ok not sure where i should put this, ill try asking this as clear as i can
years ago all machines had bronze bearings right and then slowly things changed and now roller and ball bearings are so well made and cheap they are the obvious choice for nearly everything
lets look at the lathe i have heard the old southbend's used tapered bronze bearings that are easy to adjust and even if you over tighten them its ok because they settle themselves out.
now an argument for a southbend copy (Hercus) was that Hercus lathes were better because they were the first to use tapered roller bearings and that improved the quality ???
so do tapper roller bearings improve the quality of a machine or is it simply a change in times where its cheaper and easier to use roller bearings and leave the bronze for special applications?
years ago all machines had bronze bearings right and then slowly things changed and now roller and ball bearings are so well made and cheap they are the obvious choice for nearly everything
lets look at the lathe i have heard the old southbend's used tapered bronze bearings that are easy to adjust and even if you over tighten them its ok because they settle themselves out.
now an argument for a southbend copy (Hercus) was that Hercus lathes were better because they were the first to use tapered roller bearings and that improved the quality ???
so do tapper roller bearings improve the quality of a machine or is it simply a change in times where its cheaper and easier to use roller bearings and leave the bronze for special applications?