Post by j***@excite.comPlease click on the link below. Is this a good price for this mill?
Anyone have any experience with the EZ Trak controller? Is it
reliable? Pros....Cons?
http://tinyurl.com/yudugc
Well, this is not exactly a new machine, although the ways and
quill look pretty good. It looks like it is slightly newer than
the ones we have in our shop at the University. Ours have '486
computers, but this one may have something newer. The servo
amps are Motion Science, and I don't think they make this model
any more, they have been bought out. The spindle is R-8,
definitely cheaper than NMTB30, which the professional
machinists feel is more rigid. Also, with quill Z axis, you
only get 5" of travel. Some other machines with the knee Z axis
will have a lot more travel under CNC control.
This control allows you to use the machine manually, which can
be faster for simple stuff, use it like a drill press, etc.
Now, the bad news. I had a bad experience with Machinery Values
in 2001. I bought a well-used Sheldon 15" lathe from them,
through a similar eBay auction, for $2650 plus shipping. They
stated the machine was in "excellent" condition, right in the
ad. Well, I don't consider .013" wear in the front way as
excellent. (One slightly exonerating point is the Sheldon
design does not leave an obvious ridge on the ways to see and
feel the wear. The ways LOOKED good, but they are machinery
dealers, and should KNOW better than depending on a visible
ridge in the ways.) It only took me a few minutes after I got
it inside to know I had serious problems.
Also, the ad stated everything in the picture, such as coolant
tank, steady rest and 10" Buck 3-jaw chuck came with the lathe.
None of these items was in the shipment. It took a MONTH of
calling them to get a shipment. The coolant tank was OK, but
the steady was for some other lathe and didn't fit the ways.
The chuck was crashed, and only 8". (Again, the crash was not
obvious, but once I got the lathe together, it became obvious
the jaws would not hold anything at right angles to the
backplate. Regrinding the jaws didn't fix it, either. I have
never located exactly WHAT on that chuck is sprung, but it is
bad enough that I would not sell it on eBay.) They did
eventually ship that stuff in a very nice wood crate custom made
for the 3 items.
When I contacted Machinery Values with the bad news on the
lathe's condition, all they would say was that I could still
return it for a full refund - except I'd end up paying shipping
both ways! YIKES!
So, I just thought I'd tell you my experiences, and let you
think about it. But, the price sounds WAY high for used.
Jon