Warco Mill - but what model??

Hi Matthew, if it's 3MT it will more likely to be 3/8 whit, 7/16 UNF is for an R8 spindle. DiogenesII is correct, threaded rod will be fine if it will fit down. Don't throw the 3/8 one away as there are many arbores that you may want to use that have 3/8 threads.

Regards Nick.

Just a word to the wise. The Name plate has been removed at some time, and replaced with odd screws. I wonder what was going on behind the plate ? It may just have been someone trying to fit a DRO or finer measurement system for the quill - or something else. I have a much older ECONOMY mill - (Ex schools) which is far more basic than the one shown, the top cover is held on with over centre clamps, there aren't any stops for the longitudinal travel and there are less speed ratios to select and no reverse (Although the motor is reversible).

Drawbar diameter is relatively unimportant as long as it will go down the hole. One could use a smaller drawbar, with a 12mm arbor, by reducing the thread size in the arbor. Loctite a bolt in the arbor, re-drill and tap the thread. Job done.

Matthew,

To address your query earlier in the thread, the world is your lobster, really. An internet search will throw up a multitude of results for a source of ER collet chucks. They vary from acceptable quality (for a starter chuck) to outrageously expensive for super accurate, professional quality goods. Delivery times vary as well, depending, mostly, on how much you are prepared to pay versus waiting for delivery. Any of the site's advertisers on the righthand side will happily supply you with one. Don't forget you'll need the collets as well. It all adds to the cost. There are often bargains to be had if you shop around. I've been more than satisfied with the chucks that I've bought from sources from both near and far. Hope the 12mm studding fits your spindle!

John

and wide

Edited By John Hinkley on 29/08/2020 11:19:41

I’m not sure why they supply a draw bar as my Warco mill came without tooling. My VMC has a 3MT spindle and I use an M12 draw bar exclusively as it seems to be the most popular size.

If anyone has any doubts, the Imperial model certainly has a 3/8 BSW drawbar.

Measuring things in mm on an Imperial machine causes needless confusion, since very few, if any, Metric dimensions will exactly equate to an Imperial one.

If the machine is Imperial, it is a good starting point to measure in Imperial units.

But you will come across some machines where, for some reason, thread systems have been mixed. An Imperial machine with a R8 spindle might have Whit form threads, but 7/16 UNF for the drawbar.

3/8 BSW threaded arbors are becoming scarcer, being replaced by M12. So that could mean buying or making another drawbar.

Or you could, with care, do what i do and make and fit M12 to 3.8 BSW adaptors.

But there is very little metal between the two threads.

Once in place they work OK, but tapping 3/8 BSW into M12 can be quite fraught, and very fallible! Probably easier to tap the 3/8 after the M12 has been screwed / Loctited into the arbor.

Of course, with a second hand machine, you cannot be absolutely certain what previous owners have done.

It may have left the factory with Whit (or any other ) form threads, but that won't stop anyone modifying or repairing with Unified or Metric.

Howard