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Choice of small milling machine

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Les Jones 101/12/2011 12:40:42
2292 forum posts
159 photos
Hi David,
If you plan to fit a DRO to your mill it does not matter if it is metric or imperial.
I did reply to your PM but you have not yet read the reply.
The £126 pound difference would could go towards a DRO.
 
Les.
maurice bennie01/12/2011 12:50:37
164 forum posts
1 photos
Hi everyone, I have the smallest axminster micro mill for three years now .because of minimum space that was all I could fit in.It has been very useful and has done all I have asked of it .toys for the children ,repairing things around the house and helped me build a three wheeled Lomax . It is the space which governs what you can have. I have had no problems with it,Minimum speed is100rpm max 2000rpm .I am now using it as a router to make tomas the tank engine track for the great grand sons ,and its working well.
I have enjoyed all the letters and hope my two penny worth has helped
best wishesMaurice.
David Haynes01/12/2011 14:12:23
168 forum posts
26 photos
I am fascinated how you did the toy railway track with a mill as a router. What types of track panels did you make and how did you ensure the two troughs were parallel.
Dave
Francis Sykes01/12/2011 20:04:16
43 forum posts
5 photos
Hi there - first post on here so hello!
 
On the Sieg SU1 - there is a review for this that is fairly comprehensive if you click:
 
 
There was a U2 on quillstar that I very nearly bought - it was a little more conventional in that the head moved rather than being a mini knee arrangement that the SU1 has. That took the work envolope out to around 200mm. Took some finding of info though - the chap at Quillstar said they were pretty expensive when new.
 
Glad I missed it though - I've got a WM18 clone on order for delivery this month, think the extra size will help me a lot more with some of the projects I'd like to do.
 
Maurice - the Lomax sounds like fun - 2CV based is it not?
maurice bennie02/12/2011 13:36:32
164 forum posts
1 photos
Hi David . The track is made from 1/2" ply clamped on the table parallel with the edge,using a 1/4" cutter it will cut with and across the grain ,it does leave a rough edge with the grain but as the cutter leaves the wood it takes all of the rough edge off.
All you do then is to wind the table out to give the width and plough on giving parallel tracks ,but only straight ones .I am now making up a large table to clamp to the top of my rotary table to cut curves (I hope).I am doing this so that I can build toys that I can not buy.
I will tell you if my turntable works.
Hi also to Francis I built the lomax when I retired in 86 and its been on the road since then .Its been much modified .The fly wheel is lighter.,3/4 of the weight has gone ,ignition is now fully electronic with auto advance and retard ,Harley davidson coil giving better sparks .It is now more reliable and better to drive .Had more fun with this car than all the others Ive had . I love making and repairing anything.
best wishes to all ,Maurice
David Haynes04/12/2011 10:38:57
168 forum posts
26 photos
I don't think that, in these economic times, any particular company tries to maximise it's profits excessively, but I do wonder why some similar machines are so vastly different in price. But then, are they really all that similar and is there a hidden cost that you pick up to your grief in a few years. Compare
Engineer's Tool Room BMD-20 http://www.engineerstoolroom.co.uk/bmd-20.htm,
It is even recommended that the last of the list has a strip down preparation before use.
 
Dave
Wolfie04/12/2011 17:06:11
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502 forum posts
Some of those Chester ones look OK
David Haynes10/12/2011 08:26:17
168 forum posts
26 photos
I would prefer to get the purpose made stand for the Sieg X3 mill when I order it, but both Arc and Axminster have sold out. I need a narrow item the size of that stand as space is limited. What have others used successfully for the X3?
Thanks
Dave
Ian S C10/12/2011 09:48:55
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7468 forum posts
230 photos
Get a length of 50 x 50 x5 or 6 mm angle iron, and a hack saw, thats the way I built the stand/ bench for my 1326 BH lathe, its 380Kg. I cut the steel by hand, and used a mates welder. Did get a sore arm out of it, trying to get it all done too quickly. Its still going OK, been through earthquakes, and did not require any adjustment, perhaps its because when I built the workshop, the area where the lathe was to go was double thickness (200 mm), and extra steel in the floor. You could do as I did with the lathe bench, put sheet metal sides (you could use plywood), and a door on the front.
Sorry my mill is on a wooden bench, I know its wrong, but I,v never got round to doing any better. Ian S C
ps; secondhand steel is ok, even if it has a bit of rust, a few extra holes, and welded on bits ground off with the angle grinder.

Edited By Ian S C on 10/12/2011 09:53:35

David Haynes23/12/2011 14:55:42
168 forum posts
26 photos

I have just had an email from Axminster who have said their prices will rise significantly:-
Axminster SIEG X3/Imperial/R8 Mill Drill £996 --> £1230
Axminster ER32 Precision Collet Holder - R8 Order code: 910231 £42 --> £28
Axminster SIEG X3/Super X3 Floor Stand Order code: 210114 £191 --> £220
12mm T Slot Clamp Kit for Mills Order code: 951675 £36 --> £43

Also they now supply in early May, same as ArcEuro
Dave

Francis Sykes23/12/2011 15:09:04
43 forum posts
5 photos
Ouch!
 
This morning I received my SPG milling machine - it's the 2217-III - glad I did because I'm sure the price pressure will come in across all suppliers, they're all sourcing from similar places outside of these shores and subject to exchange rate fluctuations, and of course rising prices of metals.
 
On the subject of table - I didn't even look into the production options, as I'll make my own. I did something similar for my lathe table (still need to wire up the old thing) - but I used a construction of mainly 30X30X3mm mild steel box section, and welded it. If you can weld, or know someone who could do it for you, it's a good way to build, simply, a sturdy stand.
 
I tacked 1.6mm sheet to the outside, and made some 3mm plate doors for it too, so now it is a handy tool storage cupboard under the working surface.
 
I'll do something similar with the mill, but I'll put this on wheels. Then add some captive nuts to the base so I can jack the 'cupboard' off the wheels and level up accordingly.
 
David, if you have the money available to purchase a machine, I think I'd recommend you decide what you want soon and get on with it. The lead times won't be going down and I suspect prices won't be either. I'd have a look at SPG too, you'll be able to guess what machines they have when you see the picture, so far I'm impressed (pre-chip-making impression)
Stub Mandrel23/12/2011 22:12:51
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4318 forum posts
291 photos
1 articles
 
 
> rising prices of metals

I saw cast-iron bar-end weghts inTesco today, for a small fraction of what a disc of CI would cost. Obviously not meehanite, but I read at least one article where someone made a flywheel from such a weight - sadly these would only suit a three-spoker
 
Neil
Springbok24/12/2011 01:50:22
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879 forum posts
34 photos
Hi
Whatever you purchase and I speak from bitter experiance and it now sits in a corner do NOT please purchase one with a round pillar. I eventualy bought a Chester626 with power feed DRO et all; and have never regreted the expence. built a 7.25g on it a 5" and a few 3.5 trains Used 3 grandsons and grandaughters partner to assist in installation.
 
Can I come down to the Defence of David Warren of Warco I have known him for many years and is a decent chap also knew his father when they were based in Esher.
I am convinced that these days most of these machines no matter what colour or flavour come out of the same factory, you just have to look at the grizzly.com web site in the USofA and I am sure you will spot your machine. Oh thats where you can download a non chingalees manuals.
Bob
 
martin perman24/12/2011 06:21:18
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2095 forum posts
75 photos
Bob,
 
I'm curious as to why you baulk at a round column mill, I have one and it does what I expect of it willingly so whats the problem with them.
 
Martin P
Steve Withnell24/12/2011 09:27:34
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858 forum posts
215 photos
I've one of those classic Warco round column mills, there are two issues, the Z feed is hopeless from an accuracy point of view unless you have a digital readout fitted, when it becomes absolutely fine (The readout shows exactly the nature of the inaccuracy too- ). X&Y calibration seems fine off the shelf, considering it's a £700 machine tool. The other "fault" is that you have to think a head of a series of ops to ensure you will not have to move the mill head between cutter changes and lose the set up. The first I fixed early on, the second is no where near being enough of an issue for me to trade it in for a "square" column mill.
 
If I was buying new today I'd buy an X3 or equivalent rather than the round column. Always provided that the rigidity was the same or better. I would not trade rigidity for a square column.
 
Bear in my I'm a pure hobbyist, I don't need to make a living off my machines or have to satisfy a customer that my work is "to spec".
 
Steve
 
 
 

martin perman24/12/2011 09:57:28
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2095 forum posts
75 photos
I dont have the accuracy problem on the vertical axis, my machine is not a Warco but it is on the Grizzly Website, like you I do plan ahead but have never found the round column a problem.
 
Martin P
Francis Sykes27/12/2011 10:00:45
43 forum posts
5 photos
Thanks for the Grizzly tip - downloaded their manual for the size down machine from mine - it's far more comprehensive than the one that came with the machine.
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