10 best lathes

Lathes are designed for machining billets of metal, wood and other materials. With their help, you can make your own products with very high accuracy and save considerable money. Lathes are large (for industrial enterprises), and small sizes (mini-machines). Depending on the nature of the work, this or that machine is selected.

Lathes for industrial enterprises have great functionality, a variety of different additional attachments. On such machines, you can work with large workpieces. Mini lathes are designed for private use, for small workshops or for the home, most often have a desktop version. Working with large workpieces on such machines will not work, but for the production of turning work for the house, they will fit perfectly.

In this ranking, we will present the best lathes and compare them in price, power, dimensions, functionality, surface finish and other characteristics.

Top 10 best lathes

10 Proma DSO-1000 Series

"Proma" –  This is a Czech company, but machine tools are assembled in China. Power equipment is 400 watts. The machine can work with parts, the dimensions of which are from 35 to 100 cm. The unit operates on 220 V AC mains. Due to this, the machine is great for the home, garage. Rotation frequency range –  from 850 to 1250 rpm, there are 4 speeds. The machine weighs nothing at all - 35 kg. Due to its small size and weight it is very easy to store and transport. The disadvantage of the model is the not too extensive network of service centers (there are corresponding workshops in Moscow and St. Petersburg), and also the fact that it can only work with soft metals.

9 JET Series JWL-1220

This is a more powerful machine than the Czech counterpart. The power of the unit is 770 watts. The machine is not too cheap, but the relatively high price for machines of a compact class is more than offset by the convenience and comfort of work, a rich bundle, a larger network of service centers. It can handle parts that do not exceed 30.5 cm in size. It is a compact tabletop machine designed for processing wood workpieces of small sizes. Great for turning lathe at home. The powerful cast bed from cast iron gives to the machine of stability and extinguishes vibrations.

8 Corvette 400 Series

The model is best suited for use at home. This is a universal unit on which you can work with materials such as metal, wood, plastics. It can perform the following types of work: turning, facing. The machine is powered from a network of 220 V, and its power is 400 watts. It has very limited possibilities in terms of the dimensions of the machined parts - up to only 18 cm. However, the low price, Russian production and the availability of service centers and spare parts in Russia make the purchase of such a machine quite attractive. This option is an excellent acquisition for a master of turning affairs, working at home.

7 TV-9 production "RuStan"

Another representative of Russia in the ranking.Differs in big power (1 kW and above) and ample opportunities on processing details. The motor is three-phase, powered by an AC voltage of 380 V. The machine can perform the full range of turning work due to the presence of centers, chuck, collet. The downsides, in turn, is a fairly large mass - about 230 kg and high cost. The model has a very high build quality, reliability of components and parts, and is characterized by high precision surface treatment. The machine has a desktop version. Equipped with a lamp for a better visual perception of the work being done.

6 Stalex SBL-280/700

The machine is made in China. It has a large weight and dimensions: the weight of the machine - 190 kg, length - 140 cm, width - 55 cm, height - 50 cm. Power - 1.5 kW. This is one of the most powerful machines that are covered in this review. The engine is durable. The machine can perform the following types of work: turning the workpieces, threading, drilling holes. Spindle speed - 50-1800 rpm. Spindle through hole - 38 mm. There is an electronic indication of the spindle speed. The machine has a modern design. Heavy cast iron base minimizes vibration and adds comfort to work. The model has a rich complete set.

5 Stalex SBL-250/550

Model of the Russian brand Stalex. It has dimensions: 1100x590x500, machine weight –  120 kg, power - 1.1 kW. Single-phase motor, asynchronous. Spindle speed - from 50 to 2000 rpm. The spindle speed controller is infinitely variable. There is an electronic indicator that displays the speed of rotation of the spindle. Included in the delivery is a set of cams for a turning chuck. It is possible to install parts of different lengths thanks to the movement of the tailstock quill for 7 cm. Very convenient controls and a modern design of the machine are additional advantages.

4 Zenitech MD 250-550 VARIO

This model has small dimensions, thanks to which it is widely used in small workshops and workshops. The machine meets all the high quality standards that a tool developed in Europe must meet. The materials of which it is made, have a high margin of safety, designed for operation in harsh conditions, for long-term work with minimal wear. Motor power is 0.75 kW. Rotational speed - 50-2500 rpm. The machine can work with blanks of large size and weight. There is a function of the automatic operation of the cutter after preliminary manual settings.

3 FDB Maschinen Turner 320X1000S

The model is great for organizations that are engaged in metal processing. The machine is equipped with a 1.1 kW three-phase motor. The weight of the unit is 650 kg, it is quite large and bulky. On the one hand, large weight and massiveness is a disadvantage, but on the other hand, it is a guarantor of high precision surface treatment, because the machine is not subject to vibrations and vibrations. A very useful option is also the ability to copy parts during mass production. Another advantage of the unit is a low reject rate. You can handle parts of complex geometric shape.

2 METALMASTER MML 1830V

Metalmaster is a joint Russian-German group of companies that manufactures and manufactures machines for various purposes in Poland, Russia, and China. This is a modification of the previous version of the machine. Its dimensions: 830x395x355, weight - 65 kg. DC collector motor has a power of 0.6 kW, there are 2 ranges of stepless control. The spindle speed of 150-2500 rpm is realized using two speeds. The maximum diameter of processing - 180 mm. The main advantage of the machine is metal gears and a V-shaped belt, which protects the engine from overheating under increased load on the spindle. You also need to note a fairly rich package.

1 JET BD-920

This model has a backlash caliper of only 0.1 mm - this is one of its main advantages. Fixing the nut is very tight, without gaps, which is a big plus when working with small pieces and soft metal. On this machine you can perform a wide range of work: turning, boring, threading, machining ends and much more. The engine has a power of 0.97 kW, power consumption - 550 watts. Comes with a cam faceplate, a truffle cam cartridge. The model has the option of automatically feeding the longitudinal caliper. There is a reverse rotation of the spindle.

Popular vote - which lathe manufacturer is better?
We vote!

Jet

Proma

Corvette

RusStan

Stalex

Zenitech

FDB Maschinen Turner

METALMASTER

Total votes: 2

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