05-16-2015, 05:31 AM
Last weekend I had a quick look on a couple of local online classified websites, similar to Craigslist in the US. Among the lathes up for sale was an Elliott Concord 460. There wasn't a lot of info in the add, so I set about searching the web to try and dig something up.
These were made in the UK and the spindle is clutch driven. There are a few variants about and the owner (not a machinist) didn't really know to much about it. The top spindle speed is 1000 RPM which was a little less than what I was looking for but that is already more than double the top speed of my current lathe.
It has a bit of wear but nothing I wouldn't expect. The spindle ran quietly and has a 90mm (3-9/16") through hole. There is a single point dog clutch for metric threading. Basically you engage the half nut and leave it engaged and then use the clutch to start/stop the cut and to reverse the carriage back to its position. Pretty cool I think. It comes with two steady rests and a follow rest. There is also a four-jaw chuck and a couple of components of a taper attachment.
It has a Dickson type QCTP with four holders for square shank tools (at least one has a v-groove so a boring bar can sit in there) and one to take a MT3 shank tool. The holders can take 32mm tooling. I'm unsure at this point whether I keep this one or use my current QCTP, for which I have more holders. To buy a similar QCTP locally is $760 (with 4 square shank tool and one boring bar holder). Individual tool holders start at $100.
The main issue with it is that the power feed is not working. The power feed shaft rotates but I couldn't get either the transverse or longitudinal feed to engage. I came home and purchased the user/maintenance manual online for $20 and read through it. The feed is engaged by a spring loaded worm drive and it appears that the drive drops out automatically if the feed is tripped (read crash!). There is a port on the side of the apron that allows access to the spring for adjustment. This info and the exploded diagram should help me figure out what is wrong and (hopefully) fix it.
Some other info that I learned from the manual but haven't confirmed myself yet:
The spindle is DIN 55022 No.8, which I had never heard of but I am sure I will figure that out.
The motor is 12HP
The headstock and feedbox are dry, with oil being pumped from the sump to the headstock, where it runs through the feedbox and back to the sump. The tailstock takes MT5 tooling. It doesn't say what the headstock takes. There are no centres with the lathe. The clutches are adjustable
I knew I was taking a gamble with the feed not working but the feed isn't working on my current lathe either. What I gain in upgrading is a much more modern machine. I can quickly select from 2 - 112 inch or 0.25 - 14 metric threads (there is a lever that switches between the two), so no more change gears. I get flood coolant capabilities as well. I will be taking my DRO off if my current lathe and putting it onto this one. Ken quickly confirmed my gut feeling that the gamble was definitely worth it.
So - on Friday, I negotiated a price of $2,300 and shook the sellers hand. I am waiting to hear back from a friend of a friend who has a truck with a hiab on it and hoping to get it next weekend.
OK - a couple of pics.
These were made in the UK and the spindle is clutch driven. There are a few variants about and the owner (not a machinist) didn't really know to much about it. The top spindle speed is 1000 RPM which was a little less than what I was looking for but that is already more than double the top speed of my current lathe.
It has a bit of wear but nothing I wouldn't expect. The spindle ran quietly and has a 90mm (3-9/16") through hole. There is a single point dog clutch for metric threading. Basically you engage the half nut and leave it engaged and then use the clutch to start/stop the cut and to reverse the carriage back to its position. Pretty cool I think. It comes with two steady rests and a follow rest. There is also a four-jaw chuck and a couple of components of a taper attachment.
It has a Dickson type QCTP with four holders for square shank tools (at least one has a v-groove so a boring bar can sit in there) and one to take a MT3 shank tool. The holders can take 32mm tooling. I'm unsure at this point whether I keep this one or use my current QCTP, for which I have more holders. To buy a similar QCTP locally is $760 (with 4 square shank tool and one boring bar holder). Individual tool holders start at $100.
The main issue with it is that the power feed is not working. The power feed shaft rotates but I couldn't get either the transverse or longitudinal feed to engage. I came home and purchased the user/maintenance manual online for $20 and read through it. The feed is engaged by a spring loaded worm drive and it appears that the drive drops out automatically if the feed is tripped (read crash!). There is a port on the side of the apron that allows access to the spring for adjustment. This info and the exploded diagram should help me figure out what is wrong and (hopefully) fix it.
Some other info that I learned from the manual but haven't confirmed myself yet:
The spindle is DIN 55022 No.8, which I had never heard of but I am sure I will figure that out.
The motor is 12HP
The headstock and feedbox are dry, with oil being pumped from the sump to the headstock, where it runs through the feedbox and back to the sump. The tailstock takes MT5 tooling. It doesn't say what the headstock takes. There are no centres with the lathe. The clutches are adjustable
I knew I was taking a gamble with the feed not working but the feed isn't working on my current lathe either. What I gain in upgrading is a much more modern machine. I can quickly select from 2 - 112 inch or 0.25 - 14 metric threads (there is a lever that switches between the two), so no more change gears. I get flood coolant capabilities as well. I will be taking my DRO off if my current lathe and putting it onto this one. Ken quickly confirmed my gut feeling that the gamble was definitely worth it.
So - on Friday, I negotiated a price of $2,300 and shook the sellers hand. I am waiting to hear back from a friend of a friend who has a truck with a hiab on it and hoping to get it next weekend.
OK - a couple of pics.
Hunting American dentists since 2015.