Buy a milling machine

[Ian]

Hi

I am going to upgrade me bench mounted drill press and thought it might be worthwhile looking at milling machines, I have £1000 so any pointers on what to look for would help.

I think to have the option of milling metal and to help making jigs would be a real bonus.

cheers

Ian

 

[DaveL]

Ian,

You need to talk to Philly, he has just bought a new one.

Have a look at his blog, a few posts down, about The Beast.

 

[Philly]

Ian
I've just bought a new mill - and I love it!! A fantastic piece of kit, the accuracy is impressive. And the ability to work metal (as well as wood, plastic, etc) is quite liberating.
I bought the Axminster ZX30 and am very pleased with it - just remember its a heavy piece of equipment!!
Cheers
Philly

 

[MikeG.]

Why couldn't you guys live a little closer??!! I am desperate to find someone with a milling machine and half an hour to spare!!

Mike

 

[jasonB]

I've got an X3 Clone and am very happy with it. I went for this as it has a dovetail column so the head won't move when it is raised or lowered and the variable speed is a great asset.

I use it for metal bashing like this & this

ARC usually do them at a good price, Warco & Chester also have similar machines.

Jason

 

[MikeG.]

That is just fantastic stuff Jason! .....oh, and beautifully photographed too. You must have the patience of a saint, and a great workshop. Lovely. Do you have seperate workshops for metalwork and woodwork?

Why don't you live closer, too?!

Mike

 

[Ian]

Thanks Guys

Philly that does look like a serious piece of kit, as I I'm just starting out in milling can you recommend any good reading?

Some serious metalworking there Jason, I was hoping to perhaps design and make some of my own hardware but that is way down the line.

I'll have a good look through axminsters range, I remember reading that Roberts Ingham had a Rishton Promill any thoughts on this manufacturer.

cheers Ian

 

[Philly]

Ian
I found "Milling-a complete course" by Harold Hall to be a good starter. Cheap too!
Cheers
Philly

 

[Ian]

Thanks Philly

Can get one from amazon for £2.16.

Cheers Ian

 

[jasonB]

I don't think the Rishtons are made any more, they were quite a high spec/quality. You would have to look for something like a new Webeco F1200E or a second hand "Tom Senior" for the same sort of build but that would be 2-3 times your budget.

Jason

 

[Rich]

Hi

I am going to upgrade me bench mounted drill press and thought it might be worthwhile looking at milling machines, I have £1000 so any pointers on what to look for would help.

I think to have the option of milling metal and to help making jigs would be a real bonus.

cheers

Ian

Hi Ian, try the "WARCO" site. I have recently purchased a mini lathe from them.

Regards,

Rich.

 

[Ian]

Thanks Guys

I was looking at the sieg X3 as its a bit lighter than Phillys beast.
I read that these machines come covered in storage grease and have to be stripped and cleaned before use, did you have to do that Jason?

Also what would be the best tools and accessories to get first?

Cheers

ps anyone fitted DRO

 

[jasonB]

I got mine from here it did not have much of the "chicken fat" that some suppliers versions come with. Only bit of fettleing I had to do was asjust the quill bearings to take out a bit of play, 5min job.

As to tooling its hard to say without knowing what you are going to be doing as its not like full metal work use, but at a minimum:

0-13mm keyless chuck (probably comes with keyed which will do)
4" Milling vice, vertex are OK for hobby use
Collet set & holder, for accuratly holding milling cutters
Clamping set, for holding work to the milling table

Then get the rest as & when you need it.

I'll second Warco as a supplier I recently got a mid size lathe from them.

Jason

 

[Ian]

Thanks Jason

I'll just have to have a good look at the 3 suppliers and see who offers the best deal.

Ian

 

[mailee]

How on Earth can you call that METAL BASHING! Jason. That is fantastic work. I have never even tried any milling so it is way above my head but I can appreciate the work that has gone into those. You must have the patience of a saint to build things like that. :shock:

 

[Ian]

I have looked at several models and came across one and was wondering if anyone could give me some advice on it

http://catalogs.shoplocal.com/jlindustr ... umber=1308

its the one at the bottom of the page.

The price seems good which allows money for tooling.
cheers Ian

 

[tnimble]

That is the milling machine I've on 'the list', its apears s very good machine, quie some people have it (and converted it to CNC)

I already van a lathe from the same manufacturer and find i quite excelent for a mini lathe. (can't quite compete with the 20k+ lathes I was used to)

 

[PaulO]

Ian
I found "Milling-a complete course" by Harold Hall to be a good starter.
Philly

Seconded, his lathe book is also quite good.

WRT preparting an X3, Arc Euro Trade offer a service where they do it for you. The say it is essential, as there are bits of sand and grime left in the moving parts from manufacture that will cause premature wear. You can download a PDF of how they prepare them here:

http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalogue/Machines-Accessories/Milling-Machines/Model-X3-Small-Mill

Direct link to the guide here:
http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/projects/prepguides/X3 Mill Preparation Guide.pdf

HTH

 

[tnimble]

WRT preparting an X3, Arc Euro Trade offer a service where they do it for you. The say it is essential, as there are bits of sand and grime left in the moving parts from manufacture that will cause premature wear. You can download a PDF of how they prepare them here:

That X3 is sold under many different names (here that machine is sold under the brand name of "Black and Red") Alot of cheaper machines seem to all come from the same chiwanese manufacturer and branded by the various importers / resellers. They appear to be manufactured with less tolerances and coarser finished and with cheap bearings that tend to runout more soon (but can be cheaply replaced) and have no automatic lubricators as where the original machine have them.

For any new machine I would sugest disassembling as many moving parts as your comfortable with to clean out any residual protective, remove any dust and and other stuff that has settled in the bearing brease and polish the gibs and deburr the ways and gibs.

 

[frugal]

I am going to ask a stupid question: Apart from being more accurate and having less play in the parts, what is the difference between a milling machine and a pillar drill?

From the photos of the Axminster machine, it looks just like a pillar drill with an adjustable table.