Messing about with my Unimat SL.

I've been messing about with my Unimat SL. Its obviously been looked after by someone who appreciates it but who has only used it as lathe. I know this because the power switch has been replaced at some point, it should have a lamp style in-line switch on the power cord, that had been replaced by a fixed switch attached to the rear of the wooden base, the wire from the motor to the switch running through a drilled hole in the rear of the wood;

Fixed switch on rear of base.

Cable running from motor through to switch.

This makes it impossible to reconfigure it as a mill/drill, and makes it difficult for turning tapers, taper turning being achieved by swivelling the headstock  which would have been difficult with the wiring preventing any degree of movement (on a larger machine a compound slide, which could be set at an angle, would be fitted above the cross slide). So I've fitted a new lamp style switch, and I must thank Frank for his advice, he's an electrical engineer and all round good egg. Nice one Frank, I owe you a pint!

Headstock set at an angle for taper turning, exaggerated.

Set up as a mill/drill.

I've also moved the lamp further to the right, it would get in the way when the machine is set up as a mill otherwise. I might just move it again, raising it up slightly.

The tailstock clamping set screw had been replaced by a usefull plastic lever, however I found it a bit ungainly and it made the tailstock difficult to remove so I've gone back to a set screw;

Tailstock clamp lever...

...replaced by a set screw.

Another thing to note is that the original toolpost has been replaced by a 4 tool turret designed for the larger Unimat 3. This would have been an indexing type, but to fit it to the SL the indexing bottom plate has been left off and I suspect that the bottom of the turret has been machined down to make it fit. However, its a very usefull addition. At the moment it has a turning tool and parting tool set up in it.

The machine is starting to feel like mine now, I have turned a couple of parts on it, but thats for another post.

Paul.