Gunsmithing Precision Mathews Lathe questions

[bulldog911]

Hey all,
I'm looking at purchasing a PM-1440GS 14″X40″ GUNSMITH LATHE w/2 axis dro. I'm having a very hard time trying to find reviews or videos on the machine. I've heard a lot of great things about the company and customer service is top notch. I looked at grizzly lathes but honestly, customer service wasnt the best on other purchases I've made. This will be my first lathe. Any input would be appreciated. Below are the specs.

• High Precision Japanese NSK Tapered Roller Bearings used in spindle, for the ultimate in long life, high precision, and best surface finishes
• 4-bolt Centering Provision (Known as a Spider) Included at outboard end of spindle, great for through spindle work, such as Gunsmithing or support other long parts that extend through the spindle bore
• Standard 3 jaw chuck has reversible bolt on jaws, for faster changing from O.D. to I.D. Holding
• D1-5 CAMLOCK SPINDLE MOUNT, with LARGE 2” Spindle Bore, Best in class for universal chuck mounting, and the ability to accept larger diameter work that can pass through the spindle for much easier setup
• Excellent value for the price, includes many of the accessories people eventually add, such as the Wedge Type Quick Change Tool post Set, LED Work Light, and more at no additional charge, pre-installed on the machine and ready to use
• Hardened and Ground gears and shafts in headstock for longer life
• Power feed on Carriage, and Cross Slide, both left and right, and in and out, for both turning and facing operations with automatic feed. Allows for the best surface finish in all directions.
• 3 HP Single Phase motor, no need for any special power source, will run from standard 220V Single Phase Outlet
• Rigid Cast Iron Base Construction, for deeper cuts, and more vibration dampening
• Induction Hardened and Precision Ground Bed Ways to resist wear and give a long service life
• High quality electronics used throughout machine
• Slip Clutch on feed rod, to help prevent overloading damage of feeds and allow the use of a solid carriage stop for repetitive work
• Inch AND Metric thread cutting ability is a standard
• Minimal Change Gears needed for Inch threading, only 2 changes required for the full Inch threading range, one set covers 4-14 TPI, and the other set will cover the 16-112 TPI Range. Most gunsmithing work is covered in the 16-112 TPI Range, so normally, gear changes will not be required at all
• TRUE INCH PITCH main lead screw is 8 TPI, cross feed, tailstock, and compound slide lead screws are 10 TPI, which make it easier to use for the INCH measurement System
• Splash oil bath lubrication in Thread/Feed Gearbox, and Apron, for efficient lubrication, and long life, especially compared to traditional open-non lubricated Thread/Feed Gearbox design, yet simple and reliable, and does not require any filter changes or pump maintenance as with oil pump lubrication systems. Also no risk of losing oil flow to expensive parts as there can be with pump lubricated systems
• Longest in class, 3 Year Warranty for added piece of mind

Included Accessories:
• 8” 3 Jaw Chuck, with bolt on, reversible top jaws
• 8” 4 Jaw Chuck
• Wedge Type quick change tool post set with 5 holders (straight, straight with V Groove, Parting, Boring, and Knurling Holders)
• Universal Quick Change Threading Gearbox (minimal gear changes)
• 12” Face Place
• Coolant System
• Spider Bolts
• Steady Rest
• Follow Rest
• Foot Brake
• Coolant System
• LED Work Light
• Cast Iron Stand
• Reducing Sleeve for headstock (To use a center)
• (2) Centers (Non Rotating)
• 3 Year Warranty

PM-1440GS Main Specifications

Max. Swing over bed 14”
Max. Swing over cross slide 8.77”
Max. Swing in gap 19.75”
Center Height 7”
Spindle Center Line Distance from Floor Approx. 46”
Max. Distance Between Centers 40”
Spindle Chuck Mount D1-5, Camlock
Spindle Face to Tail Stock Spindle Face Max Distance 43-1/4”
Width of Bed 7.362”
Bed Height 11.5”
Spindle Bore 2”
Spindle Taper, Internal MT #6
Spindle Mounting System Camlock, D1-5
Spindle Speeds 60-1800RPM, 8 Steps
Bed Length 54”
Lead Screw Diameter / Pitch 7/8” / 8 TPI
Feed Rod Diameter 3/4”
Inch Thread Cutting Range 4-112 TPI, List: 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 5.75, 6, 6.5, 7. 8, 9, 9.5, 10, 11, 11.5, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 24, 26, 28, 32, 36, 38, 40, 44, 46, 48, 52, 56, 64, 72, 80, 86,92, 96, 104, 112
Metric Thread Cutting Range .1-7mm Pitch
Longitudinal Feed Range (Left and Right) .0016-.117 Inches Per Revolution
Cross Feed Range (In and Out) .0005-.032 Inches Per Revolution
Spindle Length through headstock, Protruding End to Chuck Mounting face Approx. 17”
Spindle Length through headstock, End to 3 Jaw Chuck face Approx. 19-3/4”
Max Carriage Travel, Along Bed Ways 38-1/2”
Cross Slide Travel 7”
Compound Travel 3-3/4”
Tail Stock Quill Taper MT #4
Tail Stock Quill Travel 4”
Tail Stock Quill Diameter 1.653″ (42mm)
Main Motor Horsepower 3HP
Speed Control Type Gear Shift Levers
Voltage / Phase/ Amps 220 Volts +/- 10%, 1 Phase / 12 Amps Max.
Max. Dimensions, Assembled (Includes cross slide handles) 51”H x 31”W x 71-1/2”L
Foot Print (without Handles Included) 71-1/2”L x 24” Front of chip pan to back of splash guard
Approximate Machine Weight, With Accessories and Base 1800 LBS (Cast Iron Base)

6k

 

[Praeger]

Lots of PM reviews on YouTube and https://www.hobby-machinist.com/ forum. High quality Taiwanese lathes. Excellent customer service.

 

[Messmaker]

I have the 1440E-LB which is a similar lathe to what your looking at. It has been great so far and it is from 2013. The only thing i have had to do to it is replace the cutting oil line and replace a contactor. The team at PM has been great about replying to questions, even on weekends when they are not open. I have been around other brands as well and I do not think they a made to the same level of precision as these Chinese lathes are. I wish they had the 1440gs available when I bought mine simply because of less changing gears for different threads.

 

[Easy_E]

I ordered a PM-1440GT today with their DRO . Went back and forth even asked to have better scales installed but just bought the PM brand setup. I got to mess around on one last month and saw a rifle built on it seems to be a nice machine .

 

[bulldog911]

Lots of PM reviews on YouTube and https://www.hobby-machinist.com/ forum. High quality Taiwanese lathes. Excellent customer service.

Ya I see there are lots of reviews but they are not on the lathe ove been GS lathe I've been looking at

 

[bulldog911]

I have the 1440E-LB which is a similar lathe to what your looking at. It has been great so far and it is from 2013. The only thing i have had to do to it is replace the cutting oil line and replace a contactor. The team at PM has been great about replying to questions, even on weekends when they are not open. I have been around other brands as well and I do not think they a made to the same level of precision as these Chinese lathes are. I wish they had the 1440gs available when I bought mine simply because of less changing gears for different threads.

Right. Got an email back from PM and the GS is 14-16 weeks or more out. Not the 6-8 that was originally discussed. So the leaves me looking at the EB and the Gt. Not sure how important the gear changes are when going to metric or how likely I will run into that? But if it's not rare and takes 15min or less I can love with that.

 

[81STFACP]

I just got done installing and checking out my PM1440TV. It is not a catalog item.
9 inch bed width
5HP motor
7.5 HP Yaskawa VFD
One piece cast iron base
D1-4 camlock
DRO Plus magnetic scales DRO

If it is OK to cross link on this site here is the thread I started.

The Eagle Has Landed | The Hobby-Machinist

The Eagle Has Landed

PM1440TV is here. Jeff came down to help, a real big THANK YOU, Z2V. The lathe is sweet, minor clean up is all that is needed.

www.hobby-machinist.com

My lathe is identical to the Eisen 1440EV, they came from the same factory, different badge, different DRO, different warranty.

EISEN 1440EV Precision Lathe, 5HP, DRO installed, Heavy Cast-Iron Base – Eisen Machinery Inc

EISEN 1440EV Precision Lathe, 5HP, DRO installed, Heavy Cast-Iron Base

EISEN 1440EV Precision Lathe, 5HP, DRO installed, Heavy Cast-Iron Base Made in Taiwan with One-Piece Cast Iron Base Inverter driven lathe can be used on 3-phase or 1-phase electricity EVS: Electronic Variable Speed • Two step electronic variable speed 36 ~ 2500 RPM. 
 • Low maintenance. Less...

eisenm.com

 

[Praeger]

Ya I see there are lots of reviews but they are not on the lathe ove been GS lathe I've been looking at

Yes, this GS version is new. It has an outboard spider and a 2" spindle bore. Unless you plan on working on big bore rifles, the smaller bore size of the (1-9/16 for the 1340GT and 1236T) are all you'll need. The spider is an easy first fixture project, if you are starting from scratch experience wise, you need to learn these basic skills before getting near a barrel blank. The 13 3/4" spindle length of the 1340GT and 1236T allow for shorter barrels easily, vs the longer 19 3/4" of the GS.

Likewise the 2" spindle bore, I don't see any need for the D1-5 chuck, given the abundance of options in the D1-4 size. This lathe is built in China vs Taiwan for the 1340GT and 1236T. The GS uses 220 single phase, which in my view is a disadvantage vs 220 3 phase option on the 1340GT and 1236T where you can use a VFD which will allow many more options with respect to acceleration/deceleration speed, use of proximity sensor, and many other options.

Read up on some of the Hobby-Machinist threads of the 1340GT, it is amazing what these machines can do with a modest level of effort. Even if you don't have the inclination, the options are there down the road - and out of the crate - these lathes are an excellent value.

So for gunsmithing (barrel work), in short, skip the GS, buy either the 1236T or the 1340GT.

 

[Messmaker]

Right. Got an email back from PM and the GS is 14-16 weeks or more out. Not the 6-8 that was originally discussed. So the leaves me looking at the EB and the Gt. Not sure how important the gear changes are when going to metric or how likely I will run into that? But if it's not rare and takes 15min or less I can love with that.

Gear changes only take 5 min maybe, but at least to me after the past years of running it and having to swap at least once if not twice per build it gets old. The 1340GT is a really nice lathe as well and I would probably get that one over the EB now, but either will do an excellent job. I have run 3 phase as well as single phase and the quality of the parts turned out are no differenet, but the use of a vfd later down the road may be nice. Something to think about with that though is the motors really should be rated to be used with a VFD controller because when you run alternate frequencies other than what the motors are designed for they can get hot (not sure if the PM 3ph are or not). Also building an outboard spider is simple enough. I built one out of aluminum round stock that works really well.

 

[Praeger]

Gear changes only take 5 min maybe, but at least to me after the past years of running it and having to swap at least once if not twice per build it gets old. The 1340GT is a really nice lathe as well and I would probably get that one over the EB now, but either will do an excellent job. I have run 3 phase as well as single phase and the quality of the parts turned out are no differenet, but the use of a vfd later down the road may be nice. Something to think about with that though is the motors really should be rated to be used with a VFD controller because when you run alternate frequencies other than what the motors are designed for they can get hot (not sure if the PM 3ph are or not). Also building an outboard spider is simple enough. I built one out of aluminum round stock that works really well.

No issues with the PM 3 phase motors on VFD. Most hobbist 3 phase PM 12"-14" lathes probably run off a VFD.

 

[Easy_E]

The two inch spindle bore works for more than heavy barrels . I threaded two savage 93s in my current lathe this week had to remove the scope bases and triggers to fit in the 1.400 spindle bore . Have the shorter spindle and room around the barrel would have saved labor .

 

[Messmaker]

No issues with the PM 3 phase motors on VFD. Most hobbist 3 phase PM 12"-14" lathes probably run off a VFD.

good to know

 

[Easy_E]

Got a call today Precision Mathews now installs magnetic scale Dro's now had them switch my order. Forgot to ask them today do they factory install the VFD's ?

 

[Praeger]

Got a call today Precision Mathews now installs magnetic scale Dro's now had them switch my order. Forgot to ask them today do they factory install the VFD's ?

As of my purchase last year, no, they don't. Here's the thread for VFD on a factory 1340GT.

https://www.hobby-machinist.com/thr...stock-control-board-and-switches.49022/page-2

 

[Easy_E]

As of my purchase last year, no, they don't. Here's the thread for VFD on a factory 1340GT.

https://www.hobby-machinist.com/thr...stock-control-board-and-switches.49022/page-2

I was over there looking at that thread liking all the upgrades !