--- In 7x12minilathe@..., "copascetic1" <copascetic1@...> wrote:
Would enjoy hearing opinions from owners of the Micromark 7X14
I have had my new 7 x 14 for a week now. There were several faults when it arrived (as I had expected). The DRO wasn't working and that turned out to be an intermittant connection on the Display board. The usual fault is the sensor plug working loose during transit. The speed sensor had been maladjusted and the interrupter vanes almost touching one side of the opto switch. The mounting for the sensor has adjustment holes, so that wasn't a big problem, to center the switch gap around the vane.
The power to the spindle was also intermittent and that was because a connector had worked loose on the main PCB board, next to the sensor plug.
The MT2 hole in the tail stock had not been bored deep enough and it was ejecting the centre, effectively losing a good 20.0mm of travel. I had read about this problem elsewhere and cut about 20.0 mm off the end of the Morse adapter sleeve for my chuck and that fixed it. One could gain about another 15.0mm of travel with a smaller diameter Morse taper, but I am happy with it as it is.
I also ordered two spare tool holders for the quick change tool post, making a total of five. The two spare ones would not fit on the dove tail of the QRTP and the supplier changed them for me. When the tool holders are set to the correct height, they foul the QRTP clamping lever, so at some stage I need to find some shorter socket headed screws, for tool height adjustment. I found it a bit finiky pushing the sling dovetail out of the block each time I wanted to change a tool holder, so I have fitted a spring on the plunger so it always pushes the dovetail out when taking off the tension.
That is about it for the moment. I did some real turning on it yesterday and today and I am well pleased with the lathe and find it excellent value for money.
