![]() Local or foreign made - probably a choice between used locally made or new Chinese manufacture.New or used - it is always nice to have something new, shiny and unsullied but there are some excellent used machines about which can offer more for your hard-earned cash.If possible standardize so that equipment can be used on all your machinery. Milling machines in particular will need plenty of tooling. Accessories - are these available/affordable for you chosen machine.Good work can be done on the simplest of machines but some degree of automation can make life easier and quicker. Sophistication - purely manual, automatic feed, screw-cutting, gearbox, a turret lathe or even CNC.Really big machines may need lifting equipment to move chucks, vices and workpieces. Tooling takes up space so factor that in. Capacity - big projects require big machines but not necessarily the converse, you can make small things with big machines (within reason and suitable speed range).These also cost more as the machine gets larger. Don't forget you will need accessories and consumables. Budget - as the machinery gets bigger or better (or both) prices can head skywards at an alarming rate.You can move a small lathe to get at the workings but a 1tonne mill is a different matter! The bigger the machine the more space around it. Don′t forget access space around the machine for cleaning and maintenance. Available workshop space - if it won′t fit in the space you have think again.What do you want to make - a clear picture of the first few projects is always useful but not necessarily easy to come by.Some things you need to consider, mainly in respect of the lathe but also for other machinery: You will end up with the right machines for you. Take it slowly, read a lot, seek advice from friends, join a club, use the internet (carefully), go to one of the few remaining exhibitions. The process of choosing machinery can be a bit overwhelming especially for the first time. It is of course still possible to use the lathe for milling operations and if space is limited combination machines are available. When I first set up my workshop it was very unusual for model engineers or hobbyists to have a milling machine but I think now it is almost a given that lathe and mill are required. This will likely be expensive so worthwhile doing some research and making sure that your lathe and milling machine will do what you want of them. Now that the new workshop is coming along nicely it is time to think about some machinery to make work that bit easier. Getting Started In Model Engineering Workshop Machinery - Introduction ![]()
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