Milling Machine?

[robrex]

OK, I've been given the OK from my wife to go out and buy a milling machine...
Question is, aside from the basic milling machine, what other specific tools do I need?
I only use it for modeling.
Thanks

[Bigncrazy]

well do u want a manual or computerized

[parttogo]

You might want to do a google search on tools available, you will soon find out the milling machine is the cheap part..

[parttogo]

Also try Ebay, Lots Of good deals on cutting tools there.

[dingmyride]

Hi Robrex,

I'm in the same position as you right now, sbout to buy a mill in the next 3 or 4 weeks! Gonna be good.

What do you mainly want to amchine with it? Alloy, plastic, steel etc. Also depends what type of chuck / taper it has (MT3, MT2, R8 etc).

What machine have you got in mind, post a pic.

Colin

[p9o1r1sche]

I have milling bits in various sizes, collets to hold them (you can use a drill chuck, but its not as accurate), a good milling vise ( I have a screw-less vise), and a set of parallels. Also, I have a rotary table. Its expensive, but a must have for milling on round parts. Naturally, some measuring devices are needed. Also, an edge finder may come in handy. They're not expensive.

You might look a mini-mill.com for more info.

[jbain]

First thing to get before the MILL is a few good books on the subject, once you have them READ THEM. It will save you a lot of grief, if you got an idea of what you want and then how it will happen when you start to make bits.

FORWARNED IS FORARMED

If you do it this way, you should minimise any major stuff ups and crashes, which can prove to be rather costly.

The size of the mill you get will depend on wether you want to do small tiny parts, or things of the 9 inches by 9 inches size range.
Remember a small mill will only do small bits, a larger mill will do larger bits AS WELL AS THE SMALLER BITS.
Don't go to small and cheap, or you will regret it down the track, as you shell out again for a bigger mill.

[bobss396]

I went out and bought a full size Bridgeport mill with a 2HP varidrive head, digital readout, power feed, the works. Cost me $3200 in 1988 and I have made tons of money with it.

I use it now for making model car parts mostly. You'd be better off looking for a Sherline or Enco milling machine. Check out Micro Mark, thay have lots of cool machine tools.

Bob

[jbain]

Originally Posted by bobss396

You'd be better off looking for a Sherline or Enco milling machine. Check out Micro Mark, thay have lots of cool machine tools.

Bob

Be carefull of buying a Sherline as the work envelope is TINY, compared to a mini-mill from Hare & Forbes. Remember that Sherline is made from ALUMINIUM and they do get the shakes when your milling, not very nice if your half way into doing something.

Enco and Micro-Mark are American sellers, a bit hard to get the bigger bits over here to Australia, freight would be an absolute killer.

Best to go have a look at what Scary Forbes has on the showroom floor, check out the Mini-mill and the X 3 mill, they even have a Micro-mill there too.

[sc351cobra]

Rob
Take a look at Taig http://www.taigtools.com/
The cnczone.com has some info on them in the
bench top mill forum search under taig.They also
talk about harbor freight mills.
Lonnie

[jbain]

Originally Posted by sc351cobra

Rob
Take a look at Taig http://www.taigtools.com/
The cnczone.com has some info on them in the
bench top mill forum search under taig.They also
talk about harbor freight mills.
Lonnie

Before you go and part with the cash, have a real good look at the SEIG MINI-MILL, These can be viewed from this site, they are hidden with-in the Red & Black Series.

http://www.siegind.com/

These can be bought ALL OVER the WORLD, but under DIFFERENT badges/brand names, check out ANY mini-mill and it will be made by this SAME company from China, the ONLY DIFFERENCE between these different brands, is the COLOUR that they are painted, NO OTHER DIFFERENCE AT ALL. They ALL USE THE EXACT SAME SPARE PARTS MANUAL.

These mini-mills are more bang for your buck that Sherline, Taig, Unimat or any other small mill you care to name, better size work envelope and a bloody site cheaper than any of the other brands mentioned.

So, IF YOU want to part out with heaps of cash and have a bloody tiny little toy, or go and get something of REAL value, as these mini-mills can be used in genuine anger. These mini-mills are available with R8 or MT3 taper inside the spindle, choice is yours to make, this tooling is readily available, as it is used widely in industry everyday.

Same as the lathes, have a look at what is offered by SIEG, these are just badge engineered by Harbour Fright, Grizzly, Micro-mark and ALL the others. BUY either the lathe or Mill ON PRICE ALONE and what you save on the capitol outlay, put it aside to buy any tooling that you want to get for these machines.

[Hiroboy]

So then Rob what did you get (photos)???

[mike@af]

Originally Posted by jbain

Sherline is made from ALUMINIUM and they do get the shakes when your milling, not very nice if your half way into doing something.

PLEASE stop providing misinformation.

[D. Ted]

Make sure and also get a good digital readout (DRO) for that milling machine. I struggled with my mill for nearly five years before I finally purchased one. You can find quite a few resellers on eBay. After a lot of research I went with an Easson unit from DRO PROS. Good customer service, they seemed to know their product very well, and best of all it was only $599 complete. I think they're at: http://www.dropros.com

[prortiz80]

I was thinking of buying one too. but cant decide if i want a lath or a mill. i mostly want it for. making pulleys, vaule covers, rims, tunner mufflers and small detail parts for my models. Any idea guys.