Smaller/bench mounted milling machines

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Smaller/bench mounted milling machines

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  • #153858
    Steven Buckley
    Participant
      @stevenbuckley72610

      Hi – I'm getting prepared to start a Don Young 5" Black Five build and was wondering which bench mounted milling machines would be suitable? Ideally I'd like a quality product and don't mind second hand!

      Btw – I'm planning on getting the laser cut loco & tender frames as a starting point – so what would suit this project?

      Thanks

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      #7181
      Steven Buckley
      Participant
        @stevenbuckley72610
        #153870
        Rik Shaw
        Participant
          @rikshaw

          Page 814 in current issue of ME shows BCA 111 Universal Jig Boring and Milling machine – looks OK to me and only £2,950.

          Rik

          #153872
          NJH
          Participant
            @njh

            I've not seen that issue of ME and I don't recognise the 111 part. The BCA Jig borer I've seen though,whilst being a very nice precision machine, is I think rather on the small side for tackling a 5" gauge loco.

            Norman

            #153873
            Michael Gilligan
            Participant
              @michaelgilligan61133

              BCA Mk.3 [or Mk.III]

              As I have mentioned before … "small capacity but perfectly formed"

              There is a very good write-up on the lathes uk site

              It's great for light work on non-ferrous materials, but I don't think it best suited to work on a loco.

              … Optimum choice; something heavier for the rough stuff, and a BCA for the finishing ?

              MichaelG.

              .

              Edit:  see TengaEngineering 

              Edited By Michael Gilligan on 29/05/2014 22:00:16

              Edited By Michael Gilligan on 29/05/2014 22:08:33

              #153874
              NJH
              Participant
                @njh

                Thanks Michael

                111 = Mk 3 – of course ! A Homer moment for me I fear – what can I say other than DOH. !!

                Yes I would like one but I can't possible justify it.

                Regards

                Norman

                #153875
                Bazyle
                Participant
                  @bazyle

                  You don;t actually have to have a milling machine. I think Keith Wilson originally made 5in Kings professionally with just a Myford.

                  You possibly need to decide on your budget and whether you are thinking in terms of a new machine or second hand or 'old iron'. Some of the people reading this will be itching to tell you that you must leave blah blah hundreds of pounds for tooling. however you only need one collet and one slot drill to start. You can always get more tooling later but you can't add on a bigger table etc so put 99% of the budget into the main body of the machine.

                  #153881
                  Redpiperbob
                  Participant
                    @redpiperbob16487

                    Hi Steven

                    I have sent you a PM

                    Bob Sims

                    #153885
                    Phil P
                    Participant
                      @philp

                      There is a BCA mk3 on an internet auction site for under £700, it needs the table tee slots repairing but would be a good little machine and has some collets with it as well.

                      I use its predecessor, the Boley & Leinen jig borer, it is a superb little machine, but I do have an Alexander Toolmaker as well for the bigger jobs.

                      Phil

                      #153905
                      Michael Gilligan
                      Participant
                        @michaelgilligan61133
                        Posted by Phil P on 30/05/2014 08:32:31:

                        … it needs the table tee slots repairing …

                        .

                        It's worth looking at that one just to see how much damage it is possible to inflict upon tee slots.

                        crying

                        There has been discussion on another recent thread, about clamping techniques …

                        MichaelG.

                        #153943
                        colin hawes
                        Participant
                          @colinhawes85982

                          A vertical mill should have a dovetail column, not a round one, for best results. Colin

                          #153944
                          JasonB
                          Moderator
                            @jasonb

                            That VMB in this sites classifieds would fit the bill.

                            J

                            #153974
                            Steven Buckley
                            Participant
                              @stevenbuckley72610

                              Thanks for the replies. A few things to think about – any opinion on the Warco range? WM18 or even the WM14?

                              #153978
                              Bob Brown 1
                              Participant
                                @bobbrown1

                                Or there is always the Warco GH models, if it was me I would opt for the biggest machine I could as it reduces the B U double G rrrrrrr it doesn't fit. Small jobs on big machines can be a small challenge but not as bad as big jobs on a small machine. It really depends on Budget.

                                If you have the room on the floor there is always this one on Flea bay **LINK**

                                Bob

                                #153980
                                Rik Shaw
                                Participant
                                  @rikshaw

                                  Steven – Don't forget the WM-16. This is the one I have. I would have gone for the WM-18 but it would not fit in my matchbox sized workshop. I have had it since last summer and although its cheap and cheerful it has generally been OK. If pushed hard the motor runs very hot, you will know by the smell of burning – that's the time to stop and give it a rest. This applies to my Warco bandsaw as well. Its an inconvenience but I'm not in a hurry these days.

                                  I'd recommend having DRO's fitted if your pocket will stand the strain – makes life easier for those jig boring type jobs.

                                  Rik

                                  #153986
                                  mechman48
                                  Participant
                                    @mechman48

                                    Steve

                                    Like Rik I have the WM- 16, would have also liked to have gotten the WM18 but size (workshop would 'just' have taken it) & the few extra quid needed prevented me getting that model. So far it does all I ask of it, the gearing is a bit noisy but what Chinese mill / lathe gearing isn't? it can be quietened down with a bit of judicial tweaking ( or belt drive conversion) so unless I'm silly & put some stupid doc's on it I don't intend fiddling with it .. 'if it aint broke.. don't fix it' is my mantra.

                                    I have fitted X & Y axes DRO's on it (look in my album pics for fitting), well worth the money doing it if you can,certainly takes away the discrepancy of backlash.

                                    George.

                                    #160648
                                    Neil Bradshaw
                                    Participant
                                      @neilbradshaw24930

                                      Hi everybody.

                                      Can I go back to the begining on this thread and ask some advice

                                      Im wanting to replace my worn out bench drill with a bench milling machine eventually adding DRo and maybe

                                      a power cross feed Im not sure about CNC.

                                      Ive looked online at the adds and it boils down to 4 machines

                                      Sieg Super X2 Plus £595.00

                                      Seig Super X3 plus £1400.00

                                      Chester Machine Company

                                      conquest mill super £547.00

                                      Champion mill 16v £620.00

                                      Champion Mill 20v £836.00

                                      I realy like the sieg SX3 but the price is bit off putting I might be able to stretch that far.

                                      Im just not sure about the chester machines I cant find anything on those.

                                      The reason for using the mill as a drilling machine is that I have visulaproblems with my right eye and using a dro one I find the edges which I can do easily its just a matter of moving the table to get to where I want to drill or mill

                                      I dont have a massive amount of room in the garage so a realy big secondhand machine is out of the question

                                      Any suggestion would be gratefuly received.

                                      Cheers

                                      Neil

                                      #160664
                                      magpie
                                      Participant
                                        @magpie

                                        Hi Neil, I have had a Champion 20V for about 3 years and no problems whatsoever.

                                        #160669
                                        Niloch
                                        Participant
                                          @niloch

                                          The Centec 2B has become increasingly sought after with correspondingly higher prices in the few years that I've had mine; lathes.co.uk explains why.

                                          #160682
                                          Another JohnS
                                          Participant
                                            @anotherjohns

                                            Neil;

                                            You have asked a good question.

                                            1) I have a Centec 2B, nice machine. But:

                                            2) Recently sold my pillar drill (drill press) and am in the midst of converting a new mill to CNC.

                                            Look for G0704, mine is a King Canada KC20-VS.

                                            The (very good) research machine shop at work does not have any manual mills (think they got rid of their last one recently) as anything they want, they just do via conversational programming on a CNC, or run a CNC program.

                                            I've been doing more and more CNC; I think it really is the way to go.

                                            I don't know if I'll be missing my pillar drill, but I doubt it – but we'll see how the KC20VS works as an everyday machine.

                                            I do have some stuff on my blog – **LINK** which may be of interest.

                                            Is the construction of the KC20VS as good as the Centec? Nope. Is it OK? Most likely.

                                            JohnS.

                                            #160683
                                            Another JohnS
                                            Participant
                                              @anotherjohns

                                              Neil – reading Magpie's reply and googling – I think the Champion 20V is the same mill as I have; it is name-badged by many sellers.

                                              Some have smaller tables, like the "BusyBee" CX600, I went with the longer table.

                                              The CNC "kit" is going fine, with some issues, but no show-stoppers. Just have to get my angle-grinder back from a friend so that I can do some clearance work on the underside of the table… (this will be my 3rd CNC machine, btw)

                                              JohnS.

                                              #160745
                                              Redpiperbob
                                              Participant
                                                @redpiperbob16487

                                                Hi Steven

                                                I have just bought a SP2217 from these people http://www.spgtools.com/ Their service is excellent and so is the machine I am just starting to convert it to a CNC machine and auto tool changing with Tormach tool holders.

                                                Bob

                                                #161034
                                                Neil Bradshaw
                                                Participant
                                                  @neilbradshaw24930

                                                  Hi everybody.

                                                  Thanks for all the replies and information supplied.

                                                  I'm now looking at he the machines from SPG tools as there machines are R8 instead of MT2.

                                                  From what I've read R8 has a larger range of tools than MT2

                                                  Cheers

                                                  Neil

                                                  http//www.southshields-weather.co.uk

                                                  #161038
                                                  Neil Wyatt
                                                  Moderator
                                                    @neilwyatt

                                                    Hi Neil,

                                                    I think you'll found most of the machines you listed are the larger MT3 not MT2. Things like chucks etc. are pretty much equally available for either MT3 or R8. R8 is quicker to change over, but costs more.

                                                    The X3 comes with teh choice of R8 or MT3 from most suppliers.

                                                    Neil

                                                    #161063
                                                    Neil Bradshaw
                                                    Participant
                                                      @neilbradshaw24930

                                                      Hi Neil Thanks for the reply

                                                      That was going to ber my next question

                                                      MT2/MT3 or R8

                                                      My myford is MT2 so I could use some of the colets etc on my lathe

                                                      Im just looking at what is the least amount of money I can spend and what machine to go for.

                                                      On that side I think it will be either SPG or Chester to look at for machines.

                                                      Arc Euro only have the SX2

                                                      I want to finally compare the machines then decide from there.

                                                      Thanks everybody for the help

                                                      Cheers

                                                      Neil

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