Warco Super - Major Vario inaccuracy

just had my Warco Super Major Verio delivered 15/02/2019

and checking spindle squareness to table

left to right x Axis spot on front to back y axis.008 out not happy

waiting for an answer from warco

Which is it? WM14 as per title or Super Vario as per text. Slightly different machines, WM14 is tiny Super Vario is quite large!

John

super major vario

0.008mm or 0.008" and over what distance?

.008” over full with of table 8.5 “

Lower at front or back? Remember when cutting that the forces will tend to tilt the column back, so it could even conceivably be made that way. But for an out of the box Chinese machine tool that doesn't seem too bad to me.

Lower at back higher at front

.004” low at back .004 high at front

sorry but not exctable to me

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What's the spec, did it come with an inspection certificate?

Have you adjusted the head gibs and were the measurements taken with the head locked or unlocked.

Is it still on the pallet or has it been hoisted onto a bench with a strap around the head?

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Tried adjusting jibs and locking head locks no different

The machine is on it’s supplied stand and I paid extra to have warco to fully install machine in my workshop

Have found problem not that it helps bed is not ground parallel to the dovetails underneath

I run the clock across width of table and clock went from +.004” to -.004”

So will demand a new machine

Warco claim on there report .04mm or .0015 in proper measurements

When you say run the clock across the table are you moving the table with the Y-axis handwheel or swinging the clock on an arm in the spindle by 180 degrees? One of these methods measures spindle squareness, one doesn't.

Andrew

moving clock across using handwheel

That does not measure how true the spindle is to the table but shows the tables slopes!

The start of his is how to swing a clock and test the tram

Edited By JasonB on 15/02/2019 19:46:31

that’s what I saiid table slopes

Bob,

Before condemning the machine on the basis of measurements, try cutting metal with it. Note John Haine's comment that the machine may be intended to bend. It might not be as bad as you fear in practice.

You may have a more serious problem though! I see from your other posts that you've been a machinist for 40 years and use a Bridgeport VMC1000 at work. As such it may be difficult for you to cope with the gap between the machines you are familiar with and what a private individual can afford. Typically an industrial machine is 6 to 20 times more expensive than the hobby version. The Super Major is a decent hobby machine, but it's definitely not industrial quality.

It may be that Warco can provide a Major with better figures, but generally hobbyists make do within the limitations of their equipment. For what I get up to my Chinese machines are adequate, but I don't work at high speed, I back off when the machine shows signs of stress, and I change the way cuts are made to compensate for known shortcomings. I also keep a close eye on adjustments, things like gibs, backlash, and tram can wander. My work-rate is slow and it involves a lot of thinking around obstacles. Although it keeps me amused as a hobby, this way of working might well annoy the hell out of you, and it certainly won't do if you intend seriously using your mill productively or to make money.

The alternative to a new Far Eastern hobby machine would be a new Far Eastern industrial machine, or - perhaps more affordable - a second-hand ex-educational or industry mill. The main issue buying second-hand is finding a good one - condition is everything because spares and refurbishing are expensive, maybe beyond your worst nightmare. With time and luck it can be done though.

As it's important to be happy with tools, keep looking for what you want but be aware cost might force compromises unless you have deep pockets stuffed with cash. Much depends on what the machine is for, how you intend using it, and what you can live with!

Dave

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 15/02/2019 20:01:52

Not how I read it.

.

... If, as it appears, the surface of the table slopes: An otherwise perfectly aligned spindle would need to be tilted to match that angle to achieve 'squareness' [90°].

• Squareness to the motion of the slides is one test
• Squareness to the surface of the table is another

Clearly, in the case of a perfect machine both would be exactly 90°

Equally clearly; Robert's machine is not perfect, and could not be adjusted to be so without re-machining the table.

[ that's how I see it, anyway ]

MichaelG.