European-built Ajax AJL Varispeed centre lathe range starts at under £10k
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Workshops and training schools can now acquire a 200 mm chuck size, 180 mm centre height and 360 mm swing by 750 mm bed length manual centre lathe for under £10,000. The European-built four model Ajax AJL Varispeed range offers a chuck size up to 400 mm as an option, with a 325 mm centre height, 625 mm swing over bed and 3,000 mm bed length.
Each of the Ajax Varispeed gap bed lathes is constructed on a single piece Meehanite casting that is induction hardened and precision ground. Headstock and saddle gears are also hardened and ground, and each machine can be specified with factory fitted digital readout (DRO) with a constant surface speed facility to maintain consistency of surface finish.
The nickel steel main spindle is carried on precision taper bearings with automatic lubrication. A three-speed variable gearbox ensures adequate torque is available, while a universal gearbox enables metric and imperial threading cycles.
The AJL 180VS, the smallest in the Varispeed range, comes in at £9,750, while the longer 1,000 mm bed machine is just over £10k at £10,200. The maximum swing in the gap is 520 by 130 mm wide, cross slide travel is 210 mm and the compound slide stroke 105 mm.
Standard equipment includes the 200 mm three-jaw chuck, coolant system quick-change toolpost with four holders, tailstock, lighting combined chuck and work zone guarding and solid centres. There is a wide selection of equipment, attachments and tooling options.
The AJL 325VS, the largest in the range, has a swing in the gap of 910 by 220 mm wide, cross slide travel of 325 mm and top slide travel of 130 mm. The spindle bore as standard is 80 mm, with 105 or 155 mm diameters available as options. A 315 mm three-jaw chuck is only available to suit the standard bore machine but chucks up to 400 mm can be specified as an option. Spindle power is 7.5 kW with a 10 kW option. A rapid traverse unit can be fitted to accommodate the long bed lengths up to 8,000 mm. A full range of accessories and packages is available through Ajax Machine Tools International.
