New American Made Drill Press With #5 or #6 MT Spindle

[manualmachinist]

Not American made but seems in decent shape.

MAS VR6-A 6′ Radial Arm Drill - heavy equipment - by owner - sale

 

[Monarchist]

Not American made but seems in decent shape.

MAS VR6-A 6′ Radial Arm Drill - heavy equipment - by owner - sale

Good enough stuff.

History | KOVOSVIT MAS

Extract as to 1936-1939 roots. The "protectorate" referenced was a Hitler project:

The production of machine tools in Zlín, Baťa’s city, started in 1936 and soon after that the Company put together an integrated offer of basic assortment. In 1938, the production in Zlín encountered some difficulties with recruiting. The company management considered transferring the centre of the activity in this field into a different region – Slovakia. However, the events in the second half of the year stopped that intention. After the separation and occupation of Czechoslovakia, the company management decided to look for another location within the territory of the Protectorate.

 

[ewlsey]

Taper in Spindle is worn out and clutches are done. Last time they replaced clutches it was like 6000 bucks. But as of last Friday you could stop the spindle in high gear with your hands. We have had it for i guessing 30yrs or so.

That sounds pretty minor. The taper can be reground. The clutches can be rebuilt. Surely a new machine will cost much more than $6,000.

 

[WILLEO6709]

The smallest machine I have seen with a MT6 is my Fosdick Hydraulic 4' radial. I think there was a sister on ebay for about $17k not long ago. I paid about $5k for mine YEARS ago, running condition with cube. $6k for clutches plus $1000-$1500. for an onsite taper regrind...... may be your cheapest way out. If you can find one at auction, may be able to pick up a MT6 radial for less than $3k, plus shipping/ rigging.

 

[jigman586]

That sounds pretty minor. The taper can be reground. The clutches can be rebuilt. Surely a new machine will cost much more than $6,000.

New Knuth is $27000

 

[DDoug]

At this point it's all stabbing in the dark.

The OP needs to explain just why they need that particular, rare configuration.

What exactly are you doing with it ?

 

[Monarchist]

That sounds pretty minor. The taper can be reground. The clutches can be rebuilt. Surely a new machine will cost much more than $6,000.

For damned sure!

Rigging, transport, de-commissioning, commissioning can cost that much.

Old one has to go somewhere, too. Ain't moving either one of them without interruptions to other work and people's time, either.

Priced that in?

How about cost and amortization vs JF doing the work on newer machinery already under-roof, even if more tedious.

Convenient it has been, maybe. But when, last, did this machine actually PAY for itself when it still worked well?

Accounting is done that way. In-house, and in advance if an enterprise wants to have a future, not a tombstone. Liquidators use simpler math.

 

[hanermo]

Whats the goal ?
Any fairly-skilled guy here on the forum could get the old stuff running "ok" for 1-2k in parts, and 1-2 days in labour, with some waiting in between.

My point;
New ones don´t exist.
Excellent rebuilders of machine tools (much better than me) like Richard King abound in the USA.
Use one, for advice, at least.

Why would one spend 30k or more, vs 5k, for the same functional result in a depreciating asset nearing end of life ?

 

[ewlsey]

Not to mention, why would they not put $30,000 toward a CNC machine that could give them 10 times the productivity.

 

[jigman586]

Its not my call i just got asked to look for a new or used machine.
But if any of you guys know some people that repair these type machines back to good working order please give me some contact info.
I asked one company for a quote on onsite spindle repair and they came back with $10000 just to coem to South Ga and repair the spindle! Nothing else.
And they made my management balk at any repair work.

 

[ewlsey]

I feel for you guys in the sun belt.Up here you would trip over shops who can fix up that old machine. I can think of half a dozen within a 2 hour drive, and that does not include Chicago or Milwaukee.

If the spindle bearings are good, you might even be able to grind the taper right in the machine.

 

[Monarchist]

I feel for you guys in the sun belt.Up here you would trip over shops who can fix up that old machine. I can think of half a dozen within a 2 hour drive, and that does not include Chicago or Milwaukee.

If the spindle bearings are good, you might even be able to grind the taper right in the machine.

Cause them to be "good" first. Mechanic's task. Tedious, but not rocket insemination.

Roller-bearings themselves, we ALL buy-not-make.

Clutches are another "bought-in" item. Someone in that game can reface if not make new.

While back, someone on PM was despairing of finding such for a "vintage" lathe, maker decades gone.

Clutch maker was still very much a going concern, still had the parts, not expensive. It was a widely used clutch and still being sold, new.

Anyway.. WTH.. there is a MACHINE SHOP under the same roof, no?

Most of those work in "unobtanium" as a matter of routine.

 

[Limy Sami]

Here's your spindle grinder, - the late Walt was a highly respected PMer and I believe the company is still in good hands.

http://www.spindlegrinding.com/index.php

 

[Monarchist]

Here's your spindle grinder, - the late Walt was a highly respected PMer and I believe the company is still in good hands.

http://www.spindlegrinding.com/index.php

+1 Best done by an expert at it.

5 MT in the AB5/S responded to no more than a former East Bloc 5 MT/MK hand reamer, carefully applied.

Azures for the locking key (hor-bore spindle style) and the ejection drift had left Deutschland with radiused edges, but still.. 65 years or so of service, three or so generations of Bubba's hammering eventually find a way to rise burrs there.

Might wanna check that. Taper was otherwise decent here.

 

[Tannewitz]

The Monarch Lathes factory in Ohio would most likely rebuild the drill to new condition

 

[scadvice]

Here's one with that taper...Whoops...somebody tipped it over?

12148 Carlton 1' x 26" Radial Drill, Model 5A | eBay

 

[Monarchist]

The Monarch Lathes factory in Ohio would most likely rebuild the drill to new condition

And the rigging and transport costs?

Four-plus times what I paid for my AB5/S itself.

I expected that. I am good with that. Good ones of those had gone serious scarce, too..

This puppy? Heavy bugger. Questionable cost justification right up front.

That part I did not have to give a damn about, either.

OP's company may not have that luxury. Or perhaps just "should not"?

Rebuild it in situ. Or not at all.

 

[jdavi581]

Lucas Precision will owns the rights to Carlton Drill. They can overhaul or possibly make new from old castings. I see some from the late 80s early 90s on ebay occasionally, and forum member Joe Michaels actually toured their facility years ago. I have 3 of these at work, and they are great machines, and Lucas knows them very well, so they are fully supported.
Joe

 

[jigman586]

Our company could pay for a rebuild but to sink thousands into it just really isnt worth it.

 

[Monarchist]

Our company could pay for a rebuild but to sink thousands into it just really isnt worth it.

Thing is, "thousands" are what stuff costs, today. Serious Drillpress will appreciate that, pay it back over long years.

Motor-vehicle repair, tree surgery, a bar or brothel tab in the same amount will do less well - even neither. Trust me on that, if nothing else. I'd drop 5 large into that in a New York Minute. Rare machine. Serious capable.

Ten large not, but only because I believe it needeth not, not because one cannot spend more, and for honest value-for-money. Drillpress USE, Not jig mill LEGEND being put back "good enough", here.

Price the alternatives.

WITH rigging, transport, AND downtime, if you please.

TANSTAAFL.