Author Topic: Another machine joins the stable...  (Read 29799 times)

Offline AdeV

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Another machine joins the stable...
« on: December 07, 2015, 12:55:02 PM »
A mad moment on eBay seems to have netted me a shiny(ish) new(ish) CNC lathe.  :D

As this is me, you can be sure it's not some shy retiring machine.... nope, it's a Mazak Quickslant 20 4-axis 2-turret beast with a 56mm spindle bore, 16 tool positions, 500mm length capacity, 22kw motor, etcetera.... All I need to do is find a 3m x 2m space to put it now... easier said than done....

All for the princely sum of £755, and it'll cost me about another £250 to have it delivered. That's when the fun will begin...

What have I done!?!  :scratch:  :loco: :loco: :zap:
Cheers!
Ade.
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Offline awemawson

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #1 on: December 07, 2015, 01:00:47 PM »
Well done that man  :thumbup:

Join the 'Totally mad, large CNC lathe' sub group  :lol:
Andrew Mawson
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Offline mattinker

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #2 on: December 07, 2015, 01:03:53 PM »
Nothing like a good bit of impulse buying!

All the best, Matthew

Offline Joules

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #3 on: December 07, 2015, 01:08:52 PM »
Wonder if I could get one in the spare bedroom  :scratch:
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Offline AdeV

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #4 on: December 07, 2015, 01:27:19 PM »
Andrew - Yep, we should definitely have a "big impractical and daft to own machines" sub-club... I may yet need your help commissioning this thing, there's no sign of any documentation (I haven't even seen the machine yet!), and it looks like it's been through a couple of auctions - the pictures were from its previous sale in 2013... so it may be shot, who knows.

Matt - thanks!

Jules - how big is your window?  :lol:
Cheers!
Ade.
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RobWilson

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #5 on: December 07, 2015, 01:32:45 PM »
Nice one Ade  :thumbup:

That's some bit of kit


Rob

Offline John Rudd

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #6 on: December 07, 2015, 01:35:05 PM »
Nice purchase.....

So what are you going to make with it? A pocket watch perhaps or maybe a small mantle clock? :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Offline awemawson

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #7 on: December 07, 2015, 01:40:27 PM »
Ade, being a Mazak there'll be a lot more info out on the web than for my Traub I reckon
Andrew Mawson
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Offline Spurry

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #8 on: December 07, 2015, 01:48:20 PM »
Looks like an exciting prospect to master.
I just wish my electricity supply was up to running something like that.
Pete

Offline mechman48

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #9 on: December 07, 2015, 02:02:31 PM »
OMG what a machine  :bugeye:
What on earth are you going to make with that... & how many thousands  :scratch:  I'd have loved to have heard SWMBO / finance director had to say when she found out... :wack:

Have fun  :headbang:

George.
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Offline AdeV

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #10 on: December 07, 2015, 02:05:45 PM »
Cheers chaps - I'm certainly looking forward to getting it "home" and plugged in... I just hope it all works!

First project.... hmmm... I'm sure I've got a wristwatch around here with a dodgy gear in it  :lol:

I think I might have a go at turning the dizzy drive shaft for the XJS with it actually - the Edgwick cuts a slight taper, and I'm pretty sure this shaft needs to be precise. Will have a go at doing the holder as well, I think; it's got a bit of an internal structure (the original dizzy being a casting) which I would hate to try to replicate by hand.

George: Fortunately I don't have a finance director just now! So I am buying stuff like it's going out of fashion, just in case I do get one!!
Cheers!
Ade.
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Offline SteveT

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #11 on: December 07, 2015, 02:59:32 PM »
That looks a lot of machine for the money and a good find I think  :beer:

I know with the Makak machine centres you have to get Mazak to reactivate the machine if its moved (something imposed by the US government to stop you making WMD  :dremel:) .
Is it the same for CNC lathes?
Steven Tyrer
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Offline Will_D

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #12 on: December 09, 2015, 06:59:03 PM »
And to think my old ML7 is valued at twice that! (or more)

There is something 'askew' in the machine tool universe
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Offline PekkaNF

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #13 on: December 10, 2015, 03:05:04 AM »
And to think my old ML7 is valued at twice that! (or more)

There is something 'askew' in the machine tool universe

Nope.

Under 1 metric tons even old and crappy machines have bidders.

When machine weights more that 3-5 metric tons....it's often cheaper for the company to have someone to remove it than trying to sell them on whatever time limit. Also there are very few townhouses with 9m2 of floorspace and a floor that can carry the weight and +32A three phase feeds......

If I had the space and thick cable I would have now a mighty spot welder (64A 400VAC), 5t milling machine and 3 ton lathe, total buying price cheaper than I'm planning to spend on next poxy milling machine.

Pekka

Offline AdeV

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #14 on: December 10, 2015, 03:34:00 AM »
And to think my old ML7 is valued at twice that! (or more)

There is something 'askew' in the machine tool universe

Part of the reason it's so cheap is because it's in unknown condition. It might be a big pile of scrap metal yet... Another factor is its location - Burscough (near Southport) is a long way from a lot of the country, and transport costs for something this size are quite high. Final factor, I'd guess, is its age - newer machines are faster & more capable, and if you're going to spend the thick end of £50k on a CNC lathe, why would you consider an old lump like this?

Now... all of that said, I've seen similar size/quality machines selling for 10x this one, and I suspect if I can get it all working, I could re-sell it for nearer it's "true" worth... not that I plan on doing that of course (HMRC might have other ideas though).

Cheers!
Ade.
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Offline awemawson

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #15 on: December 10, 2015, 04:47:53 AM »
(HMRC might have other ideas though).


I'd like to see them take 'walking possession' of it  :lol:
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline AdeV

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #16 on: January 08, 2016, 04:27:39 PM »
Today was the big day! The Xmas/NY period was productively spent - 3/4 headscratching "where the hell are we going to  move THAT to so it's out of the way???, and 1/4 actually moving stuff. Oh, and about 1/3 playing "one last" game of pool before dismantling the table for storage. Hopefully one day it'll be out again & wasting more valuable workshop time...

So anyway, here's the pics. Click on them for bigger versions:

Arriving:


Slipped through the ramp nicely:


Resplendent in its new home:


Turrets, 2 off:


Mahoosive tailstock (with internal spinny thing I believe):


Eww, a bit grubby in there. Lots of degreaser needed...


So... toolholders - a few, of sorts, Looks like I'll be busy making some.
Chuck jaws: None - looks like I'll be making or buying some of those too.
Power: Haven't tried it yet... bought the cable & plug, but I'm going to have to run a 63A cable from the leccy box to the lathe, as it wants more than the 32A stuff I've got. I'll spin her up on 32A for now, I suspect the big amps will be needed when those turrets are flying around & taking big heavy cuts.
Cheers!
Ade.
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Offline awemawson

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #17 on: January 08, 2016, 05:31:02 PM »
And there was I thinking you'd bought a big one Ade  :lol:

Good luck - it'll be an interesting journey  :ddb:
Andrew Mawson
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Offline Divided he ad

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #18 on: January 08, 2016, 06:07:06 PM »
You sir are definitely holder of the proud title of MAD modder!  :nrocks:


That there is one massive lump!  :loco:



Hopefully it all checks out and it'll be making some crazy parts soon.... At least you've got the tech skills to do all the programming. That's where I'd fail!





Good luck,



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Offline sparky961

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #19 on: January 08, 2016, 07:46:02 PM »
Looks a lot like the machine I spend a lot of time with at work.... except with a bit more crud and a LOT MORE GREEN.  Oh, and mine only has one turret.  Never touched a Mazak control though.  All my time has been spent on Fanuc.

One thing I learned very quickly at the start - fortunately not too painfully - is that you want to slowly dry run EVERY PROGRAM no matter how simple you think it is or how good you think you are.  This is more important for a CNC lathe with turret because you have so many combinations of potential interference.  Instead of just the tool/spindle of a mill contacting anything while moving around, you now have all of the tools in the turret (not just the one that's active), the spinning chuck jaws, the part (of course), tailstock/centre (possibly), and the wall of the cabinet.  Watch for tools sticking out the back of the turret too!  Add to the mix that depending on your material and cutting parameters, you might be getting long stringers wrapped around many of the above.  I go a step further and run it with the chuck stopped, no part installed.  I manually turn the chuck back and forth to check clearances when things get too close for comfort.  Once this has been done, you've eliminated any interference except for those with the part and chips. 

None of this is to say it's "hard", just that there's more to think about and check before pressing the big green button and turning your back.  It's a different mindset than running a CNC mill for sure.  I'm not sure if I have anything to offer, but I'm eager to help where anything falls within my scope of knowledge.

Offline vtsteam

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #20 on: January 08, 2016, 09:34:45 PM »
Oh wow.......!   Ade, how far are the Jag and the Mazak from each other? Can they yell at each other in the night...."No man, it's my turn tomorrow......"  :)

I gotta go out and buy another pound of popcorn kernels.....this should be a hell of a duet!  :coffee: :coffee: :coffee:  :beer:
I love it when a Plan B comes together!
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Offline AdeV

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #21 on: January 10, 2016, 07:03:18 AM »
Thanks all! I'm just glad I've got the space & electricity supply to run them all...

Unfortunately, it looks like 4th time unlucky.... I can't get the NC to boot up, just get a flashing cursor on the screen. Virtually none of the LEDs on the circuit boards light up, and random pressing of the various reset buttons has no effect. I've got 2 lights on on the control panel (start & stop both lit), and the various counters are lit up showing zeros. Some of the lights come on when you press buttons, but not all.

So... next stop, find a hardware reference manual & start troubleshooting...
Cheers!
Ade.
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Offline awemawson

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #22 on: January 10, 2016, 08:10:17 AM »
Unless the back up batteries have been changed regularly it will probably have lost all it's parameters, however you'd expect the controller to come up into a basic interface to reload them  :scratch:
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline AdeV

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #23 on: January 10, 2016, 06:52:23 PM »
Yep, chances are the parameters are toast... which is going to slow me down - there's a couple of people over on CNC zone who claim to be running the same machine, so hopefully I can touch one of them for the parameters.... when I get to that stage. I think there's something more fundamental wrong at the moment.
Cheers!
Ade.
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Offline Biggles

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #24 on: January 11, 2016, 02:43:26 PM »
I hear you have plenty of renewables up north. lots of windmills for the leki!  :zap: :zap: :thumbup:

Offline nrml

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #25 on: January 11, 2016, 03:20:55 PM »
Looks like another epic CNC lathe thread is about to start :drool: :clap: :headbang: :nrocks:


RobWilson

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #26 on: January 11, 2016, 03:50:49 PM »
Very nice Ade , that some  bit of kit   :bugeye:


I methinks the Butt plug E stop may need fitting for the first test run  :lol:   


Rob

Offline AdeV

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #27 on: January 11, 2016, 07:43:30 PM »
Thank you all for your continued interest (now, if only one of you was a secret Mazak expert!!)  :lol:

Biggles - tidal power is the one, I think. Even as I write this it's lashing down with rain again, and blowing a merry gale, again. I've lost count now, but it's been roughly 1/week since sometime in November. Fortunately, we're out of harms way (even down on the docks, ironically, as the gates can be closed to keep the water out, but the Mersey hasn't flooded anyway).

nrml - Well.... maybe.... I'm not sure I've got the tenacity that Andrew's got, and I certainly don't have as much "spare" time. But I'll give it a good go!

Rob - No e-stop needed yet... need an e-start first! I'll turn the butt plug up on the old Edgwick! It cuts a taper anyway, so that saves some time  :scratch:
Cheers!
Ade.
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Offline awemawson

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #28 on: January 12, 2016, 03:23:53 AM »
Ade, the advantage you have with the Mazak is that there are far more of them around than my Traub, so hopefully spares and knowledge should be easier to come by.

Documentation and knowledge are the key I think  :thumbup:
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline philf

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #29 on: October 21, 2016, 03:33:50 PM »
Ade,

Any progress on the Mazak?

Phil.
« Last Edit: October 21, 2016, 06:08:18 PM by philf »
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Offline AdeV

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #30 on: October 21, 2016, 07:40:29 PM »
Hi Phil,

Regrettably not yet. Having got as far as powering it on & determining the controller isn't booting, I've got as far as registering it with Mazak & got a quote for a reprint of the documentation (slightly over £300!), which I couldn't afford at the time... Since then, I've started to move into a new & even bigger workshop, so everything's been on hold for the last 6 months. I'm hoping to be fully moved by Christmas, then I've got a few other fish to fry, so with luck I'll be able to get back to it around February/March time.... fingers crossed.

So, at the moment, it's just a big green hulk of a thing taking up room. Fortunately, the new workshop will make it look a bit smaller, and therefore (maybe) more managable  :palm:
Cheers!
Ade.
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Offline sparky961

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #31 on: October 21, 2016, 08:56:30 PM »
Could be a good candidate for a LinuxCNC conversion.

Offline awemawson

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #32 on: February 17, 2018, 09:31:50 AM »
Hi Ade,

Just remembered your Mazak acquisition and wondered if you ever made any progress ?

 . . . . do keep me informed . . . .  :thumbup:
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline AdeV

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #33 on: February 17, 2018, 09:20:58 PM »
As usual with one of my projects.... it’s on the long slow burn...

Basically, it was successfully moved into the new workshop, but not in a position where it could readily be used, or even accessed... I am slowly working towards it in terms of space, still a fair way to go though.

Some good news, I start a new job in March which will significantly boost available finances... so I should be able to get hold of those manuals, etc. And, with a bit of luck, I might even be able to make a start on cleaning it up, and some electronics tests...

So: TL;DR: usual amount of progress so far (none), usual plans for future progress (lots)  :whip:
Cheers!
Ade.
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Offline AdeV

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #34 on: February 17, 2018, 09:25:06 PM »
PS: As I am currently in Qixian, near Kaifeng, China... not a lot happening for another week! And as it’s Chinese New Year, everywhere is closed.... can’t even go tool shopping!
Cheers!
Ade.
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Offline awemawson

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #35 on: February 18, 2018, 07:14:48 AM »
Ade,

Glad to hear that it's an ongoing project and not abandoned  :thumbup:

New job in the UK or China ?
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline AdeV

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #36 on: February 22, 2018, 08:05:29 AM »
New job in the UK... unfortunately it means a long-ish commute every day, but for close to double the money, it's worth it. 12-18 months there, then I'll look for something more convenient...
Cheers!
Ade.
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Offline Biggles

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #37 on: February 24, 2018, 11:09:14 AM »
Nice one Ade, yes a "big impractical and daft to own machines" sub-club would be good. Just a suggestion, nock though into the kitchen if you are next door and you could have a his and hers with the kitchen sink in the middle!  : :zap:

Offline howsitwork?

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #38 on: March 01, 2018, 04:33:51 AM »
Ade

As you might have heard there’s a bit of weather happening here at 5he moment, said he happily laid on the bed typing on this iPad thing whilst looking out at the blizzard.

Might go to workshop later and turn up an oak platter I think . There’s method in this madness as oak platter ( to accommodate lemon drizzle cake) needs aforementioned cake to check it for size. Friends wife will then declare cake now surplus to needs !

Should I start the coffee maker before or after turning the platter ? Decisions, decisions....

Bring some useful bits back from China to test on the new gadget?

Have fun Ian

Offline AdeV

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #39 on: March 01, 2018, 06:21:05 AM »
"A bit of weather" - it's not too bad over here on t'West coast (it was even warmer in China...), I painted the office on the weekend (1st coat), started the 2nd coat on Tuesday but the pipes froze so now I've no way of cleaning my brushes.... so painting is at a standstill until it thaws. Or i take a barrel home and fill it with water...

Watched a video on YT last night (this one, about heat pumps) and it got me thinking.... My AC unit has decided to break, just after having a £300 refill of gas, and the company I bought it off don't seem to give a stuff about fixing it, so I got to thinking of alternatives... and a largeish reversible heat pump struck me as being a possible answer.... In winter, the "cold" end of the heat pump would be outside, and the hot end inside, thus heating the workshop. In summer, turn it round so the indoor cold end provides air cooling.... Drive the whole thing with either an electric motor... or a 6hp diesel engine I happen to have knocking about... I might start a new thread for this...
Cheers!
Ade.
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Offline Pete W.

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #40 on: March 02, 2018, 02:12:56 PM »
Hi there, Ade,

May I offer a few observations regarding heat pumps.  Please forgive me if I'm 'teaching Grannie to suck eggs'!

The figure of merit for a heat pump is called the 'Coefficient of Performance' ('CoP').  CoP equates to the ratio of the heat you move divided by the energy your pump needs to achieve the moving, so big is better.  It's the absolute temperature (i.e. degrees Kelvin) at the heat source divided by the difference between the source and output temperatures.  (It might be the output temperature rather than the source temperature, I forget.  It doesn't alter what I'm going to say next because, with absolute zero being -273° C, they're almost the same thing!)

The point is, to achieve a high CoP you need to keep the difference between source and output temperatures small.

So, if you're using the heat pump for heating, you need to prevent/avoid the heat gathering system from icing up.  Ice is a very poor conductor of heat so the pump has to lower the temperature of the gathering system to 'suck' the heat in through the ice.  The temperature that is actually effective in the CoP calculation is the temperature at the coldest point, if that falls, the operating differential gets correspondingly bigger, reducing the CoP.

In my view, that means steer clear of air source systems and give preference to ground-water or running water sources.  Put enough tubing in the heat gathering system to avoid the source water freezing.  Can you chuck a couple of hundred feet or so of copper pipe into the Mersey?   
Best regards,

Pete W.

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Offline beeshed

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Re: Another machine joins the stable...
« Reply #41 on: March 11, 2018, 06:11:21 PM »
watched a bit of the video - nice lathe in the background at one point. Could only tolerate a few seconds of the verbal - seemed like he thought heat bumps had only just been invented. As with solar water heating, subsidised PV etc the thing to look at is not COP stuff but reliability and lifetime. Although it seems like you are saving money on  heat at a fraction of the cost of the electricity you put in you need to work out cost of any mandatory maintenance, planning permission, service charges and how long it will last. Suddenly the savings plummet.