Hi David

​From your comments it seems as though you have a flexible financial supply; can't comment on any of the machines you mention but these days I reckon it pays to get a machine supplied with DRO's. I have a Warco WM16 which suits me fine & I have fitted DRO'S as an afterthought. Not being electrikery savvy I can't cast an opinion on VFD / inverters, single phase suits me at the mo'; just have a look at Warco's range ( usual disclaimer )…?

George.

There’s also the Warco VMC mill to consider. A few of us on here have one and are well pleased with them.

I had an Axminster VHM bench mill for a number of years. The gearbox packed up and I sold it. I bought a Warco VMC with power feed on the x axis, no digital readouts yet, but it has done all that I needed and is as good as the day I bought it.

DRO’s will switch from metric to imperial no problem, once you have used the machine with DRO’s you will forget about the calibrated dials, you don’t need to use them the DRO will measure much more accurately, no more counting the turns of the dials and getting lost and having to start again.

Dave W

If you can use a milling machine, surely you should be capable of fitting a DRO and scales. The Arc DROs and glass scales look well priced. I wouldn't bother with those glorified digital micrometer scales – the proper DRO units have loads of useful functions.

Like many others here, I found that a DRO transformed my milling machine – improved my accuracy and reduced my scrappage rate immeasurably, so to speak.

Murray

But don’t forget you might need to change the drawbar in the vertical head – without un-tramming it – if the machine has a knee.

…Changing the drawbar. My mill has one of those drawbars that use differential threads. What a pain in the a… I'm screwing the darn thing for ages to release the tool and if the new tool has a slightly different MT length, I have to be very careful that there is enough thread in the new tool because next time the drawbar unscrews from it, the tool might not be ejected but the drawbar is separated from the tool.
A simple top hat captive drawbar is far superior.
Apologies if this has drifted off topic, but might be a consideration in choice of machine. Maybe R8 is a good choice of tool-holding, depending on size of machine contemplated.

Dave
The Emerald Isle

1 go fir R8 spindle releasing a Morse taper is difficult and it wasn't designed fir milling it's a locking taper and in a mill spindle boy does it lock my 2mt (below) even with a special ejector was a sod to remove or bash it out with a hammer , bad news.

2 vdf drives are on both my mills, both lathes and drill. Wouldn't be without them

3 I did have a Rishton very similar to the emco but latter has the ekevating handle in an aquard place. But both have round columns. Avoid these

4 DR O straightforward to fit esp the new breed og pf very compact magnetic versions my 3 dro are glass/ ball and bulky

5 if possible view the machines, the spec can lie to you hands on needed

I too have a LUX mill,morse taper quill,should have gone for the R8 type,better job all round. You can always go from R8 to Morse,but not the other way around. Worth thinking about !.

I personally would prefer a turret mill like the Chester or Warco 626 sized VMC's over a bench mill because of the added versatility they can offer.

Mines an early Chester 626 picked up 2nd hand with 3 x axis DRO and single axis power feed.

Warco have upped their game on their VMC by offering a variable speed jobby version which may be of interest.

If you can financially run to it go for DRO/ power feed options to kick off with, however if not and you are handy you can upgrade later yourself with better systems.