Buying a used mill

[JOE65]

I see in the local paper there is a used mill for sale, What should a person look for when considering a used machine? If it was a car you would of course kick the tires, but what about a mill?

I will bring a dial indicator and check play in the spindle, How much is to much?

What else should I check?

Thanks

By the way it is a "rugi" model FM-VO-R

Has anyone got ifno on this type of mill, spindle taper, etc?

[Konrad]

The first thing you would do is, start it up and see if all the function are working, like all the feeds in all direction, if it has rapid feed, then check it out, that will tell you how it sounds and if the gears are fine in the gearbox, same goes with Spindle speeds, go in a high RPM and hear
what she sounds like.

Next, all the table screw play, [backlash]
If the crank will turn a half turn, without the table moving, there is allot of wear on nut and possible on the screw.
Note: to check the up and down movement. you must clamp it first, because the weight will always push it on the bottom side of the nut and it would be impossible to check.

Next...put a dial indicator on end of the table and try to push side ways on the other side to see how much play is in the ways and Gibbs. [lengths and cross way]
Konrad