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Vicmarc Lathe

Emiliano Achaval

Emiliano Achaval

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I have noticed the forum is kind of slow... So, let's talk about something I saw today... I saw Glen Lucas standing next to a behemoth of a Vicmarc lathe!! I just checked their web site, I dont see it listed there. Maybe its a prototype! Sure looks nice. But... Not as versatile as my Stubby, lol Aloha from Maui
 
Josh Stevens

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I believe they sold a couple of them. I'd love to see one in the flesh!
Form memory it was 1200mm diameter inboard, 5hp 3 phase with a two speed gearbox (plus VFD)
 
hockenbery

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Vicmarc lathes have not been as popular here as in the rest of the world.
The Vicmarc chuck is quite popular. Not sure why the lathes lag so far behind Oneway and Powermatic. Maybe the Vicmarc cost goes Too high with exchange rates and import costs added on. Now Robust has a big market share.

When demonstrators request lathes to use at the symposium.
Vicmarcs are asked for a lot by our demonstrators from overseas.
Woodworkers emporium can often loan us only one.

Oneway is the most asked for followed by Powermatic.

I recently demoed for a club that had an old Vicmarc. It was a nice machine that aged well.

A really big lathe has a small niche market. The big Oneway seems to own the production market. ( the Vb3 is in the production market too) Then folks go to custom made lathes. Nichols used to have it...
 
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F

Frank F

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The one Vicmarc feature I wish other lathes had was the ability to shut the lathe off with my knee - the red bar shut off. It would be great when holding the work with the left hand while cutting of that nib with the tool in the right. Does Vicmarc have a pantent on that? Is that why we don't see it?
 
hockenbery

hockenbery

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Frank F said:
The one Vicmarc feature I wish other lathes had was the ability to shut the lathe off with my knee - the red bar shut off. It would be great when holding the work with the left hand while cutting of that nib with the tool in the right. Does Vicmarc have a pantent on that? Is that why we don't see it?
Click to expand...

The Robust scout has such a bar. There may be others.
I can do a knee or hip shut of with my remote Magnetic switch on the Oneway. It has a proud shutoff button easy to hit with a hip.

I have to keep my switch out of reach of my hip unless I plan to turn it off that way or I will turn off the lathe inadvertently as I tend to work close to the lathe bed especially on the headstock side of a bowl or hollow form.
It would be a learning curve for me to work with a bar shut off and not hit it while working.
 
john lucas

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The Oneways that have worked on had the remote switch at shoulder height. Not disputing you Al but maybe your lathe is different. My thoughts when I relocate my 3520A switches to a remote box is to #1 always put the box in the same 2 places on the lathe, either the headstock for spindle turning or right at the end for hollowing. Either place I plan to put it low enough that I could hit the switch with hip if my hands are tied up trying to keep my alive.
 
hockenbery

hockenbery

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john lucas said:
The Oneways that have worked on had the remote switch at shoulder height. Not disputing you Al but maybe your lathe is different. My thoughts when I relocate my 3520A switches to a remote box is to #1 always put the box in the same 2 places on the lathe, either the headstock for spindle turning or right at the end for hollowing. Either place I plan to put it low enough that I could hit the switch with hip if my hands are tied up trying to keep my alive.
Click to expand...
I also have an optional remote that is a box with a magnetic base. It has just the on/off. The off is a big red button the sticks out so it is easy to hit with anything. The on switch recesses slightly so that It cannot be hit accidentally very easily. I move it around similar to the way you describe.

I also have the standard controls on a swinging mount at eye level. This can be set up on either side of the bed and it swings from head stock to tailstock and pivots. This set of controls has a big off button you can hit without looking. Once I got used to these controls I would not want any other set up. No reaching or bending over easy to see when hollowing

I do a lot work where I turn from headstock side and then tailstock side without turning the lathe off.
So it is handy to have an off/on both places.

I encourage anyone who does hollow forms to have a switch at the tailstock They can turn off without letting go of the tools.
IMG_4220.jpg
 
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RichColvin

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Mike Johnson

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Still waiting for the emergency stop switch that is activated by your sphincter.
That is usually the first set of muscles that respond when things go bad. :)
Too many people freeze or lock up when things go bad on rotating lathe.
 
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