On 7 Apr 2005 14:25:42 -0700, wrote:

Were looking at one on ebay
Hardinge Automatic Screw Machine ASM5C 203
Item number: 7505934111
Is there anyone who can tell us its capability? Is this machine fully
automatic? We were all wondering here what all the buttons were for.
What we are wanting it for is making small quantities(2-300) of various
small not too critical parts. Tolrances are usually + or - .005. We do
alot of small screws 8-32,10-32 with head as big as .500 with a length
of the screw dia close to 2 in. We are now using a B+S and shaving
these screws down.

The Asm is a fully automatic, microswitch programable automatic turret
lathe with two direction cross slide. Its a very capable machine. 5c.
6 positions on the turret. Hydraulicly operated. In good condition,
its capable of .0005 +/-.

Its an old machine, but they can run for days turning out parts.

The problem is...setup time for 2 parts will eat your lunch. 500 is
almost not worth setting it up, unless you are getting serious money
for them.


The bank of "switches" down at the lower right, are actually hydraulic
trim valves for the turret, cross slide, automatic cutoff and so
forth.. They adjust position and pressure. Also contain lamps to show
which turret position is in operation

The console at high right contains machine on, cycle start, collet
open/close, turret index, cross slide in/out, spindle start, coolant,
etc etc

The verticle thingy on top of the head stock, is the automatic cutoff
tool slide.

The square box directly behind the turret is the programmer. A bank of
microswitchs with a roller that is coupled to the turret and clips are
used to set the program.

The biggest killer to using one of these, is its NOT a regular lathe.
No provisions for manual operation, and after 30 yrs, the
microswitches start to fail. They can be fixed, no problem, Hardinge
stocks parts for them as well as its bigger brother, the AHC. and its
kin the little brother the DSMA.

I service these. They can be a stone bitch to figure out what is going
wrong, and where, particularly if you have intermittend microswitches.

My favorite thing to do with one that has gone problematic, is to
strip all the **** off it, and retrofit it with an OmniTurn cnc
package.

www.omniturn.com

Then it becomes a new, far more capable machine. A damned good one
too. But it will set you back about $22,000 give or take. on your
iron.

Id be terribly surprised if this machine goes for more than $500.
Particularly in Kansas, which is not a hot bed of screwmachine shops.

I have a number of these here in So. Cal. And when they run, they run
parts very very well. But they are old, tired and slow to setup, and
frankly nearly too slow for a production shop. Like old B&S screw
machines, they are great to set up for a single recurring part, and
then crank out parts when you get the order. They are barfeed
machines.

Typically, and here is an example. MK Products, the people who make
the Cobramatic line of wire feed welders..they have a number of these
doing nothing but turning out contact tips for mig welders. One
machine per tip type.

They have others that Ive retrofited to Omniturns, that crank out the
gas parts, fittings etc etc. They can be set up in 10 minutes or less
for the next part run.

For long screws like that..few machines will give you good threads on
a 2" screw using normal single point or thread laydown tooling,
particularly a thread that small. It will likely have to be turned
one at a time and then either threaded with a die head, or thread
rolled on another machine. They can be pretty well rough blanked on
the ASM or other machines. I probably could single point them on an
Omniturn, but set up would need to be careful and speeds and feeds (
I&K values) chosen carefully. A die head is much simpler and faster
for a long screw like this.

The B&S is in many ways, similar to the ASM, so..shrug..you may not be
gaining anything.

Frankly...Ive seen these tossed into the dumpster because they are
old, slow and tired. Average price is about $800-1500 local sale.
Shipping is a killer. If its only worth a grand, and it costs $800 to
ship it...shrug Its between 2000-2700 lbs IRRC.

If you decide to go for it, and it doesnt come with manuals, I can
probably get you a full set of operator, setup and most
importantly..maintainance manuals.

Gunner


..
Rule #35
"That which does not kill you,
has made a huge tactical error"