Small Mill Machine - Looking To Buy

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Originally Posted by workingonit

Totally new to the field I bought my gear on the basis of thread comments made by hobby machinists...'It's a nice machine, but a bit small now'...'gee, I wish I had a larger machine to start with'...'stretch the budget and get the biggest you can'...etc.

As others have said, once you start adding vice clamps, rotary tables, milling tools etc, the deck space quickly disappears.

CNC - throw it in the back of your landy with some stock and get the part you need anytime.

Pocket NC Company

It's a slippery slope - you'll want a CAD program next!

And there's 'making the tool to make the tool'.

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I understand these comments made. However I will not be using for 'work' nor am I expecting to spend lots of money on one,(read many thousands). A more of a hobby doing things I wish to every now and then,(or more if that is the case). Appreciate it has to be able to do that work which is why I have asked for advice on Mills available and experiences of members. I am starting from the point of buying a Press Drill. The Mill suggested meets many of the criteria's for me....and some. I would like one which is quiet so not to annoy neighbours and create bad feeling. I would like too 'if I wish too later' to CNC it but I am not going to do as so as I buy...if at all. However I like the idea of being able to do more and also learn this side of things.
I also understand much equipment soon adds up and can clog things...but I have plenty of time to put on and take off.

workingonit : I may of missed it....but what gear did you buy?

Thanks

Chilly

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Originally Posted by loanrangie

My dad has a her less drill / milling machine , very handy and I have used it to mill down a 3.5 manifold for a holley conversion and for defacing a timing cover after having it welded.

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Hey Loanrangie. I think the word of spell correct has gotten to your comments. Would I be correct in thinking you mean a 'Peerless Mill'? Which model?

Thanks Chilly

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Originally Posted by steveG

I'm in a similar boat, need a decent drill press but could definitely use a mill. When you look at the price of a quality drill press, the drill/mill that Goingbush has isn't much dearer, and would be a lot more flexible.
I've been told that you should buy table to spindle height in a mill as its quickly used up. Once you take into account a vice/fixture and a cutter a small machine may not have much room left for the job itself. Again, that same machine that Goingbush has seems to have a decent height for its size/cost.

The HM30/RF30 style machine is another single phase mill/drill thats quite common and I've seen some go for less than $1000 used recently - at least one had some basic tooling with it.
Also a reasonable amount of info online on them.

There's definitely a bunch of keen DIY CNC guys around with the Sieg's so probably not a bad option if you really want to go there.
My personal view is that if you're older (assumption from your "no longer working" comment) and have no prior CNC or milling experience - as awesome as it would be - you'll likely to never get to the point where you end up spending the time/effort/money doing a CNC conversion.
If you do happen to get there, its quite likely that things have moved on - either there are better/easier models to convert, or you've found you need a different machine than you initially thought so will be looking at upgrading.

Keen to hear what you end up getting :)

Steve

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Hi Steve,
An interesting read and good points made.

The no longer working was in reference to taking Vol Redundancy and at the same time having a total knee replacement. I hope to be working again in two to three months...when the knee is strong enough....being an old 50 year old...51 next Wednesday! This time off gives me a chance to do some jobs I have to do. Some drilling and tapping of work. This lead me to looking at Drill Press and then the ball rolling to a Mill. I wish to make a few things such as rock sliders. With a mill I can for instance make some nice end caps.

The points you make do give me concern about the future requirements. However have to start somewhere.
I think what I need to do is create a spreadsheet of spec and prices etc to be able to compare. I do like the Mill suggested. Good price, spec, recommend by a member. A bit concerned about the motor failure and i will not be changing to three phase. Good they covered with warranty. I have enquired on some specs but got told they are just an online supplier and know nothing....bit of a concern, too to contact warehouse guy who might be able to help. Have a quote for delivery.

Chilly

Hey Chilly,

My shed is only about 5 meters from the house , wife can't hear it when se is inside or in the pool which I can see from the shed window. Shed is also bang on the neighbours fence, I have asked Neighbour if they can hear my Milling machine , Nope - but they can hear me swear when something goes wrong, I have a rug hanging on the wall of the shed behind mill, it absorbs noise. I don't need earmuffs whilst machining.


I did not explain 3 phase / VFD properly, Its a 3 Phase motor wired into a VFD box which plugs into a normal 240v 10A powerpoint VFD is Variable Frequency Drive , It allows you to change the speed off the motor . Mine is programmed to vary the freq from 25 to 85 Hz , You could got from 0-100 , but loose out on torque if you go too low or high.

I put one on my old Lathe & love it , the best thing is the soft starts & change to reverse without stopping, No belt changes . good bit of kit .

here is Youtube I did when I installed it

https://youtu.be/TyhfuTQ1FyI

Hey goingbush,

That is good to hear about the noise etc.

That would be an interesting / good mod to make. I wonder if they come with three phase. Might ask the question.

Do you have a thread anywhere to look at how you did this? Would be interested in reading.

Have you doe any checking of tramming etc?

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Originally Posted by Chilly

Whats the sigh for Chops?

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Hi Chilly,,, just pondering/reflecting really [smilebigeye]. I'm always like this when people start talking tools etc. For almost 18 years I worked in a factory, 11.5 acres under roof which was "wall to wall" machinery. Although, having said that, its pre-set, whereby you walk up, put a part in a chuck, press the buttons and let it do its thing. Any monkey can do it with the right instructions. But, there's a few of us who like to play etc, and so, just being a monkey doesn't work. That being said, now I'm basically a Fitter & Machinist, learnt on the job through TAFE and other places, but although qualified, I tend not to go by that too much, it's been a long time.

Like a lot of us here, I love to tinker and make things, fix things, and I'm lucky because I get to do this at work sometimes [biggrin] as a Maintenance Fitter/Forklift Driver. At work, I do everything from rebuilding trailers for the bosses, fixing conveyors, refurbishing machines and even redesigning/modifying equipment. Its a good life sort of,,,,
But, I'd really love to have a shed full of gear myself, but the future at this point won't allow for this as we are going on a big trip, so alas, it will have to wait until we find somewhere to settle later in life,,,,, and have a really big shed with lots of good tools [wink11]

Hey Chops,

I know how you feel. I think this will be the start for me of a longer term hobby. I can easily see me getting a lathe next. I also like doing woodwork so have a few items and plan to add to that too. I see me doing more in wood than metal...at this moment...

It is great you have the qualifications...read knowledge on using these tools. Last time was educated on Lathes, Mills etc was at school. Loved doing that sort of work but boy was it hard to get use of the machines...lots of kids and only a lathe and mill!!! Amy a time a elder student would be using them for the work for O levels or A levels.

Whereabouts are you based? Got any jobs going? ha ha!!!

O forgot....yes would love a big shed!!!

Unfortunately I'm a self taught hobbyist, which can lead to some near disasters. I'd like to have professional training experience, at then 55 I asked TAFE about enrollment but was told I'd have to have an apprenticeship!

I bought two large machines from Hafco - lathe and mill - each weighs about 850kg. One apparent advantage is they 'shake the machine down' before it goes to the customer.

The variety of things that you end up doing with lathes and mills goes well beyond your original intentions. I've cut threads where I can't get the right bolt. Made a number of tools to work on the LRovers. Milled clutch plates. Made a four sided shaft with one degree taper to save a $20 ice shaver that we like very much (sometimes its just for the challenge of doing it). Parts for the kids electric cars. Mini tank track and spur gear. Tractor parts. Gear shift mechanism, etc.

My comment about the deck space disappearing quickly was not about clogging your workshop with tooling or that you will have the time to mount gear. What I was getting at is that you should visualise for example the maximum height of work you will be tackling, then add to this the the height of the tool that is going to hold your work, then add it the height of the tool bit that is going to hover over your work so that you can get the right sized machine. The deck space of your machine quickly disappears. Again, the hobbyists' lament of wishing to have gone bigger to start with.

I buy some bits from this company. The hobby orientated businesses often have bits that the large guys aren't interested in stocking. They may have some machines with specifications and price that suit you. Unfortunately a bit lax with his photos, which I've mentioned to him, but very helpful guy. Some hobby orientated companies have discount purchasing deals with the big guys and can get you stuff cheaper than the big guys are willing to give directly.

Mills & Accessories Mills

If your going to get into CNC (not to be mistaken for simply adding a couple of digital read outs to a manual machine) then more than likely you will need to start learning design software and the steps required to convert it to g-code. I dabble in open source stuff, currently learning FreeCAD. This also opens up the world of finite element analysis (stress testing your designs), more for fun and curiosity for me at this stage. You'll never truly 'retire'. :)

CNC not even on my horizon, CAD way out of my depth , The local metal cutters cringe when they see me come in with a cardboard template of something I want Plasma cut from sheet , it would be so much easier with a CAD file, not going to happen though !! But I do love the DRO mostly because it makes backlash in the lathe or mill slides mostly irrelevant , and Im hopeless at reading a micrometer .

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Originally Posted by Chilly

Hey Loanrangie. I think the word of spell correct has gotten to your comments. Would I be correct in thinking you mean a 'Peerless Mill'? Which model?

Thanks Chilly

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No definitely herless not sure of model.