shoptask bridgemill

[hammerd76]

help does anyone know much about these good and bad also any info on their cnc package they offer thanks

[Rainman229]

there a good investment. i have the package they offer for cnc. everything is direct bolt in and includes everything you need. i'm using the windows setup. and working with master 5 cnc program you. the system will run off a few difrent cnc programs.
i have no complants about my setup. except for that the mill head could be alittle faster.

[hammerd76]

thanks for the reply sorry took so long for return message thanks again when time allows I have a couple of more questions

[qmaxbob]

I bought the el dorado about a year ago.
plus
+ size
+ pretty accurate
minus
- The contacts within the motors weld shut req. the motor to be removed and dismantled. I've had it happen to the mill motor twice and the lathe motor once
- The key within the mill head is too tall. You have to file it off to make the collets fit.
- the adjustable vise has only a thumb-screw to hold the angle. useless
- The tool post they sell is inadequate. Buy the Enco model
- the chain drive (trust me, this is a legitimate component) is noisy. try motorcycle chain lube.
- they adv. reverse lathe work but putting it in reverse causes the belt to fly off. No way to fix it.
- the idler and other components are really noisy. Sounds like hell. Fixable but shouldn't have to.
- the one -year guarantee requires you to ship the defective part back at your cost. For a motor, that's too expensive. (Anyone out there know of an alternative? I tried Grainger but it would require a new base plate, etc.)

Would I buy it again? Yes, but only because I don't have room for a good used floor model of a mill and a lathe.

[pfarber]

If you can get a used mill and lathe go for it. Purchase price for used equipment is not bad.. shipping it is. You should easily get a good used mill and lathe for the new purchase price of a Shoptask. Will have same/better tolerance. Hauling those new toys home will be $$$.

The DRO option is good. Upgrades warranty and 3 axis DRO for $800. Most Add on DROs are $2k for 2 axis.

I've made 3 rifles and several small parts for my 42 GPW. Once I start casting then I expenct much more utility out of the Shoptask.

Would buy another one unless I had a lock on used gear locally.

[norvil1]

nothing about that machine is delivered as advertised. once john taylor has
your money, you have to straighten the problems out yourself,he really doesnt
care. the back lash on my ball screws is .008-.011. hardly a qualitly set up. if
you must a tri-power i have a brand new one that has not been used. i have all
the problems straighten out except one,i am working on reducing the backlash now. 601-584-8450 8am-4pm. after dealing with shoptask i now know why hsm isnt running there ads anymore.

[pfarber]

What did you expect with rolled ball screws? Ground ballscrews would get you to the magical zero backlash, but rolled? Come on, its common knowledge (ok, shoptask may not fess up to it) that one is OK, the other is GREAT.

If you have something that says your machine will be ZERO BACKLASH from the factory then make them fix it (thats what small claims court is for).

Otherwise cavaet emptor.

Hope I'm not bursting your bubble, but if you want a zero backlash unit you will pay in ballscrews what you paid for the entire shoptask. On the AVERAGE is a good setup. Great? Heck no. But of the 3-n-1's out there its pretty good.

I have mixed feelings on my shoptask, but all in all I've had more good experiences than bad. I am not a machinst by trade, so I have nothing to compare it to other than the parts I have made.. and all have been OK.

[norvil1]

pfarber. i was promised .003max on backlash, got .008. i now have backlash
down to .0015,by replacing the balls, should not have to overhaul new machine.
john just throws them togather,gets them out the door and lets you fighure out how to fix. as for me my dealings with shoptask are over. john taylors word means nothing and his tri-power is worth ever less.

[dahui]

I've been relatively happy with my ST, though I've had to put tons of work into it. After about a year I'm almost back to the point where I can use it again. Much of the work was self inflicted (VFD upgrade) and I still have more work to do. The fact is the machine is "pretty good" but not all that. It's for the hobby machinist, though I have seen some people get pretty professional work out of it. They must have been better at tuning that me. Regardless of all the time and money spent I have learned a great deal, which is perhaps the best value. Unfortunately I moved all the way across the country and moving the machine cost almost as much as it did to buy it.

As for customer service, JT was always very helpful in answering my questions and replacing parts that were out of spec or missing. On the other hand, I wanted to order some new bearings, sent the specs to JT to make sure they were correct, and I haven't heard back for at least a week. Yes I emailed, I could probably call and get an answer right away, but come on.

I doubt I'll ever get the mill trammed properly, simply because there is no provision to properly tram it. Something is wrong between the lathe spindle gear (inside the gearbox) and it's mate that drives the threading gears. An area is rough or high and it causes the gears to bind every two turns of the spindle...makes for a really nice finish. Also, I can rock the quill side to side about .010 but front to back it's rock solid. Tightening the quill lock doesnt seem to help. Finally I just don't think the Table has enough purchase on the ways to keep the whole thing from rocking.

[Jonathan3520]

Hi Again:

Could you post the specs and equipment, maybe photos of your VFD upgrade?

Thanks

Jonathan

[dahui]

I have that info in on my site:

www.the-alchemist.com

Here is the motor I'm using:

Baldor CM3554-5
1.5HP / 3 Phase / 1725 RPM

And the VFD:
Allen Bradley 22A-A8P0N104

cheers

[Jonathan3520]

Hello: I am not a machinist. I am a ceramic designer and saw the need for the abiliity to machine parts not only for myself but for others also. I liked the idea of a compact machine that fits just right in a small space. Of course I also was concerned with value. I don't have the time orthe inclination to keep poking around Ebay for machinery.
I bought a fully equipped Eldorado Bridge Mill with DRO, Ball Screws, and the CNC package. Over the 3 years I have had the machine, it lived in its crate before I had the time or the space to install it. After moving into Denver, I got the machine up and running. I followed th ecleaning instructions, how to make sure all the parts line up, etc etc. I received an excellend machine. Everything was tight and to spec.
I have always received promt and courteous advice, service, and replies from JT both email and phone. I have subsequently purchased tooling from both him and other vendors...McMaster Carr, MSC etc.
I like the ease of operating this machine, It works for me. But again I am not a machinst.
What I find anoying is the noise and craziness of the lathe drive system. I don't need the auto feede system so I'll disable that. I will eventually install a VFD drive system and enjoy its quiet and clean workings. Perhaps JT should look at that arrangement as future upgrade.
All in all, with enough coffee, I enjoy working with this machine and it suits my puposes very well. Again I am not a machinist.

Best

Jonathan in Denver