As the foremost British manufacturer of workshop lathes we are targeted by companies who import look-alike parts, tools and other accessories into the UK, and sell them at low prices across the Internet. These parts are often confused with Myford genuine spares and accessories. Often these products are unfit for purpose.

Some end up in the hands of experienced engineers and they contact us with their concerns. The volume of correspondence is becoming significant. These parts can appear as genuine Myford spares, many are sold as compatible or suitable for our lathes when they are none of these things. All genuine Myford parts are issued from our Beeston Works, with full warranty; we manufacture them all, whole or in part, to controlled standards and tolerances. On this we are inflexible.

When we offer pre-owned Myford parts and accessories it is only after they have passed through our Inspection to ensure original standards are retained or re-established. Inspection certification is provided with every item.

Fake items and those labelled 'compatible' are widely available these days and often sold at attractively low prices. Many Myford users have been caught and have not obtained refunds. To combat this growing threat Myford is taking the following steps.

1. •All Myford Genuine Spares, without exception, will be clearly marked with our Seal of Authenticity
   

2. •All Myford Genuine Accessories will be accompanied by Certification traceable to our Beeston Works
   

3. •Only through organizations approved by us can you be sure of purchasing Myford approved parts, spares and accessories)
   

           

Value for money?
To pay a lower price for an item is desirable providing it doesn't mean a compromise in functionality. The following examples of comparisons, carried out by the Myford inspection team, expose some of the problems with imported parts. We hope you will find them interesting and, in some cases, enlightening. We also hope you will see the value we engineer in at Myford in exchange for the price we ask.

Copy of our travelling steady
This two point travelling steady was sent to us in 2009, it is shown on the left against our own travelling steady. In appearance you could be forgiven for seeing two like tools. However, on closer inspection there are major differences that make the 'fake' unfit for purpose. Our Inspector's report included the following:

1.  With the Myford Steady the adjustment, the bottom face, the side face as shown and the lower steady finger slot are all milled together with a cutter gang for accuracy. The bottom which clamps to the saddle face of the imported part is rough cast  and not machined. The flatness is so poor that were it attached to the saddle of the lathe it would result in distorting the saddle casting and damaging the structure of the carriage.

2.  The milled slots of the Myford Steady are left unpainted and the manganese bronze fingers are a good sliding fit and allowing easy adjustment. The imported part by comparison leaves the slots painted and the fingers milled down to a fit.

3.  The finger slots on the Myford Steady are arranged to provide an angle of 100deg for stability whereas the imported part only 90deg.

4.  The Myford Steady permits a 2in. diameter bar to be turned. The imported Steady, is malformed and will only admit a 1½in. bar.

5.  The Myford Steady is designed and configured around the centre line of the 3½ in. centre height of the Series-7 lathes, the imported part is not.

Conclusion: As can be seen from the close-up photographs the lack of quality in the manufacture of the imported steady is self-evident. Using it will result in damage to the lathe and should not be confused with a Myford Steady that is manufactured to complement the precision of our lathes.

Inspection Report 73/1903/1

Fake Raising Blocks
These raising blocks raised a few eyebrows in our Inspection Room and illustrate how the copying of parts often misses the full purpose of the original. Far from raising the lathe away from the swarf trays on both Tray Top Cabinet and Industrial Stands to allow greater freedom around the carriage handwheels, they are the levelling devices that permit the correct levelling of the lathe bed during installation, which in turn will lead to better performance and accuracy from the lathe. The imported parts are to the left in our picture with the Myford Raising Blocks to the right. The report from our Inspector included the following:
 

1.  The 5/16 BSF threaded bolts with the Myford Raising Blocks are a fit and supplied complete with correct nuts and washers. The imported products allowed excessive play in the bolts that will strip threads. We also noted that the threads were not long enough to function correctly.

2.  With the imported raising blocks the jackscrews used for leveling are soft meaning that they are likely to be displaced in the levelling process. Myford, on the other hand, for reasons stated have always hardened these screws.

3.  The Myford Raising Blocks are designed to prevent the ingress of coolant from the tray into the cabinet stand below. This is achieved with O-rings recessed into the underside to form a seal where the block meets the tray and the suds. The imported parts set the seals into oversized recesses, sealing is ineffective and tightening down will split the rings.

4.  The dimensions and general standards of manufacture of this import are wanting. The misalignment of the holes through the blocks for the securing bolts prevents correct fitting and could result in distortions.

Conclusion: The Myford Raising Blocks are accurately manufactured to perform a number of important functions none of these functions were met by the imported parts we checked. It is a matter of concern that these parts were reported found fitted to a Myford Lathe.

Inspection Report 20/025

Copied ball handles for cross slide and top slide
A ball handle is a simple item, and yet this import managed to lose everything in the process of copying. Material, finish, accuracy and, of course, the feel that it transmits to the operator giving feedback on how a cut is going. Inspection revealed where the shortcomings were, for the cross slide handle, the report included the following:
1.  The retaining taper on a Myford Ball Handle is machined to accurately fit the feedscrew. The imported part showed considerable play, continued use will result in damage to the taper on the end of the feedscrew and the handle will not lock up. Eventually both feedscrew and handle will need to be replaced.

2.  On the import, the counterbore for the retaining screw was found to be too small. Opening up the bore would result in breaking the chrome plate finish.
3.  Problems with the chrome finish on the import were recorded as, missing on the knob and on the friction face for the anti-slip washer.

Conclusion: Not nice components to handle and not worthy parts to operate with. While it is appreciated that the difference in price is measurable we feel it is not a compromise many Myford owners are knowingly prepared to make.

Inspection Report A2073

Not a genuine Myford Change Gear Quadrant
This change gear quadrant came to us with a trade-in machine and caught the attention of our Inspectors. It wouldn't fit the machine. It had a major fault and was traced as an import. The inspection record included the following:

1.  The quadrant does not fit onto the gearbox satisfactorily as it fouls lugs on the backplate casting.

2.  The imported part clearly shows porosity blowholes in the bore, and top and bottom faces, more than enough to cause Myford to scrap such a casting.



3.  The retaining bolt hole was full of paint and when cleared revealed an oversize thread that was already starting to strip.

4.  A 1/16in. wide clamping slot milled off-square in the bore.

Conclusion: Gearbox  quadrant rigidity is imperative, not least when screw cutting. Judging by porosity the life of this fake part would be very short. The major worry, if the clamping is not configured correctly is that it will most likely crush the Guide Bar.

Inspection Report A2469/2

Fake handwheels for apron and tailstock assemblies
With these handwheels the quality of manufacture is extremely poor, and robs the parts of the feel they should provide to the operator. Not faults that will cause major problems to the operation of a lathe, unlike other imports, but enough to prompt our inspection department to include the following observations in their report:

Apron handwheel copy

1.  Bore diameter too large, will mean when fastened with grub screw, will be eccentric.

2.  The thread of the handle is too long. It will protrude out of the back of the handwheel and catch the operator's fingers.

3.  The threaded hole for the ball handle is tapped off-square.

4.  Chrome work around the rim is of poor quality and during manufacture, the rim had been gripped in hard chuck jaws, which left deep indents, these being chromed over.

5.  The abutment face bruised making it feel loose in the hand, a further loss of sensitivity.

6.  Casting flashings not fettled, left sharp and untidy.    

Tailstock Handwheel copy

1.  Bore size too large.

2.  Again the indents of hard chuck jaws remain even after chroming.

3.  Tapped off-square.

4.  Poor finish chromed over.

5.  Boss running out of true.

6.  Again flashings not fettled.

7.  And finally the abutment face is bruised.

Conclusion: Whatever the saving over a genuine Myford part it cannot be considered worth it. It may look acceptable but as our Inspectors have proved it isn't.

Inspection Report A2087

Fake 9in. diameter faceplate
Blowholes in any casting are a cause for concern and in the case of a faceplate, concern enough to scrap it. Any spinning part of this diameter must have integrity, anything less is a danger. This imported faceplate is dangerous. The pictures are proof enough and the test report confirms it is not fit for purpose.

1.  Blowholes in the thread and bore.

2.  Spindle nose bore is oversize causing eccentricity.

3.  Slot widths on the faceplate much wider than the Myford product, meaning that Myford T-bolts may never be secured properly and in some cases even put through.

4. 4. 1 1/8 x 12T.P.I. thread extremely rough and flat topped.
   
   Conclusion: Poor quality casting is a thing common to many imported fakes. Myford quality starts with top quality castings and this imported faceplate casting disregards operator safety completely.
   

Last word

We would like to reassure all Myford owners that we will actively pursue those who attempt to pass off inferior items as Myford parts, spares and accessories. We ask you to contact us with details and help us to maintain the quality and reputation of Myford Lathes.