What Mill?

This topic has 11 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 10 March 2012 at 21:37 by David Haynes.

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9 March 2012 at 15:41 #6024
ray smith
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@raysmith
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9 March 2012 at 15:41 #86877
ray smith
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@raysmith
Hi all.

I am new to the world of model engineering.

I wish to ask a question, though i feel it as probably been asked a thousand times. I need a small bench top milling machine like the Chester Cobra, Amadeal X12-300 Axminster etc; the choice is bewildering.

Has anyone got any thoughts as to which machine they can recommend? i eventually intend to convert it to CNC.

Regards

Ray
9 March 2012 at 17:49 #86886
VC
Participant
@vc44480
Hi Ray

I have the Chester Cobra. I bought this on a limited budget…

Get ready to spend a lot more than the cost of the mill on the bits needed to "Play"

So the more you spend on the mill will make the bit's seem cheaper

I'm not into cnc make enough mistakes at the moment, but if I was to go that route would buy one that was cnc.

If you do go with the Cobra try and get them to throw in a extra control box my one now has a mind of it's own

Cheers VC
9 March 2012 at 21:58 #86895
magpie
Participant
@magpie
Hi Ray

I bought the axminster version about 10 years ago, and found the length of the table a bit restrictive, so i bought the long table and leadscrew from Arc Euro. I dont know if they still sell these as an "add on", but they sell the same machine with the long table allready fitted (super X1L). The only problem i have had with the machine is a stripped gear,through being a bit to ambitious with a job. New gear was a few quid, and no more problems since. I now have a Chester Champion 20V,but i still use the X1L quite a lot for the smaller jobs, and would not want to part with it.

Cheers Derek

Ps Check your messages, I have sent you a pm.

Edited By magpie on 09/03/2012 22:00:49
10 March 2012 at 08:47 #86903
John Hinkley
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@johnhinkley26699
As I have said before, in a reply to a similar question elsewhere on this forum, I bought an XJ12-300 mill from Amadeal some while ago. It cost £412. I reckon that I've spent at least that again on mills, vice, centring kit, collet set and last month, a three-axis DRO set from Arc Eurotrade. Nearly finished fitting it, but have yet to use it "in anger". I'm very pleased with my mill – it does exactly what I want it to do – and that's all you can ask of any machine. Who wouldn't like a Bridgeport or similar, but not everybody can accommodate such a machine in their workshop. I would say, look at all the machines in your price range – let's face it, that's the real deciding factor – and plump for one or the other. Choose the one that best suits your specific requirements. Best of luck!

John
10 March 2012 at 10:08 #86907
Bazyle
Participant
@bazyle
Think about exactly what you want to do with it. Is your interest in CNC a specific need for mass production or just because it looks interesting and you like computers / electronics? I assume you have a lathe so how much milling have you done with that? If you hold fire for 6 months while reading all of the ten years of ME online you will learn so much the you will know the answer yourself and save far more than th subscription.

The machines you mention both have swivel base columns by the looks of things. That will be a devil to align and you will never use it. Even a swivel head is problematic. Think on the basis that if it can be adjusted it means it will go out of adjustment and need regular work. Round columns are a problem too.

Tooling doesn't have to be a burden. Drill chuck tends to come free. All you need is 1 morse collet say 12mm and 2 end mills both 12mm. One is for Sunday Best ie brass and the other you can ruin on steel and practice.
10 March 2012 at 14:18 #86916
David Haynes
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@davidhaynes53962
Hi Ray,

Firstly, sorry if the links go off the page, I tried to compress them without success!

I was in a similar situation before Christmas and posted this http://modeleng.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=toolsandtooling&action=display&thread=6791&page=1 which should give you food for thought. Generally, as mentioned before, the round column or tilting head machines can have the risk of unexpected twisting or rotating and can have associated alignment problems, but if you are aware of this, you can make provision for it and reduce this risk. I had heard that Amadeal have had problems with bearings and this has been confirmed by Wolfie http://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=63822&p=2, but the backup from the supplier has been good. Chester and Warco have sometimes had bad reviews for service but other users have been happy with them. In the end, I ordered a Sieg machine from Axminster (I have still 7 more weeks before it arrives!) but ArcEuro also sell them. Both suppliers have fairly good reputations but Axminster can be a bit more expensive. The Sieg machines have dovetail columns but some also tilt. In particular for your interest, the Sieg X1/2/3 are ideally suitable for CNC conversions. A lot of people have said though that, unless you are doing a lot of repetitive work, is CNC what you really need when a manual mill may be enough for now? Maybe DRO is the first luxury!

Good luck with the hunt, it took quite me a few months but I am happy with my (yet undelivered!) choice.

Dave

Edited By David Haynes on 10/03/2012 14:18:52

Edited By David Haynes on 10/03/2012 14:20:16
10 March 2012 at 16:55 #86926
Terryd
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@terryd72465
Posted by David Haynes on 10/03/2012 14:18:29:

Hi Ray,

Firstly, sorry if the links go off the page, I tried to compress them without success!

…………………

Dave

Edited By David Haynes on 10/03/2012 14:18:52

Edited By David Haynes on 10/03/2012 14:20:16

Hi David,

To insert a hyperlink, type your message, highlight a suitable word as a keyword, then add the link as normal while the keyword is highlighted. It will then be attached to the keyword, like this. You can also set a new target i.e. a new tab or window.

Regards

Terry

Edited By Terryd on 10/03/2012 16:56:44
10 March 2012 at 17:54 #86932
Ex contributor
Participant
@mgnbuk
If you discount machines with round columns, tilting slides & swivelling heads you will not find a lot of choice !

I noticed a small ad in the latest issue of MEW for an Axminster 6 speed milling machine (in Derby, I think) – IIRC, these are Taiwanese clones of the Emco FB2 & Axminster marketed them as the "VHM", as the head can be swivelled to place the spindle horizontal for more machining options – the column also rotates in the base to give even more options. It has a 24" by 6" table, with 15" by 5 1/2" travels – 2MT spindle in a quill with 1 5/8" stroke and 6 geared speeds – around 14" maximum clearance between spindle & table – these are compact machines but with a reasonable capacity. Look up the FB2 on the lathes.co.uk site – the clones are all but identical.

While this is a round column mill, it has a full length key to maintain head alignment. It is also swivelling head (as above), but my similar machine is no great problem to align & it doesn't seem move out of position under reasonable machining loads. If I could find any shortcoming, it is the lack of fine feed to the quill. I have an Emco brochure for their original machine which gives the weight as 110kg – the column & head removes easily from the base as a unit, and I could move each part on my own (with a bit of puffing & grunting !).

Get in quick while it's still available !

Nigel B.
10 March 2012 at 19:19 #86937
David Clark 13
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@davidclark13
Hi There

This looks a nice mill (I have seen a photo) only been used for clockmaking.

regards David
10 March 2012 at 20:57 #86943
nigel jones 5
Participant
@nigeljones5
ive got the one from machine mart – micro mill.fine for one off small jobs but not suited to anything big. nylon gears constantly shear when warm and electronics burned out long ago. table needs constant adjustment and head flexes. mine is only accurate to 7 thou on a good day.
10 March 2012 at 21:37 #86946
David Haynes
Participant
@davidhaynes53962
Thanks Terry,

I knew it must be something like that. I should know not to post when the smaller end of our family is making a distracting cacophony!

Dave
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