Search Results for 'arc euro'

[Fowlers FuryParticipant @fowlersfury]

Duncan, just used "Behind the Overlay" on Arc Euro's site and that cookie overlay disappeared leaving normal access.

(Typo corrected)

Edited By Fowlers Fury on 27/01/2021 16:31:40

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

I've stopped using Arc Euro's website as it doesn't give the option of refusing cookies. I think that I'm supposed to opt in, which I never do

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

 

Now that my 5" Speedy is nearing completion, it was time to make rail track and a Driving Trolley, here are my notes on its construction.

It started with raw materials, 6 x 1" thick steel discs sawn from a scrapped print roll. We have a metal reclaim yard not too distant from here who cut / sold the discs for about 7€ each, at the same time I bought some 10mm Al alloy chassis plates and bearing housing material for another 12€.

First job was welding the discs to the axle.

then turning and profiling the wheels and brake disc.

 

The profile of the bogie chassis plate milled on the Warco Economy mill

Bike brakes were modified and mounted onto the chassis, bearing housings machined and axles fitted.

The chassis plates were connected to the tubular chassis with "silent block" anti vibration pillars. This hopefully allows for track deflection curves etc.

And another view of the finished trolley made from 12 and 15mm ply and just waiting for a foam rubber seat. Oh and buffers!

Edited By Speedy Builder5 on 25/01/2021 20:39:29

 

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 25/01/2021 20:46:45

[Steve MParticipant @stevem]

Posted by Ian Johnson 1 on 24/01/2021 00:49:09:

I've got the 70mm type 2 precision vice from Arc Euro and it is excellent, well made, very accurate and sturdy. You could fit the bigger 90mm on your table and have plenty of room to spare.

I've not found the need to get a tilting vice so can't really comment, I've always tilted the job in some sort of fixture, or with a clamping arrangement on a face plate, or in the vice itself.

IanJ

Cheers Ian.

[Ian Johnson 1Participant @ianjohnson1]

I've got the 70mm type 2 precision vice from Arc Euro and it is excellent, well made, very accurate and sturdy. You could fit the bigger 90mm on your table and have plenty of room to spare.

I've not found the need to get a tilting vice so can't really comment, I've always tilted the job in some sort of fixture, or with a clamping arrangement on a face plate, or in the vice itself.

IanJ

[Tony Pratt 1Participant @tonypratt1]

Joshua, you have now arrived at the position most of us faced at one time or another, I had a super 7 for years which is now with my son, an excellent quality product but limited in capacity. I went for a Warco 290V lathe, so much more capable than the Myford but rough as old boots in places. Your choice as always is old British/American/European iron or new Chinese products, both have their good & bad points!

If pre loved, condition is key as you have found out so if going down that route again you must see the lathe in the flesh, if you don't like change gears & who does get a screw cutting gearbox.

There are loads of threads on this subject but no easy answers.

Tony

Edited By Tony Pratt 1 on 23/01/2021 12:46:41

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Hi Mark, and welcome to the forum.

Easy question first! I suggest putting the QCTP on the back-burner for the time being. Their value is 'Quick Changing', which is great if you need it, and always nice to have, but unnecessary at the 'L' Plate stage. A tool-post and shims sufficient to put the cutting point at centre height are all that's needed. Nothing wrong with shims other than the extra time taken to adjust them, and this is rather short when inserts are used because the edge is always at the same height. (Unlike HSS were sharpening moves the edge, and the tool might have to be reset on the lathe.)

It's much easier to decide what accessories are worth having once you've got used to the lathe and the sort of work you do. (Clockmaking is not the same as motor-bikes, and I don't do either.)

As you've spotted, one advantage of inserts is they don't need to be sharpened! Don't be afraid to go with your instincts, because not everyone is good at grinding tools. It requires a certain amount of skill, a steady hand, and ideally a grinding wheel with a stiffer platform than most. Practice! Again, I suggest making a start with inserts, and giving HSS a go later. HSS has many virtues, and it's easier to get a good finish and take fine cuts with it: provided you can put a reasonable edge on it!

Not all sets are ideal. Inserts are shaped to do a particular job efficiently in industry, not home workshops. They come in bewildering variety, and using the wrong geometry at the wrong speed and the wrong feed rate isn't good. I learned a lot from the two sets I bought, finding there are tools and shapes I never use, and that it can be hard to match inserts to holders when spares are required. I now know the limited range of inserts and tools sold by Arc Euro are well chosen to suit most amateur purposes, and Arc's website describes what they are for. Good place to start.

Newcomers often ask where to buy 'Quality' tools, hoping to find brand-names or a country of origin will make life easy. It's not that simple:

• When assured quality in the sense of a specification is required, go to an Industrial Supplier like Cutwel. Requires deep-pockets, they may not be interested in amateurs buying penny packets, and not many hobbyists have the financial muscle to go that route. Manufacturing and pro-workshops pay for premium tools because they can't afford down-time. Machines that aren't cutting metal are a dead loss. Doesn't matter much if a hobbyist breaks an insert.
• Buying from an unknown source on the internet means taking a risk. Are you up for that? The item could be too cheap, fake, or a factory reject. Or it could be a completely genuine bargain, perhaps from a production overrun or bankruptcy sale. The same seller might provide a mixture of good and bad because they don't have any technical expertise. I celebrate the wins and don't expect any sympathy when it goes wrong!
• Considerably safer to buy locally because there's a higher level of consumer protection, and it's easier to identify the sort of vendor doing a good job selling mid-range tools, rather than a box shifter. Important to recognise buying mid-range is not the same level of service as buying top-end. Faulty tools are exchanged rather than guaranteed perfect on delivery.

Few hints:

• Older lathes like the Myford were designed before inserts and are too slow to make best use of them. And though faster most Far Eastern hobby lathes are lightly built. However, inserts designed to cut Aluminium work well on steel at lower rpm. Worth trying because they are sharper.
• Carbide and HSS have different cutting characteristics. When HSS doesn't cut well, it's generally best to back-off, slow-down, and take lighter cuts. Opposite is true of carbide: provided the machine can cope, it's often better to go in harder and faster. This and many other aspects of machining have to be learned and practised. Don't be disheartened by poor results at firstor blame the tool too quickly.
• Avoid scrap unless you know what it is! Better to learn on metals the seller describes as 'free-cutting ' or having 'good machinability'. Many alloys misbehave badly on lathes and milling machines. They're much easier to deal with when the machinist knows what to look for, having worked with sensible metals first.

Dave

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

You have been unlucky.

Secondhand machines can be a lottery unless you know what you are about and are very careful. But even then you can get caught! No one, even if they know what the previous four owners did, is likely to put you off a sale by explaining why it won't turn parallel, or has missing or chipped gears.

Bearing in mind the size of machine, if I were in the market for a new machine, of a similar size to a ML7, a Sieg SC4-510 might well be my choice.

It has a 1 KW motor and being brushless provides high torque.

It is new, and seems to have many of the features preferable in a machine (Power Cross Feed being one! ).

I like the Leadscrew being covered to exclude swarf.

The changewheel set includes a 127T gear so that Imperial threads can be cut with greater accuracy.

Have never dealt with Axminster, so cannot comment on their offerings or after sales support.

Have only dealt with Arc Euro as small value customer, but have never had reason to fault them

The starter sets, offered by Arc, except No 2 (which would be my choice anyway ) are currently out of stock.

The only extras that I would seek would be a four jaw independent chuck, and possibly an ER Collet .

Other than measuring equipment, and a bench grinder, that would seem to be a fairly complete set up.

A friend has a SC4 and has not told me of any problems.

But, these are my preference, The choices have to be yours.

Howard

 

 

Edited By Howard Lewis on 22/01/2021 16:23:56

[Jon LawesParticipant @jonlawes51698]

I have the Seig SX2.7L which is I believe (I think!) the same model but from Arc Eurortrade but with a bigger bed. Have a chat to Ketan at Arc Eurotrade, I've found their advice to be invaluable; they are selling a product but they seem very aware of how much the hobbyists talk to each other and therefore don't lead you up the garden path!

[Ketan SwaliParticipant @ketanswali79440]

It has been an interesting week as far as sea shipments as well as couriers are concerned.

Tracking down where six different sea consignments are in transit, all in various states of delay. Average transit delays 30 days in addition to the expected schedule (about 30 days) in normal times!

For courier shipments into Europe, seven consignments to various destinations stuck in France with DPD since the 6th of January, awaiting further movement due to backlog. Switched over to DHL road service into Europe, all moving smoothly to their destinations …. so far.

Considered the rail route last month for imports from China. Scheduled transit by rail into Europe was around 20 to 25 days. There after, no guarantees by road hauliers from Europe into U.K., plus average £3,500.00 extra freight cost on top of whatever sea freight costs would be. Rail transit therefore even more expensive. So abandoned that idea.

Good news… SIEG managed to get an empty container this morning from the container yard, which they will load and deliver to the shipping line by Tuesday next week… hopefully. Then hopefully the container will be on a vessel currently scheduled to leave Shanghai by end of this month… fingers crossed.

Bad news… just announced… Shanghai starting to go into lock down. Stay at home policy in place (excluding factory workers), and if you are working in Shanghai and if your original home town is elsewhere – different city, you can't go back home for the Chinese New Year (CNY). This brings on new challenges. Certain employees will disappear with/without notice in coming days, and those wanting to come back after CNY will go into isolation for a certain period of time, that is, if they are allowed to come back due to lock-down rules. Shanghai factories are considering working through the CNY, but how this will go down with the workforce is difficult to say.

Noted every ones comments with thanks. ARC is reasonably stocked for certain items for now, and the business is running okay through these interesting times.Thank you everyone for your concern and support.

Ketan at ARC.

[Dr_GMJNParticipant @dr_gmjn]

I've been waiting to get one of these, which I thought looked OK, and are recently back in stock:

3 Jaw Self Centring Cast Iron Lathe Chucks – Arc Euro Trade

But after measuring my original, the Arc one is considerably longer in terms of overhang, plus it needs a backplate which will add even more.

I'd rather have something much closer to the bearing. What do I search for, is it called a "low profile" chuck? Are they even available any more for the ML7?

Thanks.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Don't know if they wouldm be suitable, but Arc Euro sell Imperial sized ER collets.

have a look at their website.

Howard

[Ketan SwaliParticipant @ketanswali79440]

At present we are regularly being asked why certain items are out of stock or why is there such a big delay in future availability.

Here are some observations of what is happening:

• Our last container from SIEG was shipped from Shanghai in November 2020. Instead of getting into Felixstowe within about a month, it took two months, after being offloaded in Malaysia, awaiting a transshipment vessel which had space to carry it. We finally received the container on Tuesday this week. Similar transit delays are effecting shipment from all our other suppliers.
• Sea Freight costs are now eye watering. Normally, one would pay around £2000 to £2500 for sea freight on a 40'ft container. Our last container cost us £4000.00
• SIEG is hoping to load our next container on Tuesday next week, that is if the container yard provides them with a 40'ft container… which as of today is difficult to get due to shortage of containers. If they manage to get the container, and if the container gets on a vessel this month on 29th January for which it is booked (fingers crossed), then the sea freight for this container will be £12,000 + various surcharges of around £1500.
• Chinese New Year is just around the corner in February, so more delays expected just before, during and just after.
• Due to extremely high sea freight costs, many companies have decided to delay shipments to late February, mid-March out of China. It is expected (shipping lines are saying) that shipping costs will start to reduce by then, and there is also hope that vessels returning to China will comeback with a lot more empty containers from Europe. Arc has decided to accept the short term 'big hit' to shipping costs, because of uncertainty over what will really happen.

ARC has already increased prices for machines and accessories by a small amount. However, at present it is difficult to know for sure how such mega increases will effect future product prices. Even if the sea freight costs come down in late February/March, the probability of them being anything like the past rates pre-October 2020, are low, at lest in the short term.

Ketan at ARC

[Les Jones 1Participant @lesjones1]

Here is a schematic for the XMT-2335 board in case you do not have one.

Arc Euro stock them under Seig X2 spares but they are £136.31.

Les.

[Clive Brown 1Participant @clivebrown1]

Just a thought, ArcEuroTrade carry spare motors for their range of lathes and mills. They're Sieg machines but they might share components with Warco types.

Their stocks can be seen on-line.

Edited By Clive Brown 1 on 20/01/2021 11:08:29

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

While I agree cheap files are best avoided, I'm far from convinced advice to spend big money on files is well founded. Ask yourself:

• How much filing will I actually do? (Not much if you own a milling machine.)
• Do I really want to own expensive tools because they will last longer than me?
• Is there nothing else that the money wouldn't be better spent on?

If you want to cough up £30 per file for a full complement of Vallorbe's very best, go for it. My advice is to buy something mid-range.

Far more important to me than owning an expensive file that lasts for ever is having a collection of files in the sizes and shapes I need. Have a look at what Arc Euro sell – aimed at hobbyists, and well described. I have round, half-round, triangular, square and flat in large, medium and small (needle files), more than 30 in total. Mostly second cut, but I have a few rasps for quick ripping and plastics, and a few fine files (smooth cut). I keep a small set for brass only: this is because using a file on steel quickly takes the very sharp edge off, and brass likes a sharp file. When a file used on brass starts to go blunt, replace it and move the old one over to steel where it will still work well.

Horses for courses because this is a hobby! Nothing wrong with pride of ownership purchasing if it makes you happy. I'm the opposite. I think tools are to be used not drooled over. and am quite happy to replace inexpensive tools when they don't do the job. I might go upmarket if I did a lot of filing. As is, files costing about £5 to £10 each depending on size do me well. Paying £6 for a set of four big files is risky!

Never use a file without a handle. Apart from the risk of spiking oneself, the handle makes the file much easier to control.

As a youngster I was given the 'buy quality, buy once' advice by a well-meaning craftsman. Fifty years later I was proved right : my collection of ordinary tools is still going strong. (Mostly!) They've lasted because they're lightly used. A busy professional should buy tools that last, but I'm not rushing to meet deadlines, and only work when I want to. Buying better than I need is a waste of money.

Dave

[Andy_GParticipant @andy_g]

Posted by Ace Chandler on 18/01/2021 17:13:11:

Would anyone happen to have one of these and can confirm if a part is missing or not (SC2)?

Yes, there's a part missing – there should be a plate there.

Have a look at the top of page 11 of this document:

https://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/machineguides/C3-Mini-Lathe-Dismantling-and-Reassembly-Guide.pdf

(The whole document may be useful)

The carriage should just sit on the bed with or without the plate. From your video, the carriage appears to be springing off the bed which is definitely wrong. I would be concerned that the lathe has been lifted by the unsecured carriage and something (probably the leadscrew) has been bent.

[BizibilderParticipant @bizibilder]

I bought a set from Arc Euro a month or so ago for about £18 +P&P. Work well and no issues – I did take them apart for a look but did not need to "improve" them as they were quite smooth in operation. Usual disclaimer.

[Tim HammondParticipant @timhammond72264]

+1 for files from Arc Eurotrade. Regarding filing itself, I'm always mightily impressed by that shown on the Clickspring videos on YouTube.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Arc Eurotrade sell files made in Portugal that are said to be good quality. I havent tried them myself but others seem to like them

[JohnFParticipant @johnf59703]

As Noel says quality will pay dividends, the cheap files you are looking at will probably be worse then the ones you have – assuming they are/were of good quality ? Vallorbe are a top quality but expensive brand, Bacho are a good brand. Look here as well **LINK** I have bought these from Arc and find them excellent value for money — no connection other than a happy customer.

John

[Ian Johnson 1Participant @ianjohnson1]

Not a lot wrong with the Mini Lathe, although it could do with a bit more grunt to take bigger cuts. I have one, and also a small mill, but I do have the use of a Colchester Triumph lathe and a much bigger mill to cover the bigger jobs.

I have also been looking at upgrading to a larger lathe like you, and the Sieg SC4 (as sold by Arc Euro) is my realistic choice. It has cross feed, hi torque brushless motor, benchtop etc fits your requirements quite nicely. But it hasn't got a quick change gearbox, it has change wheels.

Personally I wouldn't go for the combined lathe/mill combo, because you will inevitably need to use the lathe when you are set up for the mill or vice versa.

IanJ

[GreensandsParticipant @greensands]

Have attached some pics of my unit made up fro a 100mm long DRO skide from ARCEuro (I think) making use of the 2BA tapped holes provider for the oilers. It has given me excellent service.

[Nick WheelerParticipant @nickwheeler]

Posted by Oldiron on 17/01/2021 13:19:51:

Posted by Graham Titman on 17/01/2021 12:39:04:

Or buy John Stevenson er block from Arc Euro little bit cheaper than importing from the states and do the same job

BUT can you get 2" through a JS block? I cannot. Also a Rose block does 45 – 60 & 90 degrees.

Cheapest way is to make your own.

a few laser cut plates pinned together would do it

[OldironParticipant @oldiron]

Posted by Graham Titman on 17/01/2021 12:39:04:

Or buy John Stevenson er block from Arc Euro little bit cheaper than importing from the states and do the same job

BUT can you get 2" through a JS block? I cannot. Also a Rose block does 45 – 60 & 90 degrees.

Cheapest way is to make yoiur own.

regards