Colchester Chipmaster

[L98fiero]

Does anyone have an idea what a Colchester Chipmaster is worth? I'm asking for someone else and after a quick look at it, the ways look very good, it has no chucks, the variator is not just not functional but totally missing and was replaces with a 575V 3 phase motor with a VFD. I didn't check the serial number so don't know what year or version it is. not being familiar with the lathes, I don't know if there is a difference between versions but this one looks like it has a D1-3 spindle nose. The machine is located north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

 

[trlvn]

Sorry, I don't know enough to even give you a range. I believe, though, that a couple of guys on Canadian Hobby Metalworkers have this lathe:

https://canadianhobbymetalworkers.com

I've read that the same machine was also sold with Harrison badges.

HTH,

Craig

 

[L98fiero]

Sorry, I don't know enough to even give you a range. I believe, though, that a couple of guys on Canadian Hobby Metalworkers have this lathe:

https://canadianhobbymetalworkers.com

I've read that the same machine was also sold with Harrison badges.

HTH,

Craig

Thanks, that was my next stop!

 

[rklopp]

I have a Chippie with the original drive. It's a bit worn but having a DRO means it can still turn out accurate work. It is inherently noisy due to the toothed belts in the drivetrain. I run mine from a VFD to convert single to three phase. I am on 60-Hz power but I mostly leave the VFD frequency at 50 Hz so the speeds correspond to the nameplate. Sometimes I lower the frequency when winding springs.

I have a Monarch 10EE and it takes the same D1-3 spindle tooling as the Chippie. That is a great feature for me. I usually keep a 3-jaw chuck on the Chippie and use collets on the 10EE. I use the Chippie for rougher work, work that won't fit the biggest collet (1-3/8"), and work that needs the Chippie's clutch, like winding springs and running threads to a shoulder.

A 575-V motor is a pain in the US. I do run an Aciera F5 mill with 575-V motors. For that I built an open delta 240-575V 3-phase transformer system. It was nothing that money and time couldn't fix.

As for value, it all depends on condition. It's not for sale, but I'd be happy to get $3500 for my Chippie including the VFD, DRO, an Aloris toolpost clone with one tool block, a faceplate, and perhaps an old chuck. I would not be surprised if the best I could do on a quick sale was $2500.

 

[L98fiero]

I have a Chippie with the original drive. It's a bit worn but having a DRO means it can still turn out accurate work. It is inherently noisy due to the toothed belts in the drivetrain. I run mine from a VFD to convert single to three phase. I am on 60-Hz power but I mostly leave the VFD frequency at 50 Hz so the speeds correspond to the nameplate. Sometimes I lower the frequency when winding springs.

I have a Monarch 10EE and it takes the same D1-3 spindle tooling as the Chippie. That is a great feature for me. I usually keep a 3-jaw chuck on the Chippie and use collets on the 10EE. I use the Chippie for rougher work, work that won't fit the biggest collet (1-3/8"), and work that needs the Chippie's clutch, like winding springs and running threads to a shoulder.

A 575-V motor is a pain in the US. I do run an Aciera F5 mill with 575-V motors. For that I built an open delta 240-575V 3-phase transformer system. It was nothing that money and time couldn't fix.

As for value, it all depends on condition. It's not for sale, but I'd be happy to get $3500 for my Chippie including the VFD, DRO, an Aloris toolpost clone with one tool block, a faceplate, and perhaps an old chuck. I would not be surprised if the best I could do on a quick sale was $2500.

What general area are you in?

 

[rklopp]

What general area are you in?

Mechanical engineering.

 

[L98fiero]

I meant what part of the world, but that's interesting, too!

 

[rklopp]

SF Bay Area California.