Description
Some of the best parts in the world are turned on a very small machine. The Micro Turn is a bench lathe built for the maker who works in a spare room, a garage corner or a model workshop and needs to turn wood, plastic and soft metal without giving up a whole bay to a floor-standing lathe.
The spindle runs at 20,000 rpm on a 24W motor fed by a 12V DC transformer, which puts real cutting speed behind small-diameter work in aluminium, copper, brass, hardwood and plastics. Stock up to 135mm long and 45mm in diameter fits the standard setup, and adding the intermediate block opens the working range to roughly 50mm. The centre height is 25mm with a centre distance of 135mm, so the geometry suits pen blanks, spacers, bushes, knobs, rings and small precision parts.
Workholding is handled by either the three-jaw chuck or the supplied collet set, which grips from 1mm to 6mm. The tool rest takes high speed steel tooling, and the transformer carries over-current, over-voltage and over-temperature protection, so a long session on soft metal does not put the power supply at risk. Two plug variants are stocked for 220V European and UK outlets. Setup is a bench, a mains socket and a few minutes with the spanner, which means the first part you turn is usually the same day the parcel arrives.
A lathe this size will not build a crankshaft. It will build every small part you have been putting off.
Key Features
- ✦ 24W motor spinning to 20,000 rpm for clean cuts on small-diameter stock
- ✦ Turns wood, plastics and soft metals including aluminium, copper and brass
- ✦ Accepts stock up to 135mm long and 45mm in diameter, extendable to about 50mm with the intermediate block
- ✦ Three-jaw chuck plus a 1mm to 6mm collet set for accurate workholding
- ✦ Centre height 25mm and centre distance 135mm
- ✦ 12V DC transformer with over-current, over-voltage and over-temperature protection
- ✦ Bench-sized footprint that fits a workshop, garage or spare room
Technical Specifications
- Input voltage: 12V DC
- Input current: 2A
- Power: 24W
- Motor speed: 20,000 rev/min
- Maximum stock length: 135mm
- Maximum stock diameter: 45mm, about 50mm with the intermediate block
- Workholding: Three-jaw chuck or 1mm to 6mm collet
- Centre height: 25mm
- Centre distance: 135mm
- Materials: Wood, plastic, aluminium, copper and other soft metals
- Transformer protection: Over-current, over-voltage, over-temperature
- Plug variants: 220V EU, 220V UK
- Certification: CE
Who Buys A Bench Lathe
The Micro Turn is a fit for the model engineer turning brass bushes and small fittings, the pen maker squaring and finishing blanks, the instrument repairer who needs to skim a 6mm shaft back to size, and the general workshop that wants a small lathe on the bench instead of walking to the big machine for a five minute job. It is also the natural first lathe for someone learning to turn, because small machines forgive small mistakes and the tooling cost stays low.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What materials can this lathe cut?
Wood, plastics and soft metals such as aluminium, copper and brass. It is not designed for steel turning.
Q: How accurate is it for small parts?
The combination of a 1mm to 6mm collet and a 25mm centre height keeps runout low on small-diameter work, which is where this class of machine performs best.
Q: Does it need a special bench?
It needs a flat, stable surface that can take the machine plus light vibration. A solid workbench or a bolted bench top is ideal.
Q: What comes in the box?
The lathe unit, the standard accessories, a three-jaw chuck or collet set depending on the variant, and the 12V transformer with the matching 220V plug.
Q: Can I cut steel with it?
No. Steel turning belongs on a heavier machine with a geared headstock. This lathe is built for wood, plastic and non-ferrous metals.
Q: Is the transformer safe for long sessions?
Yes. It shuts itself down on over-current, over-voltage or over-temperature conditions, so the supply protects itself during extended work.
Q: Should I use the chuck or the collet set?
The three-jaw chuck grips irregular or larger stock and sets up quickly. The 1mm to 6mm collet holds small round bar with far better concentricity, which is what you want for bushes, spacers and pins.
Q: What tooling do I need?
The tool rest takes standard high speed steel turning tools. A small set of HSS cutters covers wood, plastic and the soft metals this lathe is designed for.
Q: Can I turn a 50mm diameter part?
Yes, with the intermediate block fitted the working diameter opens to about 50mm. Beyond that the machine runs out of clearance.
Q: Does it run on 110V mains?
The stocked variants are 220V for EU and UK outlets. In other regions, match the supply with a suitable transformer feeding the 12V DC input.
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