what’s the best mini mill

[I.M. OUTAHEREParticipant @i-m-outahere]

Hi,

You could possibly use one of those scissor lift type lifting tables to move your mill- you may be able to modify it to use it for the bench to put your mill on permanently ?
Either way if you have to put the mill onto a dedicated bench it is just a matter of un bolting it then slide it onto the lift trolley then wheel it away to the van.
You can lower the trolley for better stability then when you get to the van match the height of the floor and slide the mill into the van .

From memory Dave Fenner made one a few years back in MEW.

Ian

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Its easy enough to separate the column/head from the base/table on the X3 which makes the parts a more comfortable lift for two. Thats how I did mine with my near 80yr old dad so if Becky can find a couple of fit squaddies she won't have a problem.

J

[rebekah andersonParticipant @rebekahanderson95322]

Sounds like some great ideas.

[Gray62Participant @gray62]

Posted by Stub Mandrel on 08/02/2014 17:56:36:

> … if I wanted a wobbly column for the special.

My 'special' could be a surface grinder, so even without the large bracing plate fitted to my X2 it would probably be rigid enough. However, I was thinking of lying the column on its back as the base of a new machine.

Neil

Something Like this then Neil?

Still in development, bolts on as an accessory to my Studer cylindrical grinder. I intend to fill the column with epoxy concrete if it is not rigid enough. This utilises the column and head off a Mitsubishi badged X2 clone. Replaced the MT3 spindle with a longer shaft with a special fitting to utilise the same wheel mounting as the original Studer grinding head for the smaller wheels.

[magpieParticipant @magpie]

JOHN, I think half the members here are a bit "loco". They have clubs you know.

Cheers Derek.

Edited By magpie on 09/02/2014 15:43:22

[IanTParticipant @iant]

Yup – and 17 pairs of bi-focals too apparently!

(although I can assure you John I still have only 16!)

IanT

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

> Something Like this then Neil?

Probably a bit ore modest than that

Before the new column appeared, I was thinking of making a grinding head with an MT3 taper on it that dangled below the spindle (locked) on the X2.

You will have a pm soon.

Neil

[Steve WithnellParticipant @stevewithnell34426]

What's the best mini-mill? Hmmm, One that reads your mind and gets all the holes and cuts in exactly the right place. Mine doesn't, so it's clearly not very good! No matter how hard I think, the mill will insist on putting the holes in the wrong place.  It has got better over the years though

Edited By Steve Withnell on 09/02/2014 22:30:30

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

> What's the best mini-mill?

The self-cleaning one.

Neil

[Russ BParticipant @russb]

Posted by rebekah anderson on 08/02/2014 17:07:17:

I've got one and I've not got issue with the columb. Just the whole set up.

I would love to have a bridge port or similar but don't have a permanent place to use it.

I just want to know what mini mill such as the X3 is good?

If I could afford an SX3, or an X3, I'd buy one tomorrow, they're not as heavy duty as my RF-25 type machine, but have better CNC capabilities which is more my thing.

FYI my RF-25 is about 200-250kg and me and dad who'd struggle to lift 100kg between us managed it fine and quickly with a good 1" thick piece of ply, 4" fence posts and 4 1" round bars – off its stand, down in to a car boot, up out of the boot and on to its stand at the other end, slipped the ply out from under the machine, bolted her down, ply back under the whole thing and off we rolled again, in to position – so I'd say with a method like that and some more muscle on the job and maybe a mini van or trailer, a 300kg machine should be fairly portable (so maybe something like a Chester Lux or a Warco GH Universal or similar)

[I.M. OUTAHEREParticipant @i-m-outahere]

Hi All,

My Mill is the same as the Chester lux and I wouldn't want to have to carry it ! Not in 1 piece anyhow.

The machine can easily be broken down into 3 main components ( Head,column and base – table ) that could be moved easily by 2 people the re-assembled at the new site .

4 bolts for the column to base and 3 nuts for the column to head joint .

Ian

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

A slightly different perspective on moving things.
I find each time I move something (lathes, mills and big rocks) I learn a little more and now have no qualms about moving a ton of mill on my own, albeit slowly. I believe this is why/how stoneage men were abe to make stonehenge.
So you could try moving a lump like a car engine around a bit and see what you learn and how pulling, pushing, and levering become instinctive with experience.

[Author]

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