Bought a QT15, now what?

[Delw]

I always liked those qt-15s was going to buy one on numerous occasions but I just didn't feel comfortable with a mazak control, tried to run one on a mill and I failed miserably LOL.
I have never heard a bad word about the qt15 and here they last for ever.

 

[T_Dubs]

Oh man, perfect timing for me tobsee this. I just messaged a guy about a qt10n today. I don't know anything about lathes, but I decided I need one so I started looking. A guy is buying my manual lathe tomorrow to fund whatever I find, so I'm on the prowl.

Only thing I'm hesitant on, is I'm not sure if ibhave the room for something that big. I was looking for something like a qt6.

I can't tell from the pictures, but I think this qt10n might be a c axis which would be sweet. I think it has the tool changer type setup instead of a turret. Not sure if they are all that way...

 

[Cole2534]

Oh man, perfect timing for me tobsee this. I just messaged a guy about a qt10n today. I don't know anything about lathes, but I decided I need one so I started looking. A guy is buying my manual lathe tomorrow to fund whatever I find, so I'm on the prowl.

Only thing I'm hesitant on, is I'm not sure if ibhave the room for something that big. I was looking for something like a qt6.

I can't tell from the pictures, but I think this qt10n might be a c axis which would be sweet. I think it has the tool changer type setup instead of a turret. Not sure if they are all that way...

You should definitely try to watch the videos referenced in this thread, they're based on a C axis QT10 with a TC.

 

[Mr. Atoz]

No, it's for if you want to check or change an insert in the middle of a program type thing.

I think you press feed hold, then then button and back the tool off a little and press the button again and then back the tool up to where you can access it. Then when you hit cycle start it rapids to the second saved point and feeds to the first.

I might have the procedure a little screwed up but thats the general idea.


Oh and to answer the question asked in the title of the thread.

Make round stuff

TPS is a handy thing if you are doing some long roughing cycles and you need to change the tool before your roughing cycle is over. That way you dont have to run the roughing cycle from the beginning. VFC is also a sweet function.

 

[Cole2534]

Should I attempt to change the battery prior to relocation?

 

[Mr. Atoz]

Should I attempt to change the battery prior to relocation?

Usually, you will get a low battery alarm, but ....... I think you need to change it with the power on. Like I said, dealing with lost parameters and reinitializing is no fun.

 

[Herding Cats]

If it's anything like a Mitsu (which I would think it is since I think they are based on Mitsu controls) then the ladder and I think the option parameters are stored on FROM and need to be loaded to the SRAM when initializing the memory. Unlike Fanuc, Mitsu controls store the ladder in both the FROM and SRAM but run the ladder from the SRAM, thus requiring the ladder to be reloaded when parameters are lost.

 

[T_Dubs]

You should definitely try to watch the videos referenced in this thread, they're based on a C axis QT10 with a TC.

Yea I was watching several of those. Seems like it would be a perfect machine for my first lathe, but it isn't under power and the seller doesn't seem interested in trying to actually sell this machine. Oh well, my manual lathe is leaving today and I'll be on the prowl for something cheap enough and small enough to fit in my garage.

I also found a QT6 which is small but would probably be perfect but now I'm kind of stuck on finding something with live tooling.

 

[Herding Cats]

As I'm sure many of you are aware, older turning centers command a much higher premium than old machining centers. Mainly because for most turning work an old plain Jane control with repetitively slow processing speed is more than sufficient.

I would expect an older (90+ vintage) turning center with live tooling and a C axis that is in good condition to bring a fair buck, though deals can be had if you are not in a rush.

 

[Cole2534]

I picked this thing up for 5k.....

 

[Mr. M]

I accidentally bought a CNC lathe a while back too Turns out, hard jaws for the B215 chuck will cost more than the machine did

 

[Mike1974]

I accidentally bought a CNC lathe a while back too Turns out, hard jaws for the B215 chuck will cost more than the machine did

Did you really pay less than a few hundred bucks??

1.5mm x 60° Hard Jaws - MonsterJaws Mfg

monsterjaws.com

sorry see the bigger ones are $500, but still a whole lathe for less? Nice!

 

[Herding Cats]

I'm mildly curious how one goes about accidentally purchasing a turning center? Since it seems to be a more common occurrence than I would have imagined

 

[Mr. M]

In my case, I was looking on an auction for tooling for my manual machines and decided to put in a small bid for laughs on a lathe I was interested in. The last ones I saw sell, sold for 8-12k and so there was no way I was going to get the machine for that small bid...... That is how I accidentally bought the lathe ( that has required me to get a floor poured in my shop in another section, and I am working on getting 3ph power brought in as I do not want to get a converter big enough for the 30hp spindle. )

 

[Cole2534]

In my case, I was looking on an auction for tooling for my manual machines and decided to put in a small bid for laughs on a lathe I was interested in. The last ones I saw sell, sold for 8-12k and so there was no way I was going to get the machine for that small bid...... That is how I accidentally bought the lathe ( that has required me to get a floor poured in my shop in another section, and I am working on getting 3ph power brought in as I do not want to get a converter big enough for the 30hp spindle. )

Same story for me. It wasn't as new as I wanted, but it was close enough for me to get in 1 day and def a good starting point. The ebay auction had a make an offer button, i lowballed (or at least thought i was lowballing) and got it accepted an hour later.

Now scrambling to rearrange, sort out power/air, etc.

 

[chad883]

I'm mildly curious how one goes about accidentally purchasing a turning center? Since it seems to be a more common occurrence than I would have imagined

I have accidentally purchased 2 lathes, 1 mill, 1 swiss, and about to do it again on another swiss. At least thats what I tell my wife.

 

[Cole2534]

I have accidentally purchased 2 lathes, 1 mill, 1 swiss, and about to do it again on another swiss. At least thats what I tell my wife.

Weirdly my wife was ok with this one. I told her about how it can run semi attended (ie more time for her) and she wasn't too pissed. Not happy, but not too mad.

 

[Herding Cats]

I have accidentally purchased 2 lathes, 1 mill, 1 swiss, and about to do it again on another swiss. At least thats what I tell my wife.

Weirdly my wife was ok with this one. I told her about how it can run semi attended (ie more time for her) and she wasn't too pissed. Not happy, but not too mad.

A while back I was given a choice, the business or the little lady.......

Clearly I chose wisely as I'm still making parts and buying machines

In all seriousness the only thing I had to answer for was working 98+ hours a week

 

[Mr. M]

My machines are not for profit at this time but I use them for shop class for my kids so I can teach them useful skills that can get them good jobs if they choose to pursue this trade and at the very least a way to support themselves while they go get whatever higher education they may desire. (Not sure if it will work out that way or not Time will tell )

 

[Garwood]

All the CNC lathes I own found me. One belonged to a friend who didn't use it enough to hire anyone to run it. He had tooling specific to one of his products so it became mine under the condition I can't sell it.

The second one I got a phone call from a stranger telling me to make an offer on it a few days before christmas. I wasn't looking for another machine and I didn't want to spend much that time of year. So for $300 I took home a creampuff Mori SL2HB.

The last one is a biggun Leadwell. I was shopping for a large capacity 2 axis slantbed. Something like an SL65 Mori or a bigger Okuma. I got a call telling me to come make an offer on this Leadwell they had to steal the chuck off to keep another machine up. I shouldn't say what I paid for it, but it wasn't much for a 20k lb 80HP 5" through spindle CNC lathe with live tooling (with tooling). I bought a used chuck off ebay right away, but the asshole I bought it from wouldn't get off their ass and ship it. A couple months goes by and the shop I got the lathe from calls to ask if I still need a chuck. Turns out they upgraded chucks and sent the 16" Schunk from my machine out for rebuild to have for a spare then they changed their mind. So I bought the chuck for what they spent on the rebuild which was also about what I spent on the entire lathe. So in a roundabout way I got a complete big late model live tooled slantbed lathe on the cheap.