What should I look for in a milling machine?

Fred.Rowe

Fred.Rowe

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
May 2, 2004
Messages
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I have no machinist training and feel a bit out of my league as I search for a bench top milling machine.
I want to purchase a good all around machine. It will be manually operated. I can't see myself with a cnc machine. My computer is enough of a challenge.

The little Shureline machine, that I have currently, is a bit small for what I want to do.
I want to buy something new. I don't need another project to work on.:eek::D

I want to purchase a single phase machine.

Any advice that you could give me on the basics needed in a good machine would be most helpful.
Anything that should be avoided in buying a new machine, would be useful also.

Have a great day, Fred:thumbup:
 
At my last job we had a G3358 from Grizzly. It was a pretty hefty mill for a bench top. The 1005Z and the 1006 are good stuff too.
 
Really depends on your budget
I have a Grizzly 1005
http://www.grizzly.com/products/Mill-Drill-Milling-Machine-25/G1005Z
it is a good value for the money, but it is not terribly rigid so I have to work really slowly on steel, and really clamp the head on the column. Tip: with a column type machine really thoroughly solvent clean the cosmoline off the column and the head clamping surface before use, and if you can afford it buy a bigger more rigid machine.

I originally bought the base level machine from them http://www.grizzly.com/products/Mini-Milling-Machine/G8689
with a quarter inch end mill cutting mild steel working slowly the drivetrain broke after about an inch and a half, they said they had never seen that happen before, but I had them apply my purchase price of that machine to upgrading to the one I have now.

BTW do not buy cutters from grizzly, their endmills suck, I get my endmills from Rutland.

As I have a Harbor Freight store just up the road from my house I have looked at their milling machines and compared them to the Grizzly units (which are identical to the Jet machines) the HF units are very poorly constructed, and very sloppy. If I had the money I would get a knee type.

-Page
 
Check out Industrial Hobbies.I have their mill and love it.It is the only benchtop made with bridgeport capabilities.12x30x17.5 travels.
 
I wouldnt get a benchtop. Look into a floor "knee" type machine. Enco has their small one for about the same price or a slight bit more. Size doesnt matter but the problem with a table top style is the head needs to unclamp and be raised for the simplest tooling changes and procedures so you lose your centering. Even a digital readout (DRO) wont help that problem. I have both types and the knee mill is great. I just use the benchtop for very simple jobs now. I know money is an issue but remember its an investment in sanity as well as resale value.
 
I'm on my 3rd benchtop mill now. For the kind of materials we work with(stainless,titanium) it's hard to beat a floor mill with all of it's mass and hopeful rigidity(from tight manufacturing tolerences). I work out of my basement though, and didn't want another heavy machine. Your Sherline(I had one,too) is actually a very well made machine but I'm sure you've seen it doesn't like the tough to machine materials. I looked and contemplated for months and then went ahead and bought a German made Wabeco. It makes up for it's lack of mass pretty well with it's quality but it's pricey. Still, I haven't any regrets. The imported X3 machines have a lot going for them. If you have the room ,though, a small imported floor machine makes a lot of sense. Good luck!
 
Follow Bruce's advise, a table top mill will be a waste of money in the long run. You can look at local shop auctions, can get deals for around 700-1000.00. My advice is save till you can get a floor knee version.....you won't regret it.


Todd Begg
 
If you can remember the one I have in my shop, get something like that one. It works great. You can also put it on a stand. :thumbup:
 
ive managed to do some wild stuff with my mill but man do i wish i had a small knee mill

tho i ant say ive killed my mill yet so least is a tough bugger
 
I just bought this one and paid $1700 for it. I see bigger and better ones on ebay but the shipping is terribly high now due to the fuel increases. Me and my buddy picked this one up just 3 hours away. I really like the power feed it has. Now if I can find a DRO and a KURT vice I will be set.
 

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The mill I was trained in on has a rotatable head so you can mill material at an angle. It allows you to rough a bevel into a knife along with many other uses. This is a great feature found on better mills.

greg
 
Thanks for the feed back, guys.
I have noticed that with the economy being in such bad straights, there are many machines going on the auction block.

Fred
 
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