Looking for some feedback, has anyone acquired a Nebula yet and if so, what are your thoughts so far?
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Teknatool 'Nebula' Lathe...
- Thread starter John Grace
- Start date
Interested in seeing replies, as I was looking at the Nebula, as well.
I expect Nova will have a Nebula at the symposium (they did last year). I am looking forward to seeing it there, and getting some answers to some questions.
I've been debating on the Nebula for some time now. The two things that have me intrigued are the sliding headstock and the slightly more powerful motor. The downside? No swing away. A bit confused as to why bother with a sliding headstock but not swing away to move the tailstock out of the way? I guess the worse case scenario is that I would have to either make my own or pay a machinist to manufacture one for me.
The headstock also swivels so no need to remove/swingaway the tailstock
I have the hinged bed extension on my 1624 and use it all the time to het the TS oit of my way. I, too, wish it were available on the Nebula. I know it's possible to make a rolling cart that the TS can slide on & off of, but I don't find the idea of having to design, engineer and build the thing that attractive.
Exactly!
If the Nebula has a similar outrigger available as I have on my Galaxi, a swing away is redundant. I have looked and as yet cannot find an outrigger for the Nebula. Pivoting the HS out 20-30 degrees doesnt work as well as using the outrigger with the HS pivoted ~120 deg. It also allows a lot more options for tool rest type and position.
I do remove the TS when using my hollowing rig, but for hand hollowing pivoting the HS gives plenty of room with TS in place.
Doug, we agree on so much, but here I have to gently disagree
. I have an outrigger and a swing away extension and I use the latter all the time. I can't remember the last time I removed the TS 
. Not saying it's essential, but even if I had a long bed lathe, I'd want a swing away.I heard from a friend, who talked to Nova, that an outrigger for the Orion & Nebula will be available Q3 this year, but I plan to button hole their people in Louisville for more specifics.
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Doug, we agree on so much, but here I have to gently disagree
I heard from a friend, who talked to Nova, that an outrigger for the Orion & Nebula woll be available Q3 this year, but I plan to button hole their people in Louisville for more specifics.
Folks choose to process things differently. If a swing away is available for the Galaxi I still have a few years before I need it - I can still easily lift the TS, and its only when I use the hollowing rig, and its not req’d every piece. If it only swings to the side and not down, not sure it would be out of the way of the rig.
Looking forward to your Nova report.
I have a Nova Neptune coming and with an outrigger all I'll have to do is put it on the left side of the lathe and swivel the head 180° and then be able to turn 20". I agree with Doug that a swing away is redundant on lathes such as these.
@Bill Blasic , I seem to remember you were expecting delivery in April? Have you gotten any update from Nova? Is your lathe coming with an outrigger?
I've had a NOVA DVR XP for years and had the outrigger assembly for nearly two years. Unlike others, I found the outrigger more trouble than it was worth. Too many minute adjustments to get the rest in the right spot. I had to replace the handles to longer pieces to make it easier on my arthritic hands and of course circle back to first point even with the longer handles. The many adjustments just became more and more frustrating relative to my arthritis, etc. But final negative I encountered involved just the balance of the piece. When I first worked on the outrigger I didn't appreciate how machine 'wobble' would be amplified because the pieces was rotating outside of the machine's mid-line. Even with added machine weight this turned larger pieces a tremendous chore to put it bluntly. In the end...this is what has made me yearn for a sliding headstock as opposed to a rotating one. But to take full value of turning off the end of the ways, it would be beneficial to have the tailstock completely out of the way...hence a swing-away. Not judging anyone else's style as we all have our own methods that work best for us but the lack of the swing away have me looking in a new direction or considering engaging with a machinist to have my own swing-away built.
@John Grace if you like the other aspects of the lathe, and particularly the motor, the Galaxi model HS pivots and slides. I believe it is signIficantly heavier also. dont think a swing away is available though.
The outrigger does take some time to figure out how to maneuver, and having 3 things to tighten up does not help with arthritis. Hope you find something to your liking.
The outrigger does take some time to figure out how to maneuver, and having 3 things to tighten up does not help with arthritis. Hope you find something to your liking.
When using my Trent Bosch hollowing system, I rotate my HS . No need for swinf away.
Mark it was supposed to be here in late May early June but they decided on improved handles I have been told and moved it back a month so expecting it June/July. Still don't know for sure on the outrigger but hoping. My biggest fear was that it would get here while I was at the AAW Symposium, that is not likely I hope.
So when I was at the Nova booth at the AAW symposium I was able to spend some time talking with Thomas Rathert who is VP Supply Chain/Operations. Manufacturing is in China and Nebula lathes are shipping to the US, but currently they are all sold out. For reasons that are unclear to me, it is not economically favorable to pack an entire container full of lathes. The sweet spot is 27 lathes in a container with other goods. The first two containers are sold out, the third is due in November and as of my conversation with Thomas 5 were spoken for. I am not sure if November is when the container arrives in the port, of if that is when the stock arrives at their distribution center in Chicago, but I think one would be looking at customer delivery Dec-Jan. And November at this point is an estimate.
Current price for the Nebula is/was $3300.
I asked about the Orion and Galaxi lathes. They are still in stock, but will likely be phased out when that stock is sold.
There is no plan for a tail stock swing away or hinge for bed extension for the Nebula.
Outrigger, or make that outriggers. There are two different offerings for a tool rest outrigger (for when the head stock is rotated). The first is a hinged apparatus that bolts to the end of the bed and is level with the bed. It looks very similar to the outrigger that fits the old 1624, Saturn and Galaxi models, but they are not interchangeable. The new outriggers are going to be the same for the Neptune, and Nebula and for the Orion. It is #55266 and you can see it in this flyer for Neptune:
https://www.teknatool.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Neptune_US_Spec.pdf
Also pictured there is the #55263 dog leg tool extension for the banjo. This is also cross compatible with the Nebula. Here is the bad news, the outrigger is not presently shipping to the US as it is in final stages of planning/manufacturing. Shipments are expected in November, which if true is just fine, but one never knows. There is no pricing available, yet, but the old model was $300.
The second outrigger solution is available now, but it is a more complicated and cumbersome affair. You have to buy a bed extension (55262 $250) and a heavy cast iron bracket kit (55261 $250). The “L” bracket is a big heavy cast iron affair that is bolted to the body of the lathe legs, a few inches below the level of the bed. The bed extension is then bolted to the bracket such that it extends toward the operator. The extension is supported with a leg. The banjo is removed from the lathe bed and transferred to the bed extension and a tool post riser is attached to the banjo to bring tool rest back up to the work. (There is a similar, shorter riser on the hinged outrigger). So not only is this more money, but if you leave it in place, it will be in the way (just at knee height). On the other hand removing and installing this looks like a two person job.
Current price for the Nebula is/was $3300.
I asked about the Orion and Galaxi lathes. They are still in stock, but will likely be phased out when that stock is sold.
There is no plan for a tail stock swing away or hinge for bed extension for the Nebula.
Outrigger, or make that outriggers. There are two different offerings for a tool rest outrigger (for when the head stock is rotated). The first is a hinged apparatus that bolts to the end of the bed and is level with the bed. It looks very similar to the outrigger that fits the old 1624, Saturn and Galaxi models, but they are not interchangeable. The new outriggers are going to be the same for the Neptune, and Nebula and for the Orion. It is #55266 and you can see it in this flyer for Neptune:
https://www.teknatool.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Neptune_US_Spec.pdf
Also pictured there is the #55263 dog leg tool extension for the banjo. This is also cross compatible with the Nebula. Here is the bad news, the outrigger is not presently shipping to the US as it is in final stages of planning/manufacturing. Shipments are expected in November, which if true is just fine, but one never knows. There is no pricing available, yet, but the old model was $300.
The second outrigger solution is available now, but it is a more complicated and cumbersome affair. You have to buy a bed extension (55262 $250) and a heavy cast iron bracket kit (55261 $250). The “L” bracket is a big heavy cast iron affair that is bolted to the body of the lathe legs, a few inches below the level of the bed. The bed extension is then bolted to the bracket such that it extends toward the operator. The extension is supported with a leg. The banjo is removed from the lathe bed and transferred to the bed extension and a tool post riser is attached to the banjo to bring tool rest back up to the work. (There is a similar, shorter riser on the hinged outrigger). So not only is this more money, but if you leave it in place, it will be in the way (just at knee height). On the other hand removing and installing this looks like a two person job.
I spoke with him also. I asked "How come you have one and I don't" . He said the Neptune should be shipping in 2 weeks, then 40 days to him then 2 weeks to me. That looks like August, it is what it is, will just have to wait. But the Neptune they had there looked great and ran great, can't wait.
. He said the Neptune should be shipping in 2 weeks, then 40 days to him then 2 weeks to me. That looks like August, it is what it is, will just have to wait. But the Neptune they had there looked great and ran great, can't wait.Hi everyone,
Rich here. Some of you know me as the head US Engineer and Customer Service manager for Teknatool and Striatech. I'm also the Tekna Tool account on FB. Not sure where you heard the outrigger was available for the Nebula yet, but it is not in the US. I just got in the first sample this past week and haven't had a chance to test it yet as wrong mounting hardware came with it. This was for the bed extension version. The other, swing away version is still being developed in New Zealand. Both of these will also work with the Orion. I'm still expecting the bed version to be available Q3/Q4 here in the US as once the first order is placed, expect about 60-90 days to make them and get them over here. With the Nebula, the 1624 outrigger was tested and works, but it will not fit on the Orion. This is due to the tool rest post length being longer on the stock Nebula tool rest. On the Orion that I have at my house, I use the 2024 Outrigger. I haven't heard anything about the Orion or Galaxi being phased out, but as Mark said, I would personally expect it to happen. The Nebula is kind of a hybrid Orion/Galaxi and is the only 2HP 110V motor on the market (2.5HP at 220V). As for the Neptunes, I was told they're finally on the water. All the delays really annoyed me. Once we had a few local schools and clubs used the first 2 samples (1 here in Tampa Bay and 1 in NZ), they retooled the tailstock which resulted in redoing the packaging. The reason New Zealand/Australia has theirs already while the US is waiting on the Beta's still is due to how close they are to China and shipping logistics.
Rich
Rich here. Some of you know me as the head US Engineer and Customer Service manager for Teknatool and Striatech. I'm also the Tekna Tool account on FB. Not sure where you heard the outrigger was available for the Nebula yet, but it is not in the US. I just got in the first sample this past week and haven't had a chance to test it yet as wrong mounting hardware came with it. This was for the bed extension version. The other, swing away version is still being developed in New Zealand. Both of these will also work with the Orion. I'm still expecting the bed version to be available Q3/Q4 here in the US as once the first order is placed, expect about 60-90 days to make them and get them over here. With the Nebula, the 1624 outrigger was tested and works, but it will not fit on the Orion. This is due to the tool rest post length being longer on the stock Nebula tool rest. On the Orion that I have at my house, I use the 2024 Outrigger. I haven't heard anything about the Orion or Galaxi being phased out, but as Mark said, I would personally expect it to happen. The Nebula is kind of a hybrid Orion/Galaxi and is the only 2HP 110V motor on the market (2.5HP at 220V). As for the Neptunes, I was told they're finally on the water. All the delays really annoyed me. Once we had a few local schools and clubs used the first 2 samples (1 here in Tampa Bay and 1 in NZ), they retooled the tailstock which resulted in redoing the packaging. The reason New Zealand/Australia has theirs already while the US is waiting on the Beta's still is due to how close they are to China and shipping logistics.
Rich
@Rich Bolduc , welcome. Glad to see you join the conversation and hope you'll continue to contribute.
Now the Neptune is backed up until September after checking with Nova yesterday.