Myford Vm-f

I have a Myford VMC milling machine (very similar) that I've had to move twice now. On both occasions, I took the head off by undoing the two bolts where the head joins the column, and the four bolts holding the column to the base (plus disconnecting some wiring). On both occasions, I used an engine hoist to lift the bits off and wheel them to the hire van. Weight is relative based on how much muscle power you have available and I used the hoist because on both occasions I was doing it on my own.

Once you have the head off, the column can be removed from the base by pivoting it forward about the front edge of it's base until the top of the column is resting on the ground. From this position you can rotate it and lower it so the front edge and the top is resting on the ground. Just stand it up from there. Getting it back on the base is the reverse of the above. It helps to have some wooden pads on the floor to protect the mating surfaces and when getting it back on the base a landing pad comprising a couple of short battens keeps it clear of the studs.

The first time I moved my VMC I lifted the head off in one piece. Second time around I took the motor off first.

I didn't bother with the transit van, it was only going to the other end of the village so I went for a walk with a sack barrow.

regards Martin

I assume you've taken the XY table off? That's a whole lot of mass to manhandle not to say potential for scratching and damage.

You are perfectly correct Chris, and that goes for the knee as well. My main tip was getting the column off the base as that is the only single lump that is too heavy to manually lift on your own.( well it is for me anyhow)

It is amazing how much heavier things get as you get older though. The first time I moved my cutter grinder I just picked it up. The second time 20 years later I took the table off and picked it up and it darn near killed me.

regards Martin

Tell me about it! I'm amazed after all these years, including manually heaving engine blocks around in a previous life, that my back remains healthy in comparison to others, and I want to keep it that way.

Edited By Chris Trice on 04/02/2019 14:19:05

I have 2 observations/guesses.

1. I suspect it's tall people that generally develop back trouble and it's from bending not lifting.

2. If you are lifting correctly it's your knees that go rather than your back.

Ah, but when you are bending you are lifting your own upper body weight.

Martin C

exactly.

Tall people tend to stoop to stuff, shorter people reach or sit up straight.

In answer to the OP, yes easy to break down into smaller pieces and yes those pieces will fit in a Transit but highly recommended to take a second person with you. Not impossible for a fit rugby player type to do on his own with a bit of a struggle but a second person makes it easy if you have no mechanical means of lifting.

I'd go with that. Use whatever help you can get. Comments were intended to show what could be done in extremis. I'd always use a fork truck if I had one or better still get someone else to move it, trouble is so often you are forced into improvising.

Good luck with the move.

regards Martin

I picked mine up with an engine crane then moved it as a complete unit on a trailer........just fifty miles......not hard to strip out but leave the wiring alone if poss.......The family I got mine from (father died), messed the wiring up by taking the motor off. Not an easy repair, sorting out the wiring with no manual.........

also still not found a manual for my VMF and lathes and co.com or what ever it's called can't supply........

as it happens I only know of three VMF's in existance.....

good luck I love mine almost as much as me Bridgeport J head.....

just need to mod the machine with a raising block and then make a quill shaft lock........

clogs

They crop up on eBay from time to time.

The following was taken from Lathes website

**LINK**

My mate has a VME and the column and knee is the same as my VMC

Introduced in 1977 as the first of the stand-alone, Myford-branded milling machines, in later years the VM-C was to be joined by two additional models, the VM-E and VM-F. While all three shared the same basic design, some castings and the main element of the vertical head, the VM-F was sufficiently different to merit description in a separate article that can be found lower down the page.

Built using the same cast-iron stand, box-section main column, knee and table of the VM-E, the much more expensive VM-F had a number of useful refinements that made the operator's life rather easier. Although the VM-C and VM-E both had a non-sliding ram, on the VM-F it was extended in length and able to be shifted forwards and backwards through 174 mm (6.875".

regards Martin

I couldn't tell you offhand but if the knee castings are identical then there will be 4 holes, one in each corner along with the levelling grubs to joint the column to the stand. The way the F differs from the C and the E is the sliding ram head along with the altered motor arrangement and all that power feed gear on th eright hand of the knee. It looks to me that once you have removed the head, the table, saddle and power feed you are back to the common column, and knee of the C and E. The E and the F have deep drip trays which is why you cannot see the bolts and the two models have a cast stand instead of the welded steel version of the C.

regards Martin

My mate Chris informs me he will go and look.

Martin

I was not so much going to look at my VMC, which has visible bolts going through the base of the column into the base, but to look for a Myford original leaflet on the VM range. At the risk of upsetting Martin, he is wrong in that the bases of the VME & VMF are the same, cast, but different to the VMC, which is folded sheet steel. Similarly, the column of the VME & VMF are the same, but again different to the VMC. The weights according to the leaflet are: VMC 305kg, VME 387kg, and VMF 444kg. It is only an educated guess, but I would assume the column on a VMF must be removable from the top, as the weight would make tipping it over less than easy........

I can scan the leaflet if it is any help, but the deep tray on the VME & VMF base obscures any details of the fixing bolts.

Regards

CRS

As a VMF owner I can confirm the Base & Column are a one piece casting, to reduce weight the Motor / Quill Head could be removed first but is quite heavy 50-60 kg? The Ram could then be slid out. Sure the X-Y Table could be removed if desperate requiring a fair bit of dismantling but don’t underestimate the amount of wiring to disconnect first though, would recommend transport on a Pallet as a unit if at all possible.

Could be a good purchase if in good condition & if not abused, they are a great versatile mini Bridgeport machine ideal for the smaller workshop, a Raising Block would be worthwhile modification to increase capacity depending on requirements, also as clogs has mentioned a Quill Lock is desirable & I am currently looking at options but seems feasible if you have a second machine to modify the Motor / Belt casting with a Locking Peg arrangement into the Belt Pulley.