Manufactured from the late 1950s into the 1960s by one of Spain's smaller machine-tool companies, Antonio Pinacho from Oyarzun in Guipuzcoa, the AP180 was one of a very limited number from their range exported to the United Kingdom. With a centre height of 180 mm (7") and a capacity between centres of either 750 mm (29.5") or 1000 mm (39") the lathe fell in capacity between a Colchester Student and Triumph--though its weight of 860 kg and No. 4 tailstock would have put it more in line with the abilities of the latter rather than the former.
Impressively deep, the bed was some 220 mm wide and, as this was appreciably greater than the  centre height, qualified it as a tool-room class machine - though the makers made no such claims. Available as a straight-bed only - no gap option being listed - V and flat ways were used with that at the front being wider and less steep on the outer surface than the inner, a design idea that waxed and waned in favour over the years as its usefulness was been questioned or accepted. The bed was carried on two massive cast-iron plinths, that at the headstock end holding the 2 or 3 h.p. 1500 r.p.m. motor.
Nine spindle speeds were provided, from a usefully low 22 to an impressively high (for the era and its type) of 2125 r.p.m. Spindle speed changes were by a modern, two-lever arrangement on a concentric shaft with a top-mounted clutch lever controlling an effective combined clutch and brake unit thought to have been by Ortlinghuase or Matrix. Spindle stop, start and reverse  was by a group of push buttons mounted on a post rising from the back of the carriage, the unit being attached by a long flexible cable to a rear-mounted electrical box.
With the ability to generate 30 metric pitches from 0.5 to 8 mm and 27 English from 4 to 280 t.p.i., the screwcutting and feeds gearbox drove a 28 mm diameter leadscrew. The 30 sliding feeds varied from 0.09 to 1.25 mm per revolution of the spindle and surfacing at the (usual twice-as-fine rate) from 0.005 to 0.66 mm. In order to equip the lathe for production a front-mounted release bar was fitted (this was standard on the Type A-180-P) that carried a number of stops able to be arranged in order to provided a sequence of releases.
Fitted with a generously large micrometer dial, the cross-feed drove a full-length cross slide equipped with a pair of traverse wedge-shaped slots--an unlikely addition on  lathe of this size. It is probable that, taking advantage of the slots, the 360°-swivel top slide could have been mounted to the rear and the toolpost used as a rear-mounted type with an inverted tool for parting off.
With two bolts to camp it to the bed, a No. 4 Morse taper socket and a hardened 52 mm diameter barrel, the tailstock was able to handle the heaviest loads likely to be imposed upon it. As a finishing and most useful touch, the spindle was equipped with a micrometer dial..