Mill Advice

carbonsteel928

carbonsteel928

Joined
Feb 15, 2010
Messages
696
I've pondered adding a mill to my shop for some time but the cost has been prohibitive as there was nothing good within the bounds of my budget; but through some searching I found one that looks promising. Having zero experience to form an educated opinion on what makes a mill suitable for folders and general knife related milling, I must ask, "what do you all think of this mill?"

http://machinetoolonline.com/PM45MMill.html

PM-932M-PDF.jpg
 
This mill, like many others, is based on the Rong-Fu 45 (RF-45). Enco sells both the RF-45 and their version of it. I would use Enco's prices as a basis for comparison. I would use the reviews of the Enco knock-off to get an idea of what to expect.
 
I have a PM932M and am happy with it. Check out "The Hobby Machinist" forum. They have a subforum, PRECISION-MATTHEWS. With several good threads about this mill.
 
Mike, I have an actual Rong Fu RF-45. The Precision Mathews and many others are based on it as previously mentioned. When I bought my RF-45, it was in a shop that also had a Enco knockoff of the same mill. The Enco had thinner castings and was generally less robust. The guy I bought my RF-45 from said he could not find any appreciable differences in the performance of the two and had actually converted the Enco version to CNC. I have no experience with the PM brand but have seen that there are many who are happy with them.

I am very happy with my RF-45. I've had it for about six years and made tons of motorcycle parts on it back when I was in that business. I cut all my lockbar slots on my mill and generally can get two knives out of a single Dremel thin-cut .015" disc. I also cut my stop pin tracks for hidden pin knives and counter-bore my bearing recesses on my mill so, yeah, it's usefull. I highly recommend you just bite the bullet and get a DRO with the machine. They make life so much easier because you don't have to account for backlash in the leadscrews when turning dials. There will be a fairly substantial outlay for tooling up front as well so be prepared for that. You are welcome to come over and check out my setup and discuss.

Bob
 
You could definitely do worse as far as a new in box, "turn key" mill. I considered the same mill for while before I finally decided to just go a little bigger with a used knee mill.

That mill should be more than adequate for knife and folder making though. Just plan on spending about as much on tooling. ;)
 
I would also recommend getting a DRO, regardless of what mill you go with. It makes life much easier.
 
Id buy that

get the full three axis DRO

Get the accessories too, best prices Ive seen

Vise
hold down kit, collets and such.
 
Thanks gents! I think I'll be picking one up soon; can't fight the desire to spend more cash on a folder venture.
 
Just to add my 2c

I'd be looking more closely at the smaller machine if your main consideration is folder work.


both have the dovetail column and whilst the gears make for nice quick speed changes, its a much more limited range and noticeably louder.
For smaller carbide cutters you want the extra rpms you get from the VS unit.

There is an even larger version of that style that might be worth looking into also
 
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