In-Depth: Precision Matthews PM-1660TL

The Precision Matthews 1660TL was my dream lathe — fast forward and I’ve used it for four years. Watch and read on to see how it’s performed!!!

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About the PM-1660TL

This lathe is a beast and my go-to for ultra precision and large-scale work. If you are curious to see how we got it inside and set up initially, check out our dedicated video.\

Quick Specifications:

Ultra Precision, made in Taiwan
16″ swing (over bed), 60″ between centers capacity
Drive: 5hp 3ø, Gear/Belt, 12 speeds
Cross Slide Travel: 8.75”
Compound Travel: 4.94”
Tailstock: MT4 Taper, 4.94” travel
Thread Ranges:
- Inch: 45 pitches, 2-72 TPI
- Metric: 39 pitches, 0.2mm – 14mm
Spindle: D-6, MT4 taper, 2.55” capacity
Weight: 4500 lbs.

From Precision Matthews:

- Extremely High Quality Lathe, meant for very high precision work, and suitable for every day use. Perfect for the professional user who is looking for the best available machine
- 100% Made in Taiwan, no shortcuts taken, built to a very high level of quality
- Very heavy duty machine, almost 2 tons of iron in these models
- Priced very, very reasonably when compared with other similar high quality models – and no one out there has the 2.55″ Spindle bore. Compare Carefully
- Excellent machine for industrial shop use, built for daily, all-day use
- High Precision, Hardened and Ground gears throughout headstock lead to extremely smooth and quiet running for a geared head lathe and very long life
- Leadscrews Are True Inch Pitch Screws (Not Metric Conversions Like Many), 10 Threads Per Inch (.100” Per Turn)
- Backed by an industry leading 5 year warranty

This lathe has a five hp three-phase motor. Earlier this year, I installed a 10 hp three-phase Phase Perfect converter from Phase Technologies. Three phase provides better surface finish with less torque ripple. I have had great success with it and have directly compared rotary power to the digital PTE010!

One of the primary reasons I use this lathe for metric threading jobs is that I can shift gears into the metric thread pitches! Most smaller, more inexpensive lathes require physical gear swaps to do this. The PM-1660TL has an English lead screw so for English threading jobs I just have to engage the half nut and take another pass. If threading in metric, the screw won’t line up properly if using the half nut lever. My solution for this is to Velcro the half nut lever down, so it is always engaged, then take the threading pass and stop the machine. Next I withdraw the tool, put it in reverse, and repeat the process.

Tooling and What’s Included

The included high-precision 9” three-Jaw chuck is wonderful to work with as well as the Japanese spindle bearings. These have the highest level of precision we’ve seen! Also included are the following:

LED Work Light
Leveling Pads
Complete Cast Iron Base
Back Splash Guard
Reducing Sleeve for Headstock Center
4-Way Tool Post
Headstock Dead Center
Tailstock Dead Center
Thread Chasing Dial
Feed Rod Clutch
Steady Rest
Follow Rest
Coolant System
Foot Brake
Five-Year Warranty

I’ve also added some tooling and accessories of my own. There is too much to mention, but highlights include a four-jaw chuck from Precision Matthews, complete pressure flush system, tailstock DRO, Aloris BXA quick change deluxe tool post, and MagXact DRO. The MagXact has been great to work with, measuring the diameter to 0.00001”. My own designs include a cross-slide stop system, outboard spider, and tailstock DRO with clamping collar.

Previous Gunsmithing Work

I prefer using the PM-1660TL for big projects, like my Incredible Hulk 50 BMG build. I also chambered my 375 CheyTac barrel on this lathe as well as threaded a number of barrels. A six-jaw chuck even allows me to clamp on to pistol barrels! ELR rifle barrel blanks largely arrive 2” in diameter, 40” in length and need to be turned down. The 1660TL is the only lathe I have that can accommodate these sizes! I’ve also completed many standard rifle builds and created custom accessories and fixtures both for the lathe and around the shop. Being able to machine my own parts has also helped me to build the equipment we have for scientific testing and continue to innovate.

Lathe Comparison

We have several Precision Matthews lathes in the shop: the PM-1340GT, PM-1440GT, PM-1440HVT-2, and PM-1660TL. All of these are Taiwanese-made with Japanese spindle bearings. Each of these lathes serves a specific purpose in the shop, and there are reasons I use certain lathes for certain jobs. The PM-1340GT is a smaller-sized ultra-precision lathe with 40” between centers and a 13” swing. This smaller size comes at a more affordable price than some other models, but does not sacrifice quality.

My first Precision Matthews lathe was the PM-1440GT. This lathe is larger than the PM-1340GT with 14” swing but still 40” between centers. It is a versatile piece of machinery that will do everything a precision gunsmith needs, but lacks the variable speed that the PM-1440HVT-2 has. I frequently use it and the PM-1340GT for chambering short barrels.

Stepping up in size and price, the PM-1440HVT-2 has a wider bed than its non-variable speed counterpart but with the same 14” swing and 40” between centers. This lathe also has a cast iron base option. The variable speed makes the PM-1440HVT-2 my everyday lathe. Having two 1440 lathes in my main shop makes it easy to maintain a consistent workflow, leaving one set up with a collet system and three-jaw chuck for basic work and the other with a four-jaw chuck. I prefer the four-jaw chuck for muzzle threading and chambering barrels.

The PM-1660TL is in its own class. It’s larger and heavier with greater capacity: 16” swing and 60” between centers. The controls also have more fine finesse than other models. Additional features include one-shot lube and auto-reverse. Larger, heavier lathes are optimal for gunsmithing as they have anti-vibration capabilities. The Precision Matthews PM-LT series comes in three different configurations: PM-1440TL, PM-1640TL, and PM-1660TL. All are based on the same design and mechanics. The PM-1640TL is a great compromise between sizes and ideal for precision rifle gunsmithing. Its smaller size also saves a lot on shipping charges! Be sure to check availability as these machines sell out fast!

Three-Phase Power

Bigger machines like the PM-1660TL require three-phase power. Three-phase is a better way to run machines than single-phase as motors run smoother and last longer. This clean power will also improve startup performance. If you don’t have three-phase power already, you need to consider conversion technology. We documented our entire three-phase journey, covering all of the types of converters, install, and use. We decided on digital three-phase from Phase Technologies for both of our shops! We run PTE010 at the mountain shop which will run up to 10 horsepower.

Testing and Performance

I always run several tests on a new lathe to verify its performance. To test spindle runout, I took a reading with a Mitutoyo indicator to 0.00001” and spun the spindle from the outboard side. I was careful not to apply any pressure and only watch the gauge. There was a very, very, tiny amount of fluctuation (less than 0.0001”) due to some nicks and surface finish inside, which to me is zero fluctuation. The spindle on my PM-1660TL is perfect, a part that must be for precision rifle work. A second test I run is for tailstock quill alignment. Precision work demands the tailstock be aligned with the headstock and the spindle. To test this, I ran the same 0.00001” indicator along the side and top of the quill. Over a five-inch sweep of the side, we had 0.00001” variation. There was zero movement across the top! My tests and the work I’ve done with the PM-1660TL only continue to prove that this machine lives up to its “ultra-precision” name.