Mini mill purchase suggestions

[osdhillon]

Hi,

i am looking into buying a mini mill and a lathe (Bench Top). I will be converting it into a CNC machine later. I need help in determining which one to buy. For lathe what is the most optimum size, i.e. given it is bench top, what is the most common and tested size of lathe which works well without any problems. some lathes do specify for longer workpiece, but are not that strudy.

Please pass on your valuable suggestions and experiences.
Thanks

Onkar

[Torsten]

A often asked question that always gets a smile from me.
A china mni mill and mini lathe costs less then $1000.- and
that is what you get.
With some tender loving care, some modifications and some time
invested they will work pretty good for most hobby people.
The next step up in quality made by some western countrys
will cost in exess of about $30,000.- and are the better choice
in workmanship, materials and longvinity.
For a industrial application that will run the machines 24/7 the
decision is easy.
What is it you want those machines for?
Possible part size?
You can allways make a smaller part on a larger machine.
The other way around don't work so good.
Good Luck

[Halfnutz]

I have done ALOT of research, here is my two cents:

The Sherline or Taig if you want to do REALLY LITTLE stuff. Cost less than 600.00

If you are really strapped, the Homier 12 spd. mini is a great deal at 299.00, but this style mill is not very accurate and may not be a good choice for a cnc conversion, because the money invested may ultimately end up wasted. If you want a manual mill just to fool around with it is the best bargain.

Next step up is the Rong Fu/Enco/Grizzly1006/7/HF33686 4.5 in collum style mill at around 1000.00. They need alot of work in accuracy and stability but once retrofitted are nice performing machines.

Next step up and probably best choice if you can afford it is the square collum Lathemaster mill at around 1400.00 Grizzly also has a nice version of this mill as well as Enco.

As far as lathes the Sherline for little , accurate stuff. The 7x10 can be had for under 400.00 if you look around. The 9x20 is next choice at 700.00-900.00, then you jump up into really big machines that I cant help you with.

Sherline is great stuff but SMALL. All the rest is Chinese and SLOPPY unless you got BIG MONEY. Just keep poking around here and on the other sites and start saving some money, then decide how much you can afford to spend and that will determine what you buy because you definately get what you pay for. If you can afford it get a German round way lathe at around 3500.00, there fantastic machines for the money.

Good luck & go BUY SOMETHING to get started. you wont regret it, metalworking and machining is a lot of fun and very challenging.

[osdhillon]

Halfnutz

Thanks for your valuable input. What do you think about the following:

Milling: Bench Mill from PRO-CUT (Acu Cut) 8"X28" bed. It is a milling and drilling( 1.5: capacity)machine and DRO can be bought with it. The price is $ 1488.00 Without DRO and Base.

Lathe: Lathemaster 9X20" or Jet USA 9X20" . This is the size I am looking for. I am looking for accuracy and will be converting both machines into CNC.

Your help in finding a right machine is appreciated.

thanks
Onkar

[sundy58]

I haven't been able to find the mill you are talking about. I use a Rong Fu 40. Round column 2 axis DRO from Enco for about 3500. Wish I had the RF 45 with the square column. I'm planing on ball screws (not CNC) to make getting to .0005 easier. Other than not enough Z been very happy.

[osdhillon]

Production tool supply .
Check this link http://web.thetools-store.com/monthly_flyers/ms_52.pdf
This mill is about $ 2945 regular with DRO and base. It is currently on sale for $1900 with DRO and base. Without base and DRO regular price is $1488, and is on sale now for $899.00. It is a round column type . I had a chance to look at it in the store. Looks a fine machine, it had ACU-RITE DRO on it. Have a look and please let me know yor opinion about it. I am looking to a buy a reasonably good Mill and lathe for my home.

Thanks

[JFettig]

Sundy, by upgrading to ballscrews, you will have major problems with stuff moving on its own. you would have to lock axes constantly and might be a pain.

I have the mini mill from homier, I wish I had a sq column mill like the RF45, or the industrialhobbies mill.

Jon

[sundy58]

Jon,
I thought the ballscrews would get rid of the .0005 to .0015 jump I get when I tighten down the axises? When I try for .0005 it can take a couple of minutes of locking down and adjusting to get the reading I want. I was looking for what ballscrews to buy when I came across this and I don't want to hijack the thread.
But since it's not coming out of my pocket I would be willing to pay for a bolt in solution. (non CNC)

[Halfnutz]

Ballscrews are ideal for a cnc retrofit because of two reasons. They are accurate (ie backlash adjustable down to zero) and they are extremly efficient (ie NO FRICTION). Since a cnc upgrade normally has some mechanism built into the system (ie holding power or braking power in the servos or steppers) to hold the table where positioned ballscrews are great. If you are only interested in accuracy a good ACME screw upgrade will give you improved resolution, but I dont know how much exactly. (the screw mfg. will have specs.) With ballscrews and no brakes everything might shake out of position too easily.
As far as the Acu-Cut mill, it looks like a Jet or a Rong Fu, at Those prices it is a good deal. I have one from Harbor, the same thing, and I love it. It is very powerfull and after I went through it and tightened it up it cuts very well. A lot of people say not to buy the round collum, I geuss if you have the extra money it makes sense, but if you cant afford the 1500.00 price tag what choice do you have? If you want to cut metal for less than 1000.00 its the only thing out there in a reasonable size, big enough for full size tooling that is.

[JRouche]

Originally Posted by osdhillon This mill is about $ 2945 regular with DRO and base. It is currently on sale for $1900 with DRO and base. Thanks

Hi, if you are gonna convert it to CNC don't get the DRO, you wont need it.

Now, if you do have $1900.00 to spend for the mill I would consider one of the dovetail column mills that are based on the Rong-Fu 45 design. You can get one for around 1400 to 1700 dollars.

If you are gonna convert it don't worry about getting the "top of the line", brand named, Rong-Fu. The stuff that might make it nicer than the others is going to be removed and replaced with CNC stuff anyway. You are interested in the castings not the bolt on stuff.

I bought an Enco when they were on sale and had free shipping. I bought a CNC conversion kit from Industrial hobbies and am converting it now. I will document the conversion on my web page with pictures and documentation (to be announced).

JRouche

[Torsten]

The Mill/Drill is a RF21 type same as sold be Enco,HF,Jet and all the others.
I am converting one right now, a good machine that has been around for
a few generations a solid machine with a wide range of applications
For CNC in mind you don't want any of the extras on there like DRO,Powerfeed or
Quilldrive that is sometimes offered.
Just get the barebone basic model.
I believe the Lathemaster 9x20 would make a good candidate for CNC the
difference of the larger 5." Chuck is wellcome.
I own one of the other USA 9x20 that seam more common around here, they
only come with the 4". Chuck and a quickchange gearbox wich is just stuff
that needs to be taken of when converting to cnc.
It is good to have for a manual machine however.
Remember when budgeting for you machines that you will likely need to buy
additional tooling before you will be able to really use them.
Plan on spending at least another $1000.- for this over the first few month,
buy what you need when you need it not what you may be wanting just in case,
is the moto I use and it served me well.
Good Luck

[osdhillon]

Jrouche

The mill by PRO CUT (Production Tool Supply) Is for sale for $ 899 (Without DRO and base). It is a round column one. The square column one is atleast for $1400 as you have said. What are the major drawbacks of the Round column. I am definately converting it into CNC . Is there something I should be aware of?

Torsten
Lathemaster 9X20 seems to be a good machine (It is not is stock). What do you think of Jet USA 9X20"

Regards
Onkar