Smaller/bench mounted milling machines

Hi Steven

I have just bought a SP2217 from these people http://www.spgtools.com/ Their service is excellent and so is the machine I am just starting to convert it to a CNC machine and auto tool changing with Tormach tool holders.

Bob

Hi everybody.

Thanks for all the replies and information supplied.

I'm now looking at he the machines from SPG tools as there machines are R8 instead of MT2.

From what I've read R8 has a larger range of tools than MT2

Cheers

Neil

http//www.southshields-weather.co.uk

Hi Neil,

I think you'll found most of the machines you listed are the larger MT3 not MT2. Things like chucks etc. are pretty much equally available for either MT3 or R8. R8 is quicker to change over, but costs more.

The X3 comes with teh choice of R8 or MT3 from most suppliers.

Neil

Hi Neil Thanks for the reply

That was going to ber my next question

MT2/MT3 or R8

My myford is MT2 so I could use some of the colets etc on my lathe

Im just looking at what is the least amount of money I can spend and what machine to go for.

On that side I think it will be either SPG or Chester to look at for machines.

Arc Euro only have the SX2

I want to finally compare the machines then decide from there.

Thanks everybody for the help

Cheers

Neil

Bob, I have MT3 and if you want to use MT2 on the mill you will need a sleeve MT2 to MT3 that will have a threaded collar to allow you to eject the MT2 arbor from the MT3 sleeve. These are available from most tool suppliers.

Chronos OPS1 2 - 3MT open ended adaptor

Clive

I bought a milling machine from SPG and went for MT2 on the basis that I had a ML7 and could share tooling.

Big mistake, I wish I had gone for R8 , MT2 takes longer to change over and it does not have the ridgidity of R8

Other than that, great machine and good customer service from Simon at SPG

I'm a bit confused Neil,

The Arc Super X3 has a choice of MT3 or R8 spindle.

It's also on offer until 20 August with a bundle of accessories (including a set of R8 or MT3 collets).

**LINK**

Neil

(That must be worth a biscuit, Ketan!)

As does their SX2P.

Can I have a biscuit as well

Russell.

I think it's slowly changing but Morse taper stuff used to be far more plentiful over here, at least at the ME shows I've been to.

Some small mills have self ejecting Morse tapers so not sure they'd be that much slower changing tools. It's a modification I plan to do on my VMC, not that I'm bothered about the speed aspect it's just that it might quieten some of our cousins over the pond who bang on about R8 being self ejecting...

I have a number of fairly large Morse taper drill bits (they sell quite cheap at the ME shows) so it's handy being able to pop these straight in the quill, it helps preserve your Z.