Swiss Tec – Definitive information please!

[Graeme KingParticipant @graemeking88577]

Hi all

I'm a newbie here and not a model engineer, so be gentle!

I am looking to buy a bench-top lathe for our business (which is in precision bicycle components) – we have two larger machines already but they are not well suited to some of the smaller & more accurate jobs that we have to do.

I've looked at a variety of Chinese lathes (all variations on a theme from Seig et al) and have come across two others which more or less fit the bill.

Here's the dilemma. I don't really want a Chinese machine. I know some are very good and from experience I know that in my industry, Chinese does not necessarily equate to poor quality. However, I'd just prefer that we keep as many manufacturing jobs at least in Europe, if not in the UK as we can.

So this has led me to look at Proxxon – and in looking at Proxxon, I tripped over SwissTec.

Now, I think I know that Proxxon are still made in Europe, 1st – question, does anyone else know if that claim is right – I mean really know, rather than it just being the general concencus? And by the same token, 2nd question – I have read that SwissTec are also European made – but I've also read that they are not. They seem like a lot of machine for the price point, which makes me suspicious – but are there any members here that know for sure – again, no conjecture please!

I have to travel 200 km to view a SwissTec and I can't get a solid answer from any online research & I don't really want to waste time going to look at a machine whose origins are Far East … so can anyone here give me an answer?

Much appreciated, all!

[Graeme KingParticipant @graemeking88577]

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Hello Graeme,

I suggest you contact Pro Machine tools (a Swisstec distributor) and ask.

Click the ad over here ——>

Neil

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 24/11/2016 15:36:46

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I'd say with 99.99% certainty that the SwissTec lathes are the same as Warco, Chester, SPG, and many others with just a different paint colour. May be buuilt to a slightly different spec but I doubt its much different.

Visually their 280×700 is the same as my WM280-VF which is 700mm between ctrs

[NJHParticipant @njh]

At the risk of provoking howls of protest from the "anti" brigade you can still get a new ( or indeed) refurbished Myford

See HERE – spares readily available too. ( Yes Ok, Ok, the rest of you I've got one and I wouldn't swop it)

Norman

Edited By NJH on 24/11/2016 17:06:21

[Anonymous]

What size lathes are you looking at? If it's at the small end then there is always Cowells, British made precision machines.

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Boxfords also still sell a manual lathe advertised as made in Britain.

Boxford.

Only slightly more than a 62 year old designed Myford and most certainly far more for the money.

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

I wonder how long they've been in Elland. Google Maps shows a nice new building, suggesting they are doing well these days. It's 20 years since I lived in Elland (briefly) and they certainly weren't there at the time unless I missed something. Good to see them still in business, despite so many schools apparently getting rid of their metalwork workshops.

[Nigel McBurney 1Participant @nigelmcburney1]

I would go for a Boxford,I have a Myford at home and many years ago used a Boxford at work. The myford is really a one user machine and gives a good performance if looked after. If the modern Boxford is still as good as they were fifty years ago,they will stand up to continual use over many years and are ideal for industrial use.Based on the American Southbend they are a very good lathe.

[Anonymous]

Posted by John Stevenson on 24/11/2016 17:33:54:

Boxfords also still sell a manual lathe advertised as made in Britain.

Good grief, the brochure says that a hydraulic copying unit and high speed threading unit are available as accessories.

Andrew

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

It might pay to have some idea of what size range small is and how precise.

John

–

[Mike E.Participant @mikee-85511]

Considering the size of components on a bicycle which would require precision, I would suggest researching the section on Watch Makers Lathes at http://www.lathes .co.uk . Information can be found on small machines of various sizes and capability. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to click on the section. This may help guide you to type in specific searches for lathes on line which don't appear for sale in the general listings.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

OP: I'm looking at this lathe (price <£1,000)

Helpful advice: go for thr Boxford (price >£8,000)

 

Only on this forum….

Neil

P.S. the Proxxon's are well made but (1) many parts are aluminium alloy, which may or may not be your preferred choice for a lathe and (2) some of the smaller models have handwheels graduated in 0.05mm (edit: the 400- which is not small has 0.05mm graduations) which is rather coarse especially when working on a diameter where you would need to work to 1/4 division to take a thou off diameter.

For a mid-priced and robust European-made lathe you might want to consider a Ceriani (Italian made).

Neil

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 24/11/2016 21:41:48

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by John Stevenson on 24/11/2016 17:33:54:

Boxfords also still sell a manual lathe advertised as made in Britain.

Boxford.

Only slightly more than a 62 year old designed Myford and most certainly far more for the money.

.

John,

What intrigues me about that, is this proud statement:

The only manual lathe you can buy which is still truly Made in Britain

.

… hinting that Myford is not ?

.

So … who [if anyone] are we to believe ?

**LINK** http://www.myford.co.uk/

"New high speed Super 7 Connoiseur lathes are made here, on site, in the UK"

.

I suspect that you might know more about the realities of this, than the rest of us.

.

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 24/11/2016 21:44:56

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

It pointless even guessing what small and precise means with out some numbers – especially small.

I thought currently a Boxford is >>>> £8000 Neil. More like over 10k or more depending on model. A lot more in some cases.

John

–

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Ajohnw on 24/11/2016 23:46:58:

It pointless even guessing what small and precise means with out some numbers – especially small.

I thought currently a Boxford is >>>> £8000 Neil. More like over 10k or more depending on model. A lot more in some cases.

"Prices from £8,900 for a working machine "

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I would have thought a watch makers lathe a bit small when you start machining things like bottom brackets, hubs, disc brakes, suspension parts etc

[Mike E.Participant @mikee-85511]

Posted by JasonB on 25/11/2016 07:34:44:

I would have thought a watch makers lathe a bit small when you start machining things like bottom brackets, hubs, disc brakes, suspension parts etc

I was not specifically referring to a Watch Makers lathe, but to the watch makers "section" on the lathes.co.uk site. There are also small precision instrument making lathes described under this section, such as a Pultra. Presently there is one of these lathe's which is for sale and can be viewed on the GandMtools site.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Re size you might get a clue from the OP mentioning bicycles – unless it is cycles for elephants I think we all know the general size of these things.

Ajohnw how about that nice cream coloured Pultra 17/50 of yours. Graeme look at AJ's post above, click on 'photos' below his name, then the top album.

However I think what you really need is a skilled machinist. A Chinese machine can give you 1 thou precision and if you really need better you probably want the surface finish from a cylindrical grinder.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Bazyle on 25/11/2016 09:10:29:

Re size you might get a clue from the OP mentioning bicycles

.

… and then going-on to say:

[quote] – we have two larger machines already but they are not well suited to some of the smaller & more accurate jobs that we have to do. [/quote]

MichaelG.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Graeme King on 24/11/2016 15:09:02:

I have to travel 200 km to view a SwissTec and I can't get a solid answer from any online research & I don't really want to waste time going to look at a machine whose origins are Far East … so can anyone here give me an answer?

.

Graeme,

It's not a definitive answer, but I think this motor rating plate gives a good clue: **LINK**

https://goo.gl/images/OmFmya

The logo is very similar to the one shown by Pro Machine Tools.

MichaelG.

.

http://www.dksh.com/htm/1862/en/SWISSTEC-Sourcing-Ltd.htm%20

This ^^^ might satisfy your curiosity.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 25/11/2016 10:03:46

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 25/11/2016 09:20:53:

Posted by Bazyle on 25/11/2016 09:10:29:

Re size you might get a clue from the OP mentioning bicycles

.

… and then going-on to say:

[quote] – we have two larger machines already but they are not well suited to some of the smaller & more accurate jobs that we have to do. [/quote]

MichaelG.

No point doing that at all. There could be a variety of reason why the larger machines aren't suited – worn for instance. Plus is a brand new Boxford ideally suited for making small parts ? No depending on how small they are.

But by all means carry on guessing.

John

–

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Ajohnw on 25/11/2016 10:23:47:

But by all means carry on guessing.

.

John,

You're doing it again … quoting me, and then giving a patronising "reply" to something I haven't said.

The original post gives a good indication of what Graeme is considering, and I have made no 'guess' beyond that.

MichaelG.

[Graeme KingParticipant @graemeking88577]

Posted by NJH on 24/11/2016 17:05:42:

At the risk of provoking howls of protest from the "anti" brigade you can still get a new ( or indeed) refurbished Myford

See HERE – spares readily available too. ( Yes Ok, Ok, the rest of you I've got one and I wouldn't swop it)

Norman

Edited By NJH on 24/11/2016 17:06:21

Thanks for this – I've used Myford in the past – in fact back in the dim mists of time (my schooldays) they were the machines I first turned metal on …but even a factory-refurb is outside of our budget at this time, unfortunately …

Edited By Graeme King on 25/11/2016 17:03:10

[Graeme KingParticipant @graemeking88577]

Posted by Ajohnw on 25/11/2016 10:23:47:

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 25/11/2016 09:20:53:

Posted by Bazyle on 25/11/2016 09:10:29:

Re size you might get a clue from the OP mentioning bicycles

.

… and then going-on to say:

[quote] – we have two larger machines already but they are not well suited to some of the smaller & more accurate jobs that we have to do. [/quote]

MichaelG.

No point doing that at all. There could be a variety of reason why the larger machines aren't suited – worn for instance. Plus is a brand new Boxford ideally suited for making small parts ? No depending on how small they are.

But by all means carry on guessing.

John

–

Good grief and I thought cyclists were a contentious mob … 😀

 

Edited By Graeme King on 25/11/2016 17:29:44

[Author]

Posts