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What is a compact lathe? Strictly speaking, there is no one definition, but basically we use the term to describe the sort of lathe that is easily portable. So portable, in fact, that it can be picked up and put away when one is finished with it. I know of people who, as well as putting such a lathe away when they are not using it, also take it away on business with them and use it wherever they are staying.

Small lathes are certainly not a new innovation. There have been specialist watch and clockmaking machines availablefor many years, but these high-precision, very expensive machines are not included within the scope of this book. Over the years, there have also been many small lathes of the type now referred to as 'compacts'. These have all gradually disappeared. Why was this? I believe the reason is that they were usually made as direct copies of larger models but reduced in size. Most were marketed by small businesses. There was then a two-fold effect. The lathe design itself, while suitable for a larger model, was not left for a small lathe and so they were difficult to use. There were also very few accessories made for them with the result that they were very limited in their scope and not popular. Also, the firms marketing them were small, often single-person businesses and, when the owner sold out or ceased trading the lathe was no longer marketed. Nowadays, many of the compact lathes are marketed by big multinational companies, and are sold not just in Britain but all over the world. There are also so many extras available that the lathes are capable of tackling much more than the older models. For some time now the market has been very stable and the only visible changes are gradual improvements to the models.

These days the compact lathe can be a very sophisticated machine. It can be capable of carrying out all the functions we would expect to get from a much larger lathe, although it must be said that it will obviously not be capable of working to such large dimensions. I will give examples of the uses to which such machines can be put and what can be made on them. Today, most are also quite capable of carrying out milling operations as well as screw cutting, so we have a virtually complete workshop in one compact area. Being small, the lathes generally work out cheaper than the larger models. For this reason, they can be an ideal starting point for a beginner and, in particular, they are the ideal machine for a youngster to learn machining skills with.

I would like to thank most sincerely the suppliers and manufacturers who kindly gave me the information I required as well as, in some cases, the loan of a machine. Without their help this book would not have been possible.

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