 1340 or 1440. Expensive but much heavier and a bit more refined finishing.
Something I forgot to add that I have on my 1340GT is a proximity stop with the VFD. I can thread full speed straight to the headstock and it will stop within .001". I've got a pretty good sized braking controller in the VFD box to do it. No disengaging the half nut. Just back out the tool, press the stop override and run it in reverse to anywhere beyond the tenon and do it again.
If I had the money I'd buy an ERL 1340 or 1440. Expensive but much heavier and a bit more refined finishing.
Something I forgot to add that I have on my 1340GT is a proximity stop with the VFD. I can thread full speed straight to the headstock and it will stop within .001". I've got a pretty good sized braking controller in the VFD box to do it. No disengaging the half nut. Just back out the tool, press the stop override and run it in reverse to anywhere beyond the tenon and do it again.
Som
Proximity sensor something like this? My favorite, Taiwan made JET 1024 dedicated for chambering AR15 barrels.
Watch "Jet 1024 Threading To A Thread Relief Aided By A Proximity Sensor" on YouTube
Proximity sensor something like this? My favorite, Taiwan made JET 1024 dedicated for chambering AR15 barrels.
Watch "Jet 1024 Threading To A Thread Relief Aided By A Proximity Sensor" on YouTube
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That looks a lot like Doc Jacobs' old system before he moved on to the ERL. The same system as on the JET 1024 except the proximity is bolted to the pan.
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Yup, that was Mark's original design, I still have the V way mounted prox, just on the 1024, there is no room on the V way between the HS and the apron, so we had to settle on the pan mounted prox riding on a linear bearing. Though the little lathe is belt drive with a 2HP motor and a Hitachi VFD, it stops on a dime, never bothered with a DRO, since I am only dealing with the AR15 tenon, the travel indicator is plenty. I don't even change the compound setting for taper boring. Threading, I just plunge straight in. The little lathe does not complain.
My Taiwan Acer 1236 has the V way mounted proximity, identical to your 1340. But, it does not have the Hitachi VFD, that was one of the first ones converted back in 2015, done with with a Huan Yang. I was going cheap. So far the ChiCom is surviving.
It would make for an interesting day were I to set that up on either of my threaded-spindle lathes ?
Both grizzly and pm offer Taiwanese made lathes. Even the Chinese made gunsmith lathes have upgraded bearings.
Decide on the footprint you can support and buy the lathe that best suits your needs. It is nice that you can have the dro installed by pm.
Decide on the footprint you can support and buy the lathe that best suits your needs. It is nice that you can have the dro installed by pm.
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