The real rebreather accessory…

jeff h

3-IN-1 METALWORKING MULTIPURPOSE MACHINE WITH MICRO FEED



Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

I just got a flyer saying it was on sale for $1199.

Does anyone have any experience with one of these?

tflaris

I have used one at a Motorcycle Shop mill a few pieces. Why?

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mverick

Get a seperate lathe and milling machine.

Not saying it wouldn't work. But, you'll be happier with seperate ones. The tolerances on these aren't anything spectacular.

Sieg X3 is a nice lil milling machine and the CB6 I think is there lathe counterpart. Much nicer machines.

jeff h

Thanks, that's what I was concerned about. It's too bad - the price is really attractive.

jeff h

How are the tolerances? Do you think it's worth the price?

mverick

For new and small try

Lathemaster Metalworking Tools

They aren't bridgeport quality. But better then the run of the mill Chineese. They are China built though.

bobmaggi

With practice it is relatively easy to hold +-0.001 tolerances even on these machines. Its a matter of seting them up correctly, shiming them square and then taking your time. I used a simular machine for several years and was able to get good results consistantly.
It can be a good started machine and a way to get started and learn. I find that eventually as you get better, having seperate Mill and Lathe is best! Of course, this could last you for many years and usually people 'outgrow' the capabilities mainly because your ambitions grow also.
I ended up selling my old machine and now have a miniature CNC mill and a lathe.

Bob

fireman

It depends where you are in the country, and how close to big cities, but poke around on ebay and industrial auction sites. Sometimes you can find machine tools for scrap value--or less. Beware shipping costs! On another note frequently one can take a class at a community collage or park district--You get access to industrial quality machines, and usually professional help..
I have a tool room lathe I bought for $200--of course the tooling cost me another 1000 and climbing.

cramerdn

I think you would be really over weighted even with a 100 lb wing. Pus it looks like a bit of an entanglement hazard.

Genesis

I have a little Micromark 7x14 and surprisingly enough with just getting the gibbing right (it was WAY loose from the factory) I can turn to .001 tolerance with good repeatability.

That's the piece that made all the "turned" parts on the K1. I have no regrets buying it. My biggest complaint is that it doesn't have the power to take cuts of any sort of depth but in terms of capability it definitely does the job.

Only thing I can tell you is that more power is better and swing over bed means more than you think it does; you WILL find things you'd like to do but can't due to clearance no matter what you buy (unless you go truly obscene.) With that said buying "more machine" is always an option but whether it makes sense is another matter - only you can answer that.

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