vertical mill questions

[workinforwood]

As always...looking at options. There is this, same company as my lathe, has a dovetail column and runs on single phase which to me is a major bonus.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gear-Head-Vertical-Mill-Drill-Milling-Machine-36-X-33-/380254011345?pt=BI_Mills

There is this machine, not a dovetail column, but it is less than 150 miles from 48827 , it is used, only 300 lbs and looks like it has a motorized cross slide table, and don't know if the first machine has that. This machine is unfortunately a 3 phase and it seems overpriced, as I have to bring in a converter or something like that, and there are way bigger machines in my zip code 150-200 mile range that are cheaper, but also bigger means way more shop space and I don't want a 20,000 lb machine. Seems unlikely...but actually for a couple grand there are some 20,000 lb machines available in my area.

Check this out please. http://cgi.ebay.com/ECONOM-ip-380-1...E-AUSTRIA-/330457934668?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0

I can't find any info on this machine.

 

[hewunch]

Jeff, it looks like the slide is hand cranked.

 

[bitshird]

Jeff I'd go with the Bolton, Emco Meyer makes some very good light to medium duty equipment, but I think I'd rather have the 2 HP motor and the Dovetail column,on the Bolton.
Round columns are notorious form getting knocked out of position, besides the Bolton uses an R-8 spindle which is much easier to find tooling for.

 

[gr8danish]

Both points are valid.... I use a Jet JMD-18. It has a cylindrical column, so everytime I change the height of the head (which isn't all that often) I have to re-center the machine. I have since made a small jig to aide in this process, but none-the-less it is one more step that must be done prior to making more sawdust.

R-8 FTW!!! R-8 collets and tooling are a dime a dozen. Easy to find cheap old Bridgeport tooling on eBay or Craigslist that still hold true to .0005 TIR.

 

[workinforwood]

yea...ok, that was always my concern with cylindrical columns. The Bolton machine looks like just a slightly better model than the HF machines. I'm sure over time I can buy a motor to run the slide if I even find that to be necessary at all. There are so many options out there it's ridiculous.

 

[BRobbins629]

You are very sleepy. Think availability to CNC conversion and availability of rotary axis. Could be your next purchase.

 

[Paul in OKC]

Have a look at Grizzly. Looks about the same as the first one. I had a round column mill for a while, and did not have much trouble at all with it. For light duty things it worked very well, and did more than I thought it would.