Emco Unimat SL precision lathe
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1970s–1980s
The Emco Unimat SL is a benchtop precision lathe manufactured in Austria by Maier & Co, attributed by the source to the 1970s–1980s. Intended for micromechanics and watchmaking, the lathe is configured with dual cylindrical bedways, a headstock with red 'Modell SL' badging, a carriage with cross-slide, and a tailstock fitted with a drill chuck.
The drive system utilizes stepped pulleys and rubber drive belts coupled to a motor reported as 220 volts. Accompanying accessories include a vertical milling or drilling column attachment, drive belts, cutting bits, wrenches, and a magnetic machine lamp.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Precision lathe
- Model
- Unimat SL
- Weight
- 13 kg
- Dimensions
- 45 × 25 × 15 cm
- Manufacturer
- Emco (Maier & Co, Austria)
- Motor Voltage
- 220 V
- Place recorded
- Austria
- Maker / attribution
- Emco (Maier & Co)
Design
- Visible features
- • Lathe body, headstock, and conversion base finished in light green hammertone enamel. • Red badge on the headstock reads 'Modell SL' and 'Emco Unimat'. • Tailstock is fitted with a keyed drill chuck holding a drill bit. • Foreground includes three drive belt rings, a wrench, chuck key, drive pulley, lathe dog, turning bits, and a vertical mounting column. • A flexible-arm machine lamp is attached above the headstock. • Dutch printed documentation/diagram sheet stands in the background.
- Tooling and Included Accessories
- The tailstock is fitted with a keyed drill chuck holding a drill bit. Loose tooling arranged in the foreground includes three drive belt rings, a wrench, a chuck key, a drive pulley, a lathe dog, metal turning bits, and a vertical mounting column. Additional tooling reported in the auction manifest comprises a three-jaw chuck, replacement belts, and auxiliary hand tools. Although the seller states the slides move smoothly and the unit was cleaned and lubricated, runout tolerances, bearing condition, and motor operation have not been validated by independent testing.
- Physical Configuration and Construction
- The machine is a compact benchtop precision lathe constructed with dual cylindrical guide bars forming the bedways. Cast components, including the base, headstock, and carriage, are finished in light green hammertone enamel. The headstock is marked with a red badge reading 'Modell SL' and 'Emco Unimat', corresponding to production by Emco (Maier & Co) in Austria. The headstock design allows swiveling for taper turning, angled drilling, or vertical conversion. Printed documentation displaying schematic diagrams in Dutch stands behind the machine.
- Drive Mechanism and Vertical Conversion System
- Spindle rotation is driven through a stepped pulley and belt system. The listing reports an original 220-volt high-torque motor providing pulley-based speed control; however, electrical plate specifications are source-reported and not directly verified from visible markings. The lot includes a separate vertical column designed to adapt the headstock and bed into a vertical drill or milling setup. A flexible-arm machine lamp with an integrated switch is attached above the headstock for work illumination.
Identification
- Reference
- Unimat SL
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Source-reported 220-volt motor rating and functional running condition cannot be verified visually.