A resurgence in international demand for manual centre lathes combined with avalue engineering exercise have brought down their costs significantly.

Following the resurgence in international demand for its manual centre lathe range and the resulting value engineering exercise carried out by Colchester Lathe design and production engineering team, the Colchester Sales operation is now able to offer the newly developed variable speed Master and Triumph VS centre lathes at GBP 11,950 and GBP 12,750 respectively. Providing outstanding value for money, both machines feature an AC inverter 7.5kW electronic spindle drive giving constant power, through three infinitely variable ranges. There is also a constant surface speed option which gives improved surface finish capability and shortened facing-off cycles.

Each machine uses a heavy duty construction with a wide bed and triangular webs to provide high torsional stiffness and stability.

Slideways are coated with 'Moglice' PTFE low friction linings for longer life and reduced 'stick-slip'.

The Master has a 350mm swing and 650mm between centres capacity with 17 to 3,250 revs/min speed range and No 4 taper tailstock.

Meanwhile, the larger Triumph has a 400mm swing with 1250mm between centres.

Its speed range is between 14 and 2,500 revs/min with a No 5 tailstock taper.