Bernardo Hobby 800 G 230V precision lathe – 12-speed gearbox, 70–1,800 rpm, DT 40 readout
The Bernardo Hobby 800 G (Item No. 03-11623) is a 230 V precision metalworking lathe with a manual 12-speed gearbox (no belt changes required), a lead screw and feed shaft for automatic longitudinal and cross feeds and for thread cutting, and a DT 40 digital readout as standard. The gearbox provides 12 speed steps across a range of 70–1,800 rpm. Its heavy construction (268 kg) ensures low-vibration operation. Distance between centres: 750 mm; swing over bed: 330 mm; spindle bore: 38 mm (MT 5). Manufactured by Bernardo (Austria). Distributed in Italy by Krollit, an official Bernardo distributor since 2007, Monteforte Irpino (AV), tel. +39 0825-1494022.
- Power supply: 230 V single-phase (400 V version also available)
- Motor power: 1.1 kW (S1, continuous duty) / 1.5 kW (S6 40%)
- Speed range: 70–1,800 rpm in 12 gear settings (no belt changes required)
- Distance between centres: 750 mm
- Centre height (half the swing diameter): 165 mm
- Swing over bed: 330 mm
- Bed width: 160 mm
- Spindle bore: 38 mm (MT 5 taper)
- Tailstock quill travel: 75 mm (MT 3 taper)
- Longitudinal feeds: 45 settings, 0.0087–1.396 mm/rev
- Cross feeds: 48 settings, 0.0018–0.296 mm/rev
- Metric threads: 17 pitches, 0.5–4 mm
- Imperial threads: 26 pitches, 8–40 TPI
- Spindle nose concentricity: ≤ 0.015 mm
- Readout: DT 40 digital readout as standard
- Machine dimensions (L × D × H): 1,370 × 680 × 1,320 mm
- Weight: 268 kg
Who uses the Hobby 800 G and what for
The Hobby 800 G is chosen by precision machinists, small repair workshops and model makers for turning steel, non-ferrous alloys (aluminium, brass, copper) and plastics in one-off and small-batch production. Vocational training centres and industrial technical schools use it for precision turning training thanks to its manual 12-speed gearbox, lead screw for thread cutting and DT 40 digital readout, which allows routine readings without manual calculations. Its weight of 268 kg and rigid cast-iron construction allow low-vibration operation even at higher speeds.
Its place in the Bernardo range
The Hobby 800 G is part of Bernardo's Hobby range, designed for small workshops, training centres and advanced hobbyists with a 230 V single-phase power supply. The Bernardo range has four levels: Hobby, Semi-Professional, Professional and Industrial. For more intensive machining or larger diameters and lengths, Bernardo's Semi-Professional and Professional ranges offer lathes with higher power, longer beds and advanced automation options. Krollit has distributed the entire Bernardo range in Italy since 2007 and provides technical support in Italian to help select the right model.
Krollit logistics and support
Machines are dispatched within 4–5 working days from Bernardo's warehouse. Accessories and spare parts are dispatched within 3–5 working days from Krollit's warehouse. Italian-language customer support is available for technical documentation, accessory selection and spare part order management. Krollit has been an official Bernardo distributor since 2007, Via Padule 6 – 83024 Monteforte Irpino (AV).
Who the Hobby 800 G is for
| Profile | Suitability | Reason |
|---|
| Precision machinist and small workshop | Suitable | 12-speed gearbox without belt changes for rapid speed adjustment; lead screw for metric and imperial threads |
| Vocational training centre and technical school | Suitable | Heavy construction (268 kg) for stable operation; DT 40 readout as standard for training in everyday digital readout use |
| Advanced hobbyist and model maker | Suitable | Standard 230 V single-phase power supply; compact dimensions for a home workshop; concentricity ≤ 0.015 mm for fine work |
| Continuous industrial series production (3 shifts/day) | Not recommended | The Hobby range is not designed for intensive multi-shift production cycles; for intensive use, choose Bernardo's Semi-Professional or Professional range |
Not recommended for: workpieces with a diameter greater than 330 mm (swing over bed) or a length greater than 750 mm (distance between centres). Not sized for continuous-cycle industrial series production.
Lathe geometry
| Distance between centres | 750 mm |
| Centre height | 165 mm |
| Swing over bed | 330 mm |
| Bed width | 160 mm |
| Spindle bore | 38 mm |
| Spindle bore taper | MT 5 |
| Tailstock quill travel | 75 mm |
| Tailstock taper | MT 3 |
| Spindle nose concentricity | ≤ 0.015 mm |
Drive, feeds and threads
| Number of gear settings | 12 (manual gearbox without belt changes) |
| Speed range | 70–1,800 rpm |
| Longitudinal feed range | 45 settings, 0.0087–1.396 mm/rev |
| Cross feed range | 48 settings, 0.0018–0.296 mm/rev |
| Metric threads | 17 pitches, 0.5–4 mm |
| Imperial threads | 26 pitches, 8–40 TPI |
Motor and power supply
| Motor input power S1 (continuous duty) | 1.1 kW |
| Motor output power S6 40% (intermittent duty) | 1.5 kW |
| Voltage / frequency | 230 V / 50 Hz (single-phase) |
| Three-phase version available | 400 V (different item number) |
Dimensions and weight
| Machine dimensions (L × D × H) | 1,370 × 680 × 1,320 mm |
| Weight | 268 kg |
| Stand | included as standard |
Standard equipment
- DT 40 position readout with LCD screen
- 160 mm 3-jaw chuck (with turning and boring jaws)
- Cross slide with top slide
- Four-way tool post
- Dead centre
- Change gears for thread cutting
- LED machine light
- Chuck guard
- Rear chip guard
- Lead screw cover
- Chip tray
- Stand
- Control device
Precision turning of steel, non-ferrous metals and plastics
The Hobby 800 G machines steel (carbon steel and stainless steel grades within the capabilities of its 1.1 kW power rating), aluminium, brass, copper and plastics. Spindle nose concentricity of ≤ 0.015 mm, achieved through precision tapered roller bearings, allows tight tolerances on cylindrical surfaces and end faces. The bed with induction-hardened and ground guideways maintains positioning accuracy over time, even with regular use. For materials requiring coolant, a universal 10-litre coolant system is available as an accessory (Item No. 51-1003).
Metric and imperial thread cutting with an integrated gearbox
The lead screw and feed shaft transmit motion to the slide in a coordinated manner to produce metric threads (17 pitches from 0.5 to 4 mm) and imperial threads (26 pitches from 8 to 40 TPI) without replacing belts or shafts. The supplied change gears allow the threading ratios to be configured. The feed type selector lever (longitudinal, cross, threading) can be operated from the working position. The 45 longitudinal feed settings (0.0087–1.396 mm/rev) and 48 cross feed settings (0.0018–0.296 mm/rev) cover a wide range of surface finishes and feed rates.
Vocational training and use in technical schools
The easy-to-read 12-position gearbox, automatic feed operated by a single lever and standard DT 40 readout make the Hobby 800 G suitable for training environments. The digital readout eliminates the need for manual calculations when measuring machined dimensions, reducing checking times and vernier reading errors. The comprehensive standard equipment (chuck, tool post, threading gears, stand) allows practical lessons to begin without mandatory additional purchases.
Frequently asked questions
What is the advantage of the 12-speed gearbox over a belt-change lathe?
The Hobby 800 G's manual 12-speed gearbox allows the spindle speed to be varied across the 70–1,800 rpm range by changing gears without stopping the machine to reposition the belt. This feature reduces setup times between machining operations, particularly when working with different materials or performing operations at different speeds (e.g. low-speed roughing and high-speed finishing on the same workpiece).
Belt-change lathes, by contrast, require the motor to be stopped, the cover to be opened and the belt to be moved manually to a different pair of pulleys: an operation that affects productive time when repeated several times a day. The manual gear-driven gearbox eliminates this operation, keeping speed adjustment at the gear selector, which the operator can operate in a few seconds.
Can the Hobby 800 G cut both metric and imperial threads on the same machine?
Yes. The lead screw and feed shaft allow metric threads in 17 pitches from 0.5 to 4 mm and imperial threads in 26 pitches from 8 to 40 TPI to be produced on the same machine. The pitch is changed by selecting ratios using the lead screw gearbox levers and, for configurations not covered by the lever, by replacing the supplied change gears.
Bernardo supplies a chart of the available pitches and the change gear configuration required for each pitch. Setting up the gears takes a few minutes, and the chart guides the operator step by step without calculations.
Is the DT 40 readout standard or does it have to be ordered as an option?
The DT 40 digital readout is included as standard with the Hobby 800 G at no extra cost. It measures slide travel and shows it on an LCD screen, eliminating the need for manual calculations based on vernier readings.
The DT 40 is a digital position indicator that records the linear movements of the lathe axes. It allows a zero reference to be set at any slide position and the relative or absolute movement to be read directly during machining. This function is particularly useful when turning precision dimensions, where reading a manual vernier can be a source of errors.
Does the Hobby 800 G require a three-phase supply or will it run from a normal 230 V single-phase socket?
The Hobby 800 G model described in this data sheet runs on a 230 V single-phase supply, compatible with standard domestic and light industrial electrical networks. It does not require a three-phase installation.
The motor power in S1 continuous duty is 1.1 kW, with a peak of 1.5 kW in S6 40% intermittent duty. A socket with a protective circuit breaker rated at least 10 A is sufficient. Bernardo also produces a 400 V three-phase version of the same model (different item number). If the workshop has a three-phase supply, the 400 V version offers smoother drive torque at low speeds.
Which materials can the Hobby 800 G machine?
The Hobby 800 G is designed to machine steel (carbon steel and low-hardness alloys), non-ferrous materials (aluminium, brass, copper, bronze) and engineering plastics. The motor's continuous-duty power rating (1.1 kW) determines the material removal limit for high-strength materials.
When turning stainless steel or harder alloys, the feed rate and depth of cut must be reduced compared with the values used for ordinary carbon steel. The machine is not intended for woodworking. For turning with coolant (recommended for steel at higher speeds), a universal 10 L coolant system is available as an accessory (Item No. 51-1003).
Can the Hobby 800 G be fitted with a tool turret or a quick-change tool post?
Yes. In place of the supplied four-way tool post, the Hobby 800 G can be fitted with a 6-station CM 3 turret (Item No. 22-1071), which allows sequential tool changes for repeated fixed-cycle work, or with the Bernardo Gr. 20 quick-change tool post (Item No. 23-1056B), which allows individual tools to be changed with repeatable positioning without having to reset the Z dimension.
The quick-change tool post is recommended for work in which different tools (roughing, finishing, parting, threading) are frequently alternated on the same workpiece. The turret is better suited to defined cycles with a fixed sequence of operations. Both accessories are available from Krollit.
Does Krollit provide technical support and genuine Bernardo spare parts for the Hobby 800 G?
Krollit, an official Bernardo distributor since 2007, provides technical support in Italian and technical documentation (operation and maintenance manual, spare parts list), and handles orders for genuine Bernardo spare parts and accessories from its premises in Monteforte Irpino (AV). Contact: +39 0825-1494022.
The availability of the accessories listed in the accessories table can be checked directly on Krollit. To help select the most suitable accessory for your machining cycle, Krollit's technical service is available in Italian for pre-sales and after-sales support.
