07-18-2012, 05:55 AM
Rick,
What you have to realise, the Z feed not only has to drill and bore the holes, ie, cutting metal, it also has to lift that very large casting under the table, the table itself with all the stuff hanging on it, RT, vice and of course two more power feeds as well. Guesstimated weight, 400 to 500 pounds. The whole machine weighs around a ton.
So unless you are drilling something like 6" diameter holes from a 1/4" centre hole, I think it could cope with your large tailstock.
I limited myself to 1.5" holes for drilling, over that, I then bore it out, purely because that is the size of my largest drill.
With regards to prices, I follow what is going on in the world markets fairly closely, and told everyone I knew to buy all their new Chinese machines about 3.5 years ago. Those that did follow my suggestion got a bargain, as did I. For nearly the last 2.5 years, the prices have nearly doubled for some items, and although China still has it's head above water, not as much as it would like, and because it has now killed off the majority of it's competition, expect fairly large price rises within the next year or so, as they try to grab back their unpredicted shortfalls.
I am no one special, just a model engineer with a little more experience than others, and I have been here almost from the very beginning, but have waited my time, with just minor 'show how to do it' posts in the beginning. Until now, when all the silliness and newness has been got out of everyone's system and from the site. It is now settling down very nicely, and should become a very good informative site in the future if it carries on the way it is doing.
You only have your leaders and stalwart members to thank for that.
John
What you have to realise, the Z feed not only has to drill and bore the holes, ie, cutting metal, it also has to lift that very large casting under the table, the table itself with all the stuff hanging on it, RT, vice and of course two more power feeds as well. Guesstimated weight, 400 to 500 pounds. The whole machine weighs around a ton.
So unless you are drilling something like 6" diameter holes from a 1/4" centre hole, I think it could cope with your large tailstock.
I limited myself to 1.5" holes for drilling, over that, I then bore it out, purely because that is the size of my largest drill.
With regards to prices, I follow what is going on in the world markets fairly closely, and told everyone I knew to buy all their new Chinese machines about 3.5 years ago. Those that did follow my suggestion got a bargain, as did I. For nearly the last 2.5 years, the prices have nearly doubled for some items, and although China still has it's head above water, not as much as it would like, and because it has now killed off the majority of it's competition, expect fairly large price rises within the next year or so, as they try to grab back their unpredicted shortfalls.
Quote:And I must say it's nice to see someone as experienced as your self here at MWF
I am no one special, just a model engineer with a little more experience than others, and I have been here almost from the very beginning, but have waited my time, with just minor 'show how to do it' posts in the beginning. Until now, when all the silliness and newness has been got out of everyone's system and from the site. It is now settling down very nicely, and should become a very good informative site in the future if it carries on the way it is doing.
You only have your leaders and stalwart members to thank for that.
John