Hello All;
New member, long time Unimat 3 user.
I recently inherited my boss's old Unimat 3 and accessories, which lead me down the rabbit hole here.? He had quite the set up, many of the add-on accessories, and I've added a few of the parts he was missing or were lost in his mess after he passed.
I just today uploaded an article from the defunct American model railroad magazine "Mainline Modeler", which shows how to add dial indicators to a Unimat 3.? It's not my work, but worth a read as it is another way to improve the U3.
FWIW, I started using this Unimat 3 in 1984 after I joined the guy's company, American Model Builders, and he'd bought the Unimat circa 1982.? We were a professional model building shop specializing in architectural and piping models located in St. Louis, Missouri; and we did a ton of work for Monsanto, McDonnell-Douglas (and later Boeing after the merger) and all manner of smaller firms.? In recent years the firm was primarily making laser cut model railroad structure kits (under the LaserKit trade name), and they just closed after 41 years - even though the owner died almost two years ago.
I used the U3 mainly for delicate turnings used in making brass master patterns for white metal spin casting; smokejacks, fire hydrants, wheels and flywheels of all sizes, etc.? The machine actually hadn't been used in almost 20 years when I got it, but being a Unimat, it's still in great shape - just bought some new belts and it fired right up.
He had the 3-way cross slide, indexing attachment, grinding wheel, steady rest, milling post/table/etc.; and I've added a second drill chuck and some quick change levers.? We couldn't find the little vise he had, so I sourced one off eBay and bought it.? Total investment by me to date has been about $175.?
Jeff Saxton
