Mini Mill Advice and info help

[Helstrom]

Hello Guys,

I have been lurking around the boards for a few months now and Have
decided on buying a mini mill for my home workshop.

Anyhow, I just wanted a little input on my choice of mill. I live in Ottawa, Canada and we certainly do not have the same level of accessibility to the many lovely mill drills as you can get in the states but a local company BusyBee Tools just came out with a new mini mill that seems to fit the bill.

http://busybeetools.ca/cgi-bin/picture10?NTITEM=CT129

I also found what appears to be the exact same mill on the WARCO UK site

http://www.warco.co.uk/productimages/documents/P53.pdf

They seem to have a little more info on it. I was wondering if anyone has used this specific mill and if so what their experience was?

My main use is for machining aluminum parts, and I would like to eventually do a CNC conversion on it. I know I could get a bigger machine for close to the same price but I am limited to getting something relatively light since it has to go down in my basement, if I had a garage I would have gone for a free standing unit .

I took a machine shop course back in 83 where I learned to use a Milling machine and metal lathe but it's been 25 years (oh how time goes..sigh) and I have lost most of my machine skills, I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions on quality instructional material and books for the beginning machinist?

There is also a quick question, when a mill states that it's "End mill capacity is 5/8" does that mean that 5/8" cutting dia is the largest size that the motor can handle or does it refer only to the maximum tool shank diameter? I ask because for certain design work I will need to use a 7/8" dia endmill and ball endmill. I'm sure there must be some reduced shank type endmills that will work with shallow cuts and lubrication on 6061 aluminum.

THanks for all your help in advance!

Frank

[Oldmanandhistoy]

Just to get you started

My BF-200 is hear! Quality alternative to X2 or X3 Mill.

[ataxy]

i have exactly the same mill but branded under the name elite from garant in levis quebec i must say that i am more then happy with it the only con that i think it as is the fact that its a mt2 taper wich is not as common as the regular r8 taper but the overall built of this mill is really good it offers excellent regidity and performance and with the option of been able to get a longer table it is more then a good candidate to be converted to cnc

here is the site of the company that makes them in china
http://www.weiss.com.cn/products/wmd20v.php

Originally Posted by Helstrom There is also a quick question, when a mill states that it's "End mill capacity is 5/8" does that mean that 5/8" cutting dia is the largest size that the motor can handle or does it refer only to the maximum tool shank diameter? I ask because for certain design work I will need to use a 7/8" dia endmill and ball endmill. I'm sure there must be some reduced shank type endmills that will work with shallow cuts and lubrication on 6061 aluminum.

the motor can handle more i order this holder wich is er-32
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ER32-MT2-M10-COLL...QQcmdZViewItem

as for the morse taper i have ordered some collet true ebay for pretty cheap and the are well made for the type of performance and precision you can expect from such a machine
here is wherei bought mine
http://stores.ebay.ca/CTC-Tools

edit: i have check with busybee the one they sell does not seem to come with any equipment so you will have to buy accessorie seperatly
here is the one i bought
http://www.garantmachinerie.com/Indu...erie%20WSM.pdf

[Helstrom]

Originally Posted by Oldmanandhistoy Just to get you started My BF-200 is hear! Quality alternative to X2 or X3 Mill.

Thanks Oldmanandhistoy,

Your mill looks to be the same design as the one I'm looking at, just a couple of minor cosmetic diffs and speed display. I'm glad to hear that you find it
to be a great piece of equipment!

Thanks for the links!


Frank

[Helstrom]

Thanks for all your info ataxy!
Always a pleasure to hear from fellow Canadians. Merci beaucoup mon ami pour toutes les informations (sorry my written french is a little rusty).

Based on all the positive feedback on this style of Mill just helps reinforce my confidence in my purchase. Now if only CSA will approve it and then BusyBee can get them to the store.

When you received your mill was it shipped in a single container? What were thw boxes approx measurements, did you have it delivered or did you pick it up yourself? I'm just trying to plan out how I'm going to get it into my basement and whether I can do it myself.

Frank

[ataxy]

Originally Posted by Helstrom Thanks for all your info ataxy! Always a pleasure to hear from fellow Canadians. Merci beaucoup mon ami pour toutes les informations (sorry my written french is a little rusty).

pas de probleme sa me fait plaisir!

Originally Posted by Helstrom Based on all the positive feedback on this style of Mill just helps reinforce my confidence in my purchase. Now if only CSA will approve it and then BusyBee can get them to the store.

weird why do they to get it approved since its allready sold in canada

Originally Posted by Helstrom When you received your mill was it shipped in a single container? What were thw boxes approx measurements, did you have it delivered or did you pick it up yourself? I'm just trying to plan out how I'm going to get it into my basement and whether I can do it myself. Frank

i got mine delivered, it was two box one that wasnt to bad +/-60pounds for the base cabinet and the mill wich was poorly crated so unless busybee recrate it you will get the same flimsy crate, 1/8" plywood for the wall and 1/2" plywood for the bottom on wich the mill is screwed, i got but the mill was still in perfect shape as for bringing it down stair, i have mine down stair, it was quite a job to bring down at around 250 pounds but whe were only two

[ataxy]

Originally Posted by Helstrom Thanks Oldmanandhistoy, Your mill looks to be the same design as the one I'm looking at, just a couple of minor cosmetic diffs and speed display. I'm glad to hear that you find it to be a great piece of equipment! Thanks for the links! Frank

take note the one you see in this link is in fact the same aside from the motor wich is 200watts stronger but aside from that you are right it is basicly the same mill

[Helstrom]

When I originally went to BusyBee, they sale was already on but they did not have a floor model in the store yet.... I wanted to see it in the flesh before making my final decision. When I asked when they would get it in I was told that the machines were at their warehouse but were undergoing CSA approval before they could ship it to the stores (That was about 2 weeks ago).

The delay worked out alright since in the original sale (which ended Jan 13) it was priced at $1158.99 CAD but since they were not ready yet they included it in their following sale for $1098.99, $60.00 cheaper . When I called on monday I was told that it should arrive this week.


Frank

[ataxy]

let me know if the have stuff coming with it or if its just a plain mill

[Helstrom]

Originally Posted by ataxy let me know if the have stuff coming with it or if its just a plain mill

You got it!

[ataxy]

hey in case you are interested i received today my longer table from the L version of this mill/drill here is a photo with this table it now gives me ~17.5x-7.5y-12z by the way the base of this mill is easly modifiable to get 8.5y without sacrificing rigidity as it is now when i bring it foward to its max it sticks out of the dovetail by about 3\4

[Helstrom]

Originally Posted by ataxy hey in case you are interested i received today my longer table from the L version of this mill/drill here is a photo with this table it now gives me ~17.5x-7.5y-12z by the way the base of this mill is easly modifiable to get 8.5y without sacrificing rigidity as it is now when i bring it foward to its max it sticks out of the dovetail by about 34

Thank you ataxy,

Did you get the extended table at Garant as well? I couldn't find it on the web site.

Frank