Combined Mill/Lathe

Don't' let people be too dismissive of machines such as the Clarke CL500M. I have one, bought about 3 yearsago, used pretty much straight out of the box and it has given me good service so far.

As always you get what you pay for so it is not a toolroom machine and the mill head obviously has its limitations compared to a 'proper' milling machine, the main frustration I have had is when you alter the height of the head on its round column all your settings go to pot but the machine is quite a lumpy piece of iron and has been really useful as far as I am concerned.

Having said all the above I am in relatively early stages of model engineering so guess I will need to aim higher at some stage in the future, but it has got me started at relatively small cost and I have not regretted buying it.

Bill D.

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Golmatic looks like a credible combo alternative:

**LINK**

UK dealer and prices here. Sit down before you open the price list:

**LINK**

Phil

I can agree with Bill Dawes; every machine has it's limitations,I had one for some years on a solid wooden bench in my garage & the lathe handled some hefty cutting..with care!. the milling aspect left me frustrated as you have to remove the chuck & fit some sort of raising block to limit the quill extension otherwise you get a noticeable vibration problem, (mind you I bought mine back in the 90's so was one of the earlier models & being on contract work most of my career it was rarely put to constant use).It was a pita to change speeds though changing belts and /or fitting the intermediate pulley to suit cutter dia.& material. otherwise a solid hunk of iron.

George

I guess a separate lathe and mill is the best option but if you don't have the space then that's a non starter. It just means that you will need to plan you work more carefully and make allowances for the deficiencies in ridgidity etc. - there again most of us with "hobby" machines need to do that anyway! It's only fairly recently that model engineers have the luxury of milling machines and I bet the likes of LBSC managed on just a lathe and would have loved a composite machine.

Learn the limitations of your equipment and work with them - let's face it even the most basic maching facilities beat the cold chisel, hammer and file!

Regards

Norman

Edited By NJH on 03/02/2013 12:04:30

Of course every machine tool has limitations, and a person should or must work within them. Trouble is there comes a point where the bar is set so low that what should be a joy becomes nothing but a frustration. Unfortunately there is no universal number for the correct height of the bar, you pays your money and makes your choice.

Phil

Any round column milling machine or attachment is inferior to one with dovetail slides. They are often less rigid and a nuisance if you have to raise and lower the head as they are unlikely to move up or down without twisting out of position. Colin