Hello Fellow Modelers,
my hk 6 in 1 machine tool was in the post today.
On opening the box it looked more like a clone of the Unimat classic machine, though not as sturdy, and more like a toy than a hobbyist's machine.
But then considering the price of the hk 6 in 1 machine tool, its not bad, ideal for novice machinists.
As for me I will indeed assemble this machine and use it for turning/milling wood, while for all my hobby metal work will still be faithful to my good old Hero 7" X 16" table top mini lathe and my Feinbau vertical mini mill. Both in their early 50's
Regards
Nilanjan
Congratulations, Nilanjan. I'm sure you will find a lot of use for it
I started assembling the HK 6 in 1 machine tool since late last evening.
The choice of material and its quality used in this machine tool is not at all suitable for use in a hobbyist's machine. Especially the vice and slides they are plastic, while the lathe bed is from extruded aluminum.
I visited the website of Cool Tool, they market the Austrian made Unimat Classic, the assembly manual of the HK 6 in 1 like the machine itself is an exact copy of the Unimat Classic.
http://www.thecooltool.com/produktgruppe.php?language=d&pg_id=1
Although it does not mention anywhere in the HK 6 in 1's assembly manual, yet it is advisory, as I learnt from experience, that a jewelers flat & half round files come handy in de-burring the cast metal connecting pieces during assembly.
Most of the connecting pieces that hold the slides, motor, vices, tail stock etc to the slotted aluminum bed & posts have mould release marks and have to be de-burred in order to seat themselves in the slots.
While assembling the tailstock, I found the 3.5mm collet which needs to be inserted through the collet retaining nut, to be about 8.25mm o/d, oversized than the collet nut which had an i/d of 8.0mm.
The best cure for this was to fix the collet retaining nut on my Hero mini lathe chuck and using a reamer increase the collet retaining nut i/d to about 8.3mm.
Finally I have the lathe ready for testing, though the manufacturers claim this machine to be able to turn non-ferrous soft metals & alloys yet I am very skeptical about its capabilities as a hobbyist's metal working lathe/mill! So will limit it to wood working.
I plan to do certain modifications with the HK 6 in 1 machine tool:
1. replace the motor with a 5000 rpm 2kg torque 24v dc carbon brush pm motor that I have.
2 build a pwm speed controller & reverser
3. use a 24v 5A transformer based power supply instead of the 12v 1A switching power supply that came with the tool
Seems like the machine is in the right hands at last! :thumbsup:
Pline, where can I get a cheap slide calliper?
Sir,
if u were in Calcutta I would say "Thonthoney" market off College street, that's where most of the small tools for my model making factory comes from.
regards
nilanjan