Lathe : Emco compact 5

[Bergm@n]

hi guys,
I'm a newbee in lathe so I'm posting here to know if this one is a good lathe to start. I want to do some jobs like reducing Berg tube output diameter, cut some parts, thread, ...
I want to use it on aluminium and delrin.

I'll take every advices !

Don't know what's is the tooling to have to start playing with a lathe and make some good parts

Thanks

[EddieO]

I have two of these. They are very well made Austrian units. The parts for them are NOT cheap and very little aftermarket stuff fits without mods..

That being said, they are very capable units, as they are basically the replacement for the Unimat lathes.

Depending on the price and such, they are great units and there is a US based dealer who carries most of the stuff for them. You should have no issues working with Aluminum or Delrin.

Later EddieO

[Bergm@n]

hi there,
I've found a emco compact 5 CNC for 700 bucks.

Eddie, which lathe do you advice to work on delrin/aluminium?

thanks

[EddieO]

That's a smoking deal on a cnc one....even without any tooling.

It should be fine to cut either of those materials....size of the work piece is a bigger factor in most cases, as they are not very big lathes.

Later EddieO

[Bergm@n]

it has never been plug to a computer before.
There is only one cutting tool with it.
You think I should buy it Eddie ?

[Bergm@n]

[EddieO]

I would... That's cheap!

Later EddieO

[Bergm@n]

I've found an Emco Compact 8 (but not CNC), 1000 bucks, like new, it's better than the compact 5 CNC or not ?

Thanks

[En2oh]

Originally Posted by Bergm@n

I've found an Emco Compact 8 (but not CNC), 1000 bucks, like new, it's better than the compact 5 CNC or not ?

Thanks

I'd get the Compact 8 if you have the money AND the space.
The CNC aspect sounds great, but unless you're really keen, there is quite a learning curve to CNC.

Of course, the manual Compact 5 or 8 can be converted to CNC don the road if you really want.

I've got the 5 but wish, sometimes that I had the 8.

Good luck.
En2oh