I’m thinking about a Slant pro 15L and have started the process of spec’ing out a machine. If you have one what would you buy again and what would you skip? I have a 1100MX and bought it with most of the options. One thing I found was that the tools and tool holding were not a super deal and buying those items elsewhere may have provided a different value. Thoughts and opinions are welcome.
Thanks
Scott
If I knew that the support and upgrade were not available, I would not have bought it.
I probably have over 100 tools for the lathe and bought all from AliExpress, bought 20mm tools and machined them to 3/4.
Jeff
Thanks Jeff. I guess I’m not sure what you mean by support and upgrade. Are you referring to the lack of updates to the software or is there a hardware update you think should be available or have you not been able to get support when you needed it? If you didn’t buy the Tormach what would you get instead?
Thanks
Scott
The lack of conversational programming option, DXF import like the mill. A tail stock that does not take half the Z axis length. Servo motors, faster rapid feed, support for more G code like G50, more drilling option (like X offset in drilling for core drill, faster tool change. Even fix the stupid coolant splash when the program is finish, you open the door, and you get some coolant on you. When I put new much more powerful servo steppers, I asked Tormach how I could change the G00 feed, they replied that they would not help me with that. I do not care anymore about Pathpilot update because I know there is nothing for the lathe.
As for buying another brand, I did not think about that at the time I bought the Tormach.
Jeff
I don’t regret buying my 15L. The only thing is that is very slow, if Tormach update the design with servo motors will be a great machine for it size.
If I need to buy again I will look to other market options.
Thanks Karlo. I looked but have not found any machine like this other than the Omniturn GT75 and the price is not even close to similar. I’m not a production shop so I’m thinking the speed is not an issue for me but I am curious what other machines you would consider. I looked at others and all had significantly different power requirements and price tags. Not to mention footprint and weight. Thank you for the insight.
Scott
I bought the JFK cooler closer and it is a poor design. I use a 5c collet chuck now. A multi speed gearbox would do wonders for drilling and parting now I do those processes on my manual lathe. The design does not allow for faster rapids without the z axis binding. I have no regrets because I knew what I was buying. A 1500 pound turreted CNC lathe. I could have purchased any number of Hass. Mazak or Harding lathes for less used. I do not have 3 phase power or the ability to move around something that weighs 8000 pounds. If you just can’t stand it you should look at a quick turn 15 or 20 by Mazak. They are great conversational machines that have lightning fast rapids.
I’ve had mine for about 2 years now and am doing production work with it. Overall I like it and it does fairly well. It definitely has pros and cons. For me the pros are it’s small size, simple electrical requirements, and pathpilot (although it could be better). Cons are lack of absolute coordinate calibration (or at least a calibration sub-routine), the amount of assembly required was way more than anticipated, it’s a bit underpowered, can’t use the entire tool bed (lack of travel), it can be glitchy at times, minor parts failures that are annoying (air manifold, coolant pump leak and a few others), and the wiring runs and power supplies for the computer and monitor.
My machine has the air collet, turret tool changer and bar puller. They make a big difference in output. The turret is really great and avoids having to setup different tools all the time for different parts. Having a turning/facing tool, parting too, internal and external threading and bar puller all setup and ready to go is very helpful. Additionally, I have 3 gang tools always setup. A drill, internal chamfer and center drill. I have the manual oiler due to cost and it works just fine.
If I were to do it all again I would probably go with a Haas but this was my first CNC of any kind. Since you already have a Tormach you are at least familiar with a lot of their specifics.
I buy a lot of tool holders and collets from Shars and some from Amazon. I buy inserts from Carbide depot or Shars. They get the job done for what I need to do which is nothing high precision but I’m still usually within 0.001". Setting up drill bits is an absolute pain. I still don’t have a good process that doesn’t annoy me. I’m looking to get a Coaxial Centering Indicator since it looks like that would simplify setup.
Overall I’d say that I’m glad I bought the options that I did other than over buying on gang tool holders since the machine won’t hold as many as I though it could.
I would love to be able to replace the controller with another brand, For me, Pathpilot is very limited, I have other machines and I use Mastercam for a long time. Very often I have to program the Tormach lathe with Mastercam, and it is very easy to make mistake because I have to modify the program, Pathpilot does not understand normal program code for lathe, like G50 and many others. I don’t know if faster turret rotation could be done but, it would be a great addition.
I have a bar puller too, and it is a good lathe if you’re not in a hurry but, for me, Tormach do not care anymore about the lathe. Not only that, but I can understand that they look forward to other type of machines but, many bought the lathe so, they should care more about these customers.
I bought the lathe with the manual collet closer, I could not install it because one part was so out of specs that it would not fit. When I bought the new automatic collet closer, same thing, they had to ship a new part after many emails.
I would love to have a new controller like the one in the picture.
I have a 1440 manual that I would like to replace with a cnc. The 12" z travel is not acceptable for me. Most of the ones I have been looking at have controls that are pretty obsolete. So that leaves a Haas TL1 or TL2 . $15 kto 20k used. 30" z would be usable.
Any other good prospects? Updating to Acorn cnc or fagor might be an option.
I haven’t used PathPilot on a lathe but the features looked pretty descent to me.
When I bought my 1100 it was using Mach3 and I upgraded to PathPIlot. Over the years they haven’t added much feature wise that I needed. I suppose most are using Cam packages.
One thing I requested was polygon milling not just square.
I bought a used 2012 model with the tool turret in November of last year in the hopes of prototyping parts for my suppressor company. Although it did carry out the primary function of cutting 17-4 Stainless baffles with relatively good consistency, It is painfully slow. Beyond that, it developed a glitch that neither myself nor Tormach (when they would actually respond) could resolve. It would make 4 or 5 good parts and then completely forget it’s Z zero and jam my tool into the workpiece. After loosing hundreds of dollars in tools and weeks of trying to get Tormach to help, I gave up and sold the machine to a friend who said he’d take up the challenge. I bit the bullet and bought a Haas and now we are smok’n.
By the way. I’m not a Tormach hater. I have an 1100MX that I absolutely love. The 15L is a hastily designed machine (IMO) that hasn’t been given a drop of love since it’s inception and I would absolutely steer towards something more robust even if it costs a little more.
I’m not a Tormach hater either but, like you said, There were almost no improvement for the lathe over the years like other Tormach machines. For me, it’s like if they let down those who bought the lathe.