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Re: Unimat 3 mill headstock alignment problem

 

a good reference for ?this scale of machine tools is The Watchmaker's and Model Engineer's Lathe by Donald de Carle. Even worthy aftermarket attachments make it in there and new editions are released regularly. ?
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Re: UPVLA ?

 

Hello:
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On Wed, Dec 11, 2024 at 09:53 AM, Nate Crouch wrote:
... can you be more specific?...
... referring to?
Based on my experience with it, I have only made references to the ca.1980 Unimat 3 I have and the accesories that came with it.
With respect to discussing the matter of Unimat 3 quality/design, I have found that such an endeavour inevitably turns into a rabbit hole.
A deep one, so thanks but no thanks.? 8^)
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I can point you to one example I have posted about here, draw your own conclusions.
/g/Unimat/topic/93162743#msg58666
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Thanks a lot for your input.
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JHM
Re: UPVLA ?

 

a worthy point you raised about the design parameters of Emco's machines, but I wouldn't be so quick to criticize, or can you be more specific? ?Are you referring to the DB/SL design, or the 3 and later uses as a vertical mill? If we can agree that a machine is designed to fulfill a certain function, perhaps Emco's original error ( that they stuck to ) was in describing/ selling ?the vertical attachment as anything more than a vertical drilling accessory. In the late forties early fifties the concept of vertical/ universal milling machines was still relatively new in industry so I tend to give them a pass with their hobby machines.
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Best,
Nate ?
Re: UPVLA ?

 

there was also you a tube video, perhaps that could help in finding a source
Re: UPVLA ?

 

Not sure if it was that one, but I do recall a similar device type that used available aluminum off the shelf parts for the ones that needed a level of precision.?
Re: Jewelers Loupe Head Band?

 

Hi Dick,
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I wear contacts and use reading glasses.? I think the best magnifying glasses are made with your optometrist for your unique requirements to see.? When my eyes change and I can no longer see with store purchased magnification, I will go to the eye doc and pay for glasses for my unique vision needs.? I currently have mono vision, where I see far away with one eye, and see close up with the other eye with my contact lens.? ?There is a shadow there in my right eye, because I selected Mono Vision - as I do not want to wear glasses for day to day activities.? I do not have to wear glasses to use a computer monitor.
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In my case I would take my stitching with me, as my current stitching project that is about 80% completed is on 40 holes per inch silk gauze (which is 1600 stitches per square inch) so the eye doc will understand what I want to see.? It is really important if you do this, to make sure you tell the optometrist the distance of the focal point where you want to see clearly.? From a machining perspective, I stand most of the time when using a lathe or mill, but I sit when I stitch and my focal point is a different distance - this is the reason I have readers in 2, 2.5, 3, magnification strengths.? ?I use 2.5 most of the time,? ?I stitch under a magnifying LED lamp that I have probably used for a decade and bought it at the office supply store.? I use magnifcation and Ikea light when we travel and I'm in a hotel.? You can buy an infinite number of LED magnifying lights.? Our stitching group believes for long - term use that DAZOR lighted magnification has the best warranty and customer service; and the last time I looked it was a US mfg product.? I might have one DAZOR, but I won't spend on an expensive lamp until my lamp goes out.
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I also have Ikea, Ottlight and Daylight magnifying lamps... and same brand lights only ... they are used periodically when I travel, or when I am machining 5/32" brass balls on cloudy dark days... my favorite ottlight the power connector is a small part and I broke it; and that cord is expensive to buy, so I'll wait until I can purchase it again inexpensively.? Goosenecks can take more abuse in my opinion.? I have used my Office Supply lamp all the time; but I took it apart to make it shorter and then put a new plug on it;? I had to cut the plug off to take it apart.??
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Never leave a magnifying lamp in a window uncovered with sun light coming in, you can have a fire, most magnifying lamps for stitching come with their own covers.
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I hope this helps.
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Tamra
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Re: Best Magnetic Base for Unimat

 

I have both a clone and a real Mighty Mag. Get the real thing if possible.? The clone works, sort of, but needs redrilled and rethreaded or it's a bit sloppy. Probably fine for woodworking, not so good for machining.

Bill in OKC?

William R. Meyers, MSgt, USAF(Ret.)

Aphorisms to live by:
Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement.?
SEMPER GUMBY!
Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome.
Physics doesn't care about your schedule.
The only reason I know anything is because I've done it wrong enough times to START to know better.
Expect in one hand, expectorate in the other. See which one gets full first.



On Sunday, December 8, 2024 at 10:29:47 AM CST, URGRA via groups.io <flipsurveys@...> wrote:


check out the Mighty Mag line-up (Web search it)...work fine for Unimat work and won't break the bank


On Sun, Dec 8, 2024 at 9:27?AM OldToolmaker via <old_toolmaker=[email protected]> wrote:
What is your favorite magnetic base for use with Unimat
Dick
--
forum/?OFF-SET-tailstock-center-65965#post105972
?SMALL TURRET TOOL POST PLANS?
?LARGE TURRET TOOL POST PLANS
?MINI-LATHE CARRIAGE LOCK PLANS
?SMALL QC TOOL POST PLANS?
?QUICK CHANGE LATHE TURRET
?MINI LATHE COMPOUND PIVOT MODIFICATION



--
Phillip Chivers
Ogletree & Chivers Land Surveyors
Re: Best Magnetic Base for Unimat

 

check out the Mighty Mag line-up (Web search it)...work fine for Unimat work and won't break the bank


On Sun, Dec 8, 2024 at 9:27?AM OldToolmaker via <old_toolmaker=[email protected]> wrote:
What is your favorite magnetic base for use with Unimat
Dick
--
forum/?OFF-SET-tailstock-center-65965#post105972
?SMALL TURRET TOOL POST PLANS?
?LARGE TURRET TOOL POST PLANS
?MINI-LATHE CARRIAGE LOCK PLANS
?SMALL QC TOOL POST PLANS?
?QUICK CHANGE LATHE TURRET
?MINI LATHE COMPOUND PIVOT MODIFICATION



--
Phillip Chivers
Ogletree & Chivers Land Surveyors
Re: Best Magnetic Base for Unimat

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Planet Earth. ?I¡¯m very attached to it, although its magnetism is not very attractive.


On 8 Dec 2024, at 14:27, OldToolmaker via groups.io <old_toolmaker@...> wrote:

?
What is your favorite magnetic base for use with Unimat
Dick
--
http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/?OFF-SET-tailstock-center-65965#post105972
?SMALL TURRET TOOL POST PLANS?
?LARGE TURRET TOOL POST PLANS
?MINI-LATHE CARRIAGE LOCK PLANS
?SMALL QC TOOL POST PLANS?
?QUICK CHANGE LATHE TURRET
?MINI LATHE COMPOUND PIVOT MODIFICATION
Best Magnetic Base for Unimat

 

What is your favorite magnetic base for use with Unimat
Dick
--
http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/?OFF-SET-tailstock-center-65965#post105972
?SMALL TURRET TOOL POST PLANS?
?LARGE TURRET TOOL POST PLANS
?MINI-LATHE CARRIAGE LOCK PLANS
?SMALL QC TOOL POST PLANS?
?QUICK CHANGE LATHE TURRET
?MINI LATHE COMPOUND PIVOT MODIFICATION
Re: Unimat 3 mill headstock alignment problem

 

Hello:

On 7 Dec 2024 at 13:43, Charles Daldry via groups.io wrote:

... mounting a laser pointer on the head and aiming ...
I have tried that in other situations (not a lather or mill) where I
had no other way to get two parts properly aligned, albeit with
varied success as it was usually in close quarters.

But I'm sure that (in a pinch) it would work quite well.

That said, I'd rather it not be the go-to solution for the problem at
hand. As always, YMMV.

If the Unimat 3 quill had been designed/ manufactured with a
reasonable* amount of travel, the idea of a headstock alignment
attachment would, in all probability, never have been brought up.

* 75mm instead of the absurd 25mm it has.

Thanks for your input.

Best,

JHM
Re: Unimat 3 mill headstock alignment problem

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Has anyone tried mounting a laser pointer on the head and aiming it at a vertical line drawn on a piece of paper and fastened to the wall farthest from the machine??

On 12/5/24 10:30, John Hutnick via groups.io wrote:

Have we got to the situation of all talk and no action?
I have posted previously the device that I made for the Unimat SL.
Since we are on the subject of the Unimat 3, can members please post photos of what they have made?? And not something that you could buy at one time in the past, no longer available, etc.
Regarding milling a keyway in the column, then making something in the head to align with it, etc.: for myself, I would not try this because I might screw it up.? As far as the local very cooperative machine shop that will do this for you economically, I do not think that we have these where I am.? Also, if I would try to do this, I want a spare column as back up.? I always want to be able to put something back to where it was.? There have been very few Unimat 3 spare columns on Ebay.
So if I wanted to do this for myself, I am back to making something with shaft collars.? The parts are not that expensive, and you can always take apart and revert to original.
Re: Unimat 3 mill headstock alignment problem

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

I bought one of these attachments 2 years ago for a DB/SL.? It cost me 250GBP including shipping to the U.S.? The seller was on the UK eBay site but the shipment was from Canada.? I didn¡¯t buy the mounting base.? One SL is dedicated to the attachment and another SL is used for turning.

?

I needed to cut a rack for a Petzval photographic lens.? I would not have been able to do that with the Unimat milling column.? I found that I could attach a 6¡± iGaging DRO for the z-axis.

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I am also reasonably happy with this milling attachment.

?

Scott

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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of John Entwistle via groups.io
Sent: Friday, December 6, 2024 8:33 PM
To: [email protected]; Gsteinba52@...
Subject: [Unimat] Unimat 3 mill headstock alignment problem

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?There is a guy in the il making parts for the unimat SL and the unimat 3, including a milling column. I have the one for the SL and i am reasonably happy with it.

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I also have the mounting base.?

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Best Regards

John

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On Dec 6, 2024, at 5:58?PM, g steinback via groups.io <Gsteinba52@...> wrote:

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Forgot this one...

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IMG_0637.jpg
IMG_0651.jpg

Re: Unimat 3 mill headstock alignment problem

 

There is no "website".? These items are on Ebay, as you can see for yourself.? For me in the US, the SL column is about $285 shipped.? Re our recent discussion about Uni 3 verticals, he sold a complete vertical column of his with a head and motor for about $600.
Re: Unimat 3 mill headstock alignment problem

 

Hello:
?
On Sat, Dec 7, 2024 at 12:06 PM, URGRA wrote:
... website or place ...
There is for older Unimats and for the U3 on the usual market these days.
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Best,
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JHM
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Re: Unimat 3 mill headstock alignment problem

 

Do you have a website or place to see what this? "guy in the il" has to offer?
Thanks!

On Fri, Dec 6, 2024 at 11:33?PM John Entwistle via <jentwistle3=[email protected]> wrote:
?There is a guy in the il making parts for the unimat SL and the unimat 3, including a milling column. I have the one for the SL and i am reasonably happy with it.


I also have the mounting base.?

Best Regards
John



On Dec 6, 2024, at 5:58?PM, g steinback via <Gsteinba52=[email protected]> wrote:

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Forgot this one...
?
/g/Unimat/album?id=196082



--
Phillip Chivers
Ogletree & Chivers Land Surveyors

Re: Unimat 3 mill headstock alignment problem

 

Hello:
?
On Fri, Dec 6, 2024 at 09:38 PM, John Hutnick wrote:
Does it matter what can or cannot be found ...
... for something that no longer exists?
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In my view (YMMV) yes.
Definitely so.
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The reason being accrued knowledge, whether it was a fantastic product or an utter POS.
The Hemingway's Kits attachment seemed to be quite good, hence my interest.
Your solution was quite good also but given the diameter of the U3 column, complicated for me.
... specify what these units actually cost and when.
I understand that this version was (for whatever reason) rather expensive, like all the rest I have read about.
... members in this group must have purchased them.
Cannot say.
One member seems to have made a very good looking copy of the Hemingway's Kits version.
... suggested adapting a Sherline column ...
That was me but I was not complaining, I ruled it out because (in my case) it ended up being expensive.
ie: US$181.00 + US$574.83 = US$755.83 w/shipping via 'UPS Expedited'.
?
There is another shipping option available called 'Best Way' albeit with no specified cost.
Unfortunately, USPS shipping has become very expensive in the last few years and even if it the cost were to result in 50% of the UPS tariff, I would still be looking at a bill for ~U$S570.00 to which I would have to add a 50% import tax.
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Additional charges would apply if instead of the good old USPS, Sherline opted for a carrier instead of the official US postal service to which those charges do not apply.
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And then, once I have it in my hands, I still have to figure out and spend more money to adapt it to my U3 milling table.
Get the idea?
... other units cost twice this more than 10 years ago?
No idea.
... members here submit their photos of what they are using ...
The post which with I started this thread was to explain an idea, with photos and a sketch to hopefully receive comments or suggestions.
?
Thanks for your input.
?
Best,
?
JHM

Re: Unimat 3 mill headstock alignment problem

 

Hello:
?
On Fri, Dec 6, 2024 at 07:58 PM, g steinback wrote:
Forgot this one...
Absolutely great find ...?? 8^D
Right in front of my nose.
I cannot but wonder why it never showed up in all my web searches.
?
This is a copy of the attachment (originally sold by Hemingway's Kits) I was looking for.
Mainly because I have reason to believe it was designed and manufactured for Hemingway's Kits by a chap called Graham Meek, a well known contributor to Model Engineer and author of many books on the subject.
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That being so, I seriously doubt that this kit did not deliver as expected but I cannot say.
The photos posted by Martin P. do not seem to have an associated post by him and I have not found a review on-line.
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But I did find a post by member grosguth who built the one in the photos published by Martin P.
Apparently he has not been active for a couple of years now (last post 03/22), .
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One comment I came across in one post read that at some time or another Hemingway's Kits changed owners and they decided to stop production of this particular kit.
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... a vertical alignment device for the vertical milling column for the Unimat 3 lathe that was made by Hemingway in England in the 1990s.
... it is no longer manufactured by the new Hemingway owners.
I'll see if I can gather some more information on this.
?
Best,
?
JHM

Re: Unimat 3 mill headstock alignment problem

 

Hello:
?
On Thu, Dec 5, 2024 at 05:35 PM, John Hutnick wrote:
... 1/2" aluminum plate, 3"x4", is currently $10.65.? How many do you need - 3?? $31 ...
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That would be if you cannot get it from a shop with left over cut-offs (like fellow CB Bill suggests) for much less or even for free.
A couple of years ago I was offered quite a bit of good quelity Al cut-offs for free but I had nowhere to put them in my already crowded digs so I let the chance go by.
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Bad move, I would have all the aluminium I need and more.
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Best,
?
JHM

Re: Unimat 3 mill headstock alignment problem

 

This kit of parts also looks useful, and a reasonable price if you don't already have any of the items:
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It has a quick change toolpost with various toolholders including one for ER16 collets, plus 10 collets. The only snag is it is the plunger type, and they are not inherently repeatable. The one on my brother's lathe allows the toolpoint to be set sideways over a range of about 1 mm. OK for height, for diameter when turning, but not repeatable for length.

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