Milling Machine ???

[Harold]

Hello,

I am now looking for a bench top mill. Can anyone help point me in the right direction. What to look for and what to stay away from. I can go use the monster mills if I need too but I want a mill here. I don't know what all I will be making with it.

Steve do you use your full size mill for the smallest jobs?

Here is the one I am looking at.
http://www.lathemaster.com/HEAVYDUTYMILLINGMACHINE%207045FG.htm

I did order this lathe yesterday. http://www.lathemaster.com/LATHEMASTER8x14Lathe.htm

[Steve Lindsay]

Hi Harold,
The one you ordered looks like it should be a nice size. The R8 spindle is good!
http://www.lathemaster.com/HEAVYDUTYMILLINGMACHINE%207045FG.htm

I just tried a google search and found these bench top machines
http://www.americanmachinetools.com/benchtop_milling.htm

For all around ease of use a regular sized Bridgeport type machine works
well for large or small projects. For the price of a new benchtop mill you might be able to find a used full
sized Bridgeport sized machine in good shape.
http://business.listings.ebay.com/Metalworking-Equipment_Mills_W0QQfclZ3QQfromZR11QQsacatZ12584QQ socmdZListingItemList

Might also consider an older machine.
Deckel FP1 Universal mills are very good. A friend restored one that I
purchased and then I retrofitted it with 4 axis cnc. I have another FP1
that I'm restoring that I'll leave as a manual mill. These mills were
available with all kinds of attachments.
http://www.lathes.co.uk/deckel/
http://www.lathes.co.uk/deckel/page4.html
http://www.lathes.co.uk/deckel/page6.html
http://www.lathes.co.uk/deckel/page8.html
http://www.lathes.co.uk/deckel/page9.html
http://www.lathes.co.uk/deckel/page3.html

Hardinge used to make mills and they are top of the line.
http://www.lathes.co.uk/cataract%20miller/page4.html
http://www.lathes.co.uk/cataract%20miller/page3.html

Hardinge and Deckel mills show up on ebay. Because of their age you should
probably count on having to take the machine apart and cleaning it up. This can
be a large project in itself. Once you have it going again it should last a life
time... plus some. Some I see on ebay look like they have only been repainted to
look good for the sale. This one on ebay looks like it was done right though.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Hardinge-Mill-Milling-TM-UM-Horizontal_W0QQitemZ220009242107QQihZ012QQcategory Z92150QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

These old hardinge mills were available with a vertical head too...
http://www.lathes.co.uk/cataract%20miller/page3.html

If you plan on only making small parts you might consider a desktop
cnc mill. www.maxnc.com (http://www.maxnc.com) The parts for this knife I made using a Maxnc mill.
But the fixtures used to hold the parts on the maxnc were made on a
regular sized mill.
http://www.lindsayengraving.com/lindsay/Lindsay001.html


http://www.lindsayengraving.com/lindsay/photos/lindsay_apart_copy.jpg

[Harold]

Thank you for that info Steve. I will start reading it all now. The lathe is what I ordered. I need to research a milling machine a little more. I like the lathe-master mill but you are right. I can get a full size for the same cash it is just so much mass and weight.

[Steve Lindsay]

Harold, Here is a large list of bench top mills.
http://www.desktopcnc.com/mill_table.htm
Steve

[Steve Lindsay]

Harold, Hope it is ok but I moved this thread over to the water cooler. Keep us posted how you like the lathe when it arrives and what you end up doing for the mill. Take pictures..

Hope you find a good mill! There are a lot to chose from.
Steve

[John Barraclough]

Steve.
Congratulations on the beautiful knife you shared with us as a part of this thread. Wow!
What a masterpiece of design it is!
And the finished product "ain't too shabby."
Thanks for showing it.
John.

[Steve Lindsay]

Hi John, Thank you! :seeya:

[Harold]

Can CNC be added to most all of the full size mills ?

[Harold]

Late last night in my sleep a higher being came to me and said "YES". Yes CNC can go on any mill. I thanked the being and pass the info on. Tonight I may get the plans for a anti gravity device !!

[Steve Lindsay]

Late last night in my sleep a higher being came to me and said "YES". Yes CNC can go on any mill. I thanked the being and pass the info on. Tonight I may get the plans for a anti gravity device !!

Sounds like you had a good night last night. :lol:
Yes, with the right amount of money any manual mill can be made into cnc.

Keep us posted on the anti gravity device.. :lol:

[Harold]

My mini lathe showed up yesterday and I spent the day cleaning and getting to know the unit. I have the master machine shop that makes a lot of my stuff helping me out with setup and 60 years experience. I can't seem to take in the knowledge at the speed they dish it out. I will post some pictures when it is all done. I am very happy with this unit sofar but I have never used a lathe =P. The guys at the shop are going to let me play on one of there lathe's today so I don't bust my little one.