HAFCO METALMASTER AL-320G | Setting up my dream tool!

[@MLG44444]

The engineering design of the lathe is incredible! Looking forward to watching you create projects it Great video

[@Fab-Life444]

Thanks for the feedback 🙏 definitely videos coming soon featuring this tool. ☺️

[@JamesMayer125]

Nice stuff mate. Welcome to the wonderful world of machining. The biggest learning curve for me is the speeds and feeds, it’s the key to getting very nice finishes straight off the lathe. Looks like a decent lathe. Looking forward to next videos.

[@Fab-Life444]

Thanks buddy!. Yeah I’m learning so much already. Today I purchased and drill chuck and mt3 shaft for it. Next is a live centre and centre point drills

[@MLG111-y3p]

Cool video!. You must have been scared when lifting that heavy machine into place. Even I was worried watching haha. Super keen to see your future videos where you put it to use 😊

[@Fab-Life444]

Haha yeah I was definitely on edge when lifting it up. I’m a mechanic and have had years of experience with lifting heavy engines but…. Trust me, I was still worried. Allot of money hanging in the air 😱

[@derbuechsenmacher]

Fill the base with concrete, this will make the lathe even more stable and allow for better operation

[@Fab-Life444]

That’s a good idea. Do you mean inside the cupboards on the stand?

[@adhawk5632]

Nice work mate, made a good choice, itll do what you want👍👌🇦🇺

[@Fab-Life444]

Thanks man!. It’s going to be a massive learning curve. So many handles and gearbox functions. Very exciting

[@tmeinc]

Chatter is something happening at a system natural frequency. Change the driving frequency (slow it down) or stiffen the system with better clamping or work support.

[@Fab-Life444]

Awesome info. Thank you! I binged on a few more tutorials and noticed that tooling overhang and frequency issues are linked. I shortened the overhang and had another crack with everything tight. It worked allot better. I had another go at the nurling tool and it also came out amazing!. I’m off to buy a live centre and a drill chuck for the tail stock.

[@weldmachine]

You definitely got my interest with Hafco in the description. Must be another Aussie making KZbin videos. Such a good feeling when you get something you have always wanted. The round metal plate with slots, is called a Face Plate. Something you Might use but more than likely Not ?? It's mostly used for turning parts that can't be held in a Lathe Chuck. I'm not sure how to answer your questions about how to stop the squealing sound you mentioned ?? It will all depend on what metals you want to turn and Spindle Speed for different metals. You will struggle a little to get amazing results on certain metals because of the weight of your Lathe. Don't be too concerned to match the skills of someone who has lots of experience, just use your time to have some Fun and play around with different metals at different Spindle Speeds and make notes on your progress so you have something to come back to later. IF you want good matching results best to practice on what's called Free Machining metals. Either 1214 or 12L14 ( the L stands for Lead which makes the metal easier to cut ) You will feel like an expert when you make parts out of these metals. But IF you plan the Weld these metals only use 1214 as the L version doesn't like to be Welded. I hope you Enjoy your early Christmas present. Happy to help with any questions that I could answer. All the best Peter👍

[@Fab-Life444]

Hell yeah! Amazing comment mate!. Thank you for all the helpful info. The metal I used in the video was some left over mild steel round bar from my local supplier. I feel it was quite dense. I think I’m going to purchase a live centre soon. What are your thoughts?. Also a drill chuck with the 3mt so I can use a centre drill. This machine only came with dead centres. Are they any good?. People reckon they just wear down as they don’t spin.

[@weldmachine]

@@Fab-Life444 A definite on the Live Centre. The standard Dead Centre is just a basic filler they try to include with most Lathes and not really that useful but they still have their uses for certain jobs a bit like a Face Plate ?? Best to go with a Keyless Drill Chuck. ( but this might be a personal choice ?? ) I just prefer a quality Keyless for all my work. You will get it all sorted out in time. All the best 👍

[@melgross]

Before you put the lathe on that platform, you should have installed the leveling feet. They did give you leveling feet, didn’t they? If not, you need to get a set and install them. I know this is a small lightweight lathe, but you have to get the twist out of the bed before you start testing and using it. I can see you’re new to this, so I’m just letting you know that you need to do this or you might be disappointed at the accuracy. I also recommend that you replace that tool post with a quick change holder. Yes, you can use this, it’s fine, but it’s a real hassle every time you change a tool as the center height of the tool is critical, so you’ll find yourself diddling with the height every time you change a tool as the heights are not exactly the same, and some tools need to be slightly below the center and some slightly above. Also, get a light for that as you don’t have nearly enough. And lastly for now, don’t use that push knurling tool. Those are bad for a small lathe as the pressure can damage the bearings. Get a scissor knurler. Those are more suited for small machines and they’re cheap. I know it came with it, apparently, but these importers don’t always know what should and shouldn’t be used, and the Chinese manufacturer just throws things in. I usually recommend to people that before they buy a machine tool, to first learn something about it. Buy, yes, buy, a book on the machine that will tell you how to set it up, test and correct areas that need adjustments and finally, how to use it. I know some people think jumping into the unknown is great, but not knowing this information will lead to disappointment and the work will have to be done anyway.

[@Fab-Life444]

Wow! By far the biggest comment I’ve ever received!. Thank you! 🙏. Your information has already shed light on some of the issues I’ve noticed so far. The knurling tool did come with a scissor head as well. I’ll try that instead. I’ve also noticed how annoying it is to shim the tooling each time I want a different tool. I’ll get those feet asap as the stand isn’t that stable on my floor. I’ve had a great time using it and thoroughly enjoy it!!. I have also noticed that as the tool approaches the centre, it gains resistance. Is this because the tool isn’t quite centred?. Thanks again

[@melgross]

@ several reasons why you get higher resistance. A larger diameter work has greater peripheral speed. The old pie measurement, you know, 3.14. As the diameter decreases, the peripheral speed decreases. As you try to take the same depth cut, as the work is moving more slowly it takes greater force to cut. In theory, and CNC machines do that, the spindle speed increases as you go to the center, or decreases as you move outwards. If the tool isn’t centered, particularly if it’s noticeably below center, it becomes more below center as you cut inwards, again because of the diameter being smaller. So when you start, even if it’s off a bit, the tool is centered close to 90 degrees to the center, yet as you go in, the angle increases rapidly and you can be 80 degrees to the center. So the tool isn’t centered closely, now pushing the work up and back and is beginning to scrape rather than cut. When the tool isn’t centered close above center as to cut, the front of the tool contacts the work rather than the upper cutting edge, again pushing the work away, but this time down and back. Make a drawing showing the tool over and below the center of the work and you’ll see what I mean. Make an arrow showing the direction of rotation against the tool. It will become obvious what’s wrong and why so much pressure is needed as you move towards center when the adjustment is wrong. You also get poor surface finish as the tool is tearing the work rather than cutting it.

[@Fab-Life444]

Awesome information . I really appreciate it 🙏🇦🇺

[@adhawk5632]

And BAM, your a machining channel😅 im running 12mm tooling on the little optimum tu2004, this lathe can take much bigger, more rigid tooling. Look at matty's workshop, he does some incredible work with his. 20mm, maybe even cut down 25mm tools, bigger inserts 👍👌🇦🇺

[@Fab-Life444]

Hell yeah I’ll take a look. There will definitely be some machining content coming soon. Not sure what but… there will be some metal shavings for sure!👍

[@Fab-Life444]

Thanks for that awesome comment. I actually have been watching the blonde one a bit haha. Yeah I had a feeling that the lathe needed calibration. I’ve seen the quick tool post. Shimming is a bit annoying and hard to get exactly centred. When I first had a go, I spun the stock in the wrong direction and wondered why it wasn’t cutting hahaha… just rumbled a bit but no real shavings. I’ve only used it in manual mode as I didn’t want it to run into anything when I’m not used to it yet 🤣

[@adhawk5632]

A multifix quick change tool post was the first upgrade I did, the tool height adjustment drove me mad, then a lcd dro, haven't looked at the dials since, both work great. Not 100% necessary, just make using the lathe simpler. Calipers and some reasonable micrometers will be super useful too, digi micrometers if you go with a dro, measuring straight from the micrometer to the dro in microns, being able to set tool position offsets works great when swapping between tools, one press on the dro and it knows where the cutting tip is👍👌🇦🇺

[@adhawk5632]

@@Fab-Life444 stefan gotteswinter does some super high precision stuff, great to watch, best practices for machining, cool tools. ROBRENZ channel also incredible, just absolute master-class.

[@Fab-Life444]

Hell yeah!. More tools put on my shopping list now hahaha.

[@6.8liter74]

Nice addition to the garage. Another tool you can't put away. Is your wife getting concerned about the car getting kicked outside?

[@Fab-Life444]

Haha yes, another heavy tool that can’t be moved. Nah I specifically put it there because I can still easily fit the two cars in. Because it’s an oversized 3 car garage, the lathe doesn’t protrude that much into where my wife’s car will be… worst case scenario, I’ll leave my work vehicle on the driveway and she can park more in the middle and get metal shavings all in her tyres hahaha 🤣

[@6.8liter74]

@Fab-Life444 smart man!

[@Fab-Life444]

Thanks. I need to get a magnetic broom for the lathe. It flicks metal all over the ground haha

[@6.8liter74]

@@Fab-Life444 I look forward to seeing what you do with it.

[@badjuju6563]

The unknown bit is a faceplate

[@Fab-Life444]

Sweet. What do you do with it?. I’ve only seen people using a 3 jaw and 4 jaw chuck. Is it for odd shaped things?

[@ralphyo6285]

You are running the chuck in reverse or is that an optical illusion?. Run it anticlockwise that is towards you. Put your tool post straight its too close to the chuck to hit it and be careful because unfamiliarity on this machine is highly dangerous. Check out more youtube videos on basic machining otherwise enjoy your new hobby.

[@Fab-Life444]

What section of the video are you referring to?. The first time I turned the machine on, I screwed up and had it spinning clock wise… realised it wasn’t cutting… then ever since it’s been spinning anti clockwise… I have squared up the tool post now and it all seems to be working fine. Much better finish. The use of the machine in the video was absolutely the first time I’d used it ever… since then, I’ve put probably 5 hours into it and now feel allot more comfortable. Always wearing eye protection and every adjustment is done slowly with immense caution haha