Templot Club Archive 2007-2020                             

topic: 2484Machine Tools?
author remove search highlighting
 
posted: 7 Jul 2014 23:10

from:

Richard_Jones
 
Heswall - United Kingdom

click the date to link to this post
click member name to view archived images
view images in gallery view images as slides
Hi,

It looks as though the motor on my Unimat SL is on it's last legs - yes, I know you can get a replacement from Rejon Engineering, but at £225, that's quite a long way towards a new lathe.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to the best buys for a small lathe and mill/drill machine for someone working predominantly in 4mm scale?

best wishes

Richard

posted: 8 Jul 2014 00:46

from:

Brian Nicholls
 
Poole - United Kingdom

click the date to link to this post
click member name to view archived images
view images in gallery view images as slides
Hi Richard,

I would be inclined to ask the same question on the following RmWeb site:

 http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/forum/64-kitbuilding-scratchbuilding/

There are quite a lot of people on that topic who use such machine tools.

A fellow who's id is 'buffalo' is quite knowledgeable about the type of machine you are seeking.

All the best,

Brian.


posted: 8 Jul 2014 14:43

from:

Brian Nicholls
 
Poole - United Kingdom

click the date to link to this post
click member name to view archived images
view images in gallery view images as slides
Hi Richard,

Another name and id that comes to mind on the RmWeb site I mentioned is:

bertiedog, -  real forename  Stephen.

He is a real expert and very knowledgeable on machines and tooling.

All the best,

Brian.

Last edited on 8 Jul 2014 14:45 by Brian Nicholls
posted: 8 Jul 2014 15:56

from:

Geoff Cook
 
Stoke On Trent - United Kingdom

click the date to link to this post
click member name to view archived images
view images in gallery view images as slides
Richard
Have you had a look at sewing machine motors to use as a replacement, have a look on ebay

Geoff Cook
Last edited on 8 Jul 2014 15:57 by Geoff Cook
posted: 8 Jul 2014 23:18

from:

Richard_Jones
 
Heswall - United Kingdom

click the date to link to this post
click member name to view archived images
view images in gallery view images as slides
Geoff Cook wrote:
Richard
Have you had a look at sewing machine motors to use as a replacement, have a look on ebay

Geoff Cook
Hi Geoff,

I sent a query off to a sewing machine firm - no reply as yet - interestingly I found some EMCO spare parts list - the motors appear to have always been expensive - £98 in Jan 1989 and £143 in Oct 1992.

I also have a price list - 0974 (September 1974?) which show the cost of a complete machine as £84 (chucks extra - 3 jaw £10.80 - 4 jaw £12)

Although the Unimat has served me well, I am sure that small lathes have improved considerably over the last 40 years, and a better machine may pay dividends.

A number of people have been suggesting the SIEG C0 - both ArcEuro and Chesters sell these, and as Chesters have a showroom about 20 minutes away I'll go and have a look on Friday morning.

many thanks to everyone for their help and suggestions.

best wishes

Richard

posted: 9 Jul 2014 17:45

from:

richard_t
 
Nr. Spalding, South Holland - United Kingdom

click the date to link to this post
click member name to view archived images
view images in gallery view images as slides
Chester's used to have open days where they would offer discounts. I don't know if they still do.

posted: 9 Jul 2014 18:26

from:

Decauville1126
 
Littlehampton - United Kingdom

click the date to link to this post
click member name to view archived images
view images in gallery view images as slides
There's a yahoo group for Unimats: http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/UNIMAT/conversations/messages

which seems to have a lot of SL stuff. Might be worth joining and seeing what others have replaced their motors with.

Also spare motors do come up on ebay.

posted: 9 Jul 2014 18:34

from:

Nigel Brown
 
 

click the date to link to this post
click member name to view archived images
view images in gallery view images as slides
This is way outside my area of expertise, so the following is offered with no guarantees whatsoever. However, I use some of more basic Proxxon tools, various drills etc, and like them a lot. Proxxon do various lathes, at various prices. I get my stuff through Proxxon-direct (a UK company which imports Proxxon, from Germany), but there are other suppliers, who maybe offer a wider range. There's a company called A.C.Sissling in Bradford who do; I came across them because the 2mm Scale Association has negotiated a 5% discount with them, and included a catalogue in their latest mailing. Here's what they offer in lathes:-
http://www.acsissling.com/hobby-craft/proxxon-power-tools-accessories/proxxon-lathes-mills

As I said, I haven't the faintest as to whether or not they would suit you, but I like the Proxxon stuff a lot and if I wanted this sort of stuff I'd certainly take a look at them.

posted: 17 Jul 2014 20:59

from:

Richard_Jones
 
Heswall - United Kingdom

click the date to link to this post
click member name to view archived images
view images in gallery view images as slides
Hi Everyone,

Thanks for all your comments - if you are starting off from scratch, Chesters have some very nice small lathes, and some very attractive offers on ex-demonstration models, but they were all "over kill" for anything I wanted to, so.....

Having joined the Yahoo Unimat group, I have decided to go down the 24v electric scooter motor route - these are available at about £13, so + a PSU and a speed controller the up front costs are about £30 (off ebay) - if any one knows of a reasonably priced 240/24v 150W transformer that would be helpful as a switched mode power supply does look to be over sophisticated

There are some nice step by step photos of this type of conversion on the Unimat group if anyone else needs to do this.

best wishes

Richard

posted: 18 Jul 2014 09:58

from:

PaulTownsend
 
 

click the date to link to this post
click member name to view archived images
view images in gallery view images as slides
Richard_Jones wrote:
any one knows of a reasonably priced 240/24v 150W transformer that would be helpful

Richard Jones is seeking a transformer for his Unimat.
I can offer a 25v 10Amp transformer (also with 8v 2A output).
It is enclosed in a metal case, and is heavy.

This will be free of charge but needs collecting from Bristol, or by arrangement from places I visit like Model Railway exhibitions.

posted: 19 Jul 2014 21:00

from:

Richard_Jones
 
Heswall - United Kingdom

click the date to link to this post
click member name to view archived images
view images in gallery view images as slides
PaulTownsend wrote
This will be free of charge but needs collecting from Bristol, or by arrangement from places I visit like Model Railway exhibitions.
Hi Paul,

many thanks for the offer

are you likely (or do you know anyone from Bristol who would) be coming up to Expo EM North?

Otherwise next weekend we are going to a wedding in Purley, and I could look at the feasibility of deviating via Bristol on the way back on 27th July (Sunday) (Mrs J permitting!)

best wishes

Richard 

(Bit late to ask if anyone you know was coming up to The Open at Hoylake!)





Templot Club > Forums > Off track > Machine Tools?
about Templot Club

Templot Companion - User Guide - A-Z Index Templot Explained for beginners Please click: important information for new members and first-time visitors.
indexing link for search engines

back to top of page


Please read this important note about copyright: Unless stated otherwise, all the files submitted to this web site are copyright and the property of the respective contributor. You are welcome to use them for your own personal non-commercial purposes, and in your messages on this web site. If you want to publish any of this material elsewhere or use it commercially, you must first obtain the owner's permission to do so.
The small print: All material submitted to this web site is the responsibility of the respective contributor. By submitting material to this web site you acknowledge that you accept full responsibility for the material submitted. The owner of this web site is not responsible for any content displayed here other than his own contributions. The owner of this web site may edit, modify or remove any content at any time without giving notice or reason. Problems with this web site? Contact webmaster@templot.com.   This web site uses cookies: click for information.  
© 2020  

Powered by UltraBB - © 2009 Data 1 Systems