I've got the 9X20 Lathe, from Enco... and I'm having an elusive problem with it recently which is dumbfounding me completely.
I use it regularly, have many many different cutters that I use on it, main use it sees is turning 6061 AL. It had the stock tool post holder up until last week when with the stock holder the chattering issue just seemed to start one day, last time I used it, no chatter. So I machined a block of solid 2.5 X 2.5 X 5" long, to directly mount the Bit holder itself directly to the cross slide. It's mounted down with 4 1/4 grade 8 bolts & nuts now. I took the carriage assy. all apart, cleaned, regreased everything, reset & adjusted the gibs to rule that out. Now it's all back together, there's no play to be found, and I'm still getting a chatter, leaving that wavy look to the finish. There's no play in the chuck spindle, and not a trace of backlash / movement in the cross-slide & toolpost holder. My only guess at this point is that it's either the bits are too dull, or I'm not at the right cut-height. I've tried making passes at dead-center on the work piece, and about 1/16th below.
Any suggestions ? I'm up the creek without a paddle & creek at this point.
thanks,
Art