What to buy with the Mill?

Thanks for the angle plate, that's what I thought I'd see in a post here.
I will pass on the DVD for now, too expensive but It is bookmarked.

Thanks again for the help.

Patrice
 
Careful with smartflix, the extended mailing time accross borders will likely result in late charges automatically billed to your CC.

I sent them an email telling them I would never use them again because it was cheaper to buy the videos and they refunded the late fees. I still haven't used them again though.
 
Should I buy an end mill holder or a collet? Any advantages of one over the other.
Also, I guess you need a drawbar with the collet.

Patrice
 
An end mill holder will only hold one size shank, collets can be bought in sets and hold just about any size within the range using the proper collet.

A single or pair of end mill holders would be cheaper if you stick to 1-2 sizes of end mill shank.

There are usually deals circulating for Kurt vices which are very good.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=44

Check out some of the stickies there, one of them has a lot of deals to places like MSC.
 
decent mill vice (a small one, not a standard 6", but not a drill press vice either)
real parallels (lathe tool blanks will work, but are not consistently matched, do not come in a set in 1/16" increments, and are too wide)
tool holders and or collets.
drill chuck
edge finder
cheap cutters to learn with (ebay, look for used cutter lots)
sacrificial material to cut into when cutting off the table instead of the vice.
a book on the subject

Mike (NC Cooter I think) used an angle plate. It was large but inexpensive. It already had slotted holes in it.

You can probably get all this for $250 if you find deals. There is no sense putting a $400 Albright drill chuck on that mill etc.
 
Partrice,

i have to tell you, skip that little thing and atleast get a round column mill/drill. i owned both and after using thr round column i could'nt even start the x2 i had (sold yesterday). they require ALOT of work before you can even consider drilling holes with it. safe a couple hundred more and get something bigger.., honestly.
 
I have a round column http://www.grizzly.com/products/Mill-Drill-w-Variable-Speed-Power-Feed/G1007
and the only time it sucks is when I have something going and need to raise the head for more room. That means you lose your index. I have gotten pretty good and getting it back. I will say I am glad I have a bigger machine. In the long run they are worth it. I have slowly added digital scales and replaced the motor with a 3ph and VFD so I hardly every change the belt speed. Some of these http://cgi.ebay.com/DRO-0-12-X-AXIS...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item518d7b2e65
mounted on a mill may not be as nice as a full blown DRO but, it is a big help. Especially if you have a round column.
Yes I wish I had a dovetail, but I am really glad I have a machine big enough to do everything I want with no worries.
 
Thanks guys, now I have good idea of what tooling I need.

But the now the new question is buy this one or wait to get a bigger one. :confused:

It's never easy. :(

Patrice
 
Patrice, wait and get the round column! i think you'll strongly regete getting the mini.the round column has eaten any and everything i throw at it without a problem.and i mainly machine titanium. that mini, after several days work still had a hard time with light cuts in aluminum.
 
Shawn, I think that I will follow your advice.
But now you have to give me advices on how to convince the "Boss" to agree with the increased price tag. ;)

Patrice
 
Patrice Lemée;7395944 said:
Shawn, I think that I will follow your advice.
But now you have to give me advices on how to convince the "Boss" to agree with the increased price tag. ;)

Patrice
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Why, you want to get the better machine because you love her and if you get the smaller machine you are afraid that it may frustrate you sometime and that could possibly bleed over and effect your relationship in some small way and no amount of money is worth that risk! See just tell her the "truth"
 
ib2v4u said:
Why, you want to get the better machine because you love her and if you get the smaller machine you are afraid that it may frustrate you sometime and that could possibly bleed over and effect your relationship in some small way and no amount of money is worth that risk! See just tell her the "truth"
Click to expand...

Brilliant!!! :thumbup:
 
Farmer Phil said:
There are a gazillion mill vises listed, can you help zero in on some specifics or suggest certain models? Thanks!
Click to expand...

I like to use a Kurt angle lock, and I would encourage anyone with good machinery such as a tight Bridgeport etc who plans to be in this a long time to eventually make the investment. I believe they're the best and they're not over priced. However, with that said, I don't think that is the right vice for this person, that machine, in this circumstance.

Take a look at this vice:

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PARTPG=INLMKD&PMPXNO=26182968&PMAKA=SV425-7240

It is small and light, so it won't overload the ways on a little machine. It is short so it won't use up valuable Z axis travel. I have a bunch of them that I use when I need multiple setups. I also use them as for special duty fixture stuff where I hack and wack the vice, and don't loose any sleep over it. It is $87. They have free shipping if you use this promo code WEBCTP (expires Oct 31). I have use a bunch of these and only ever got one lemon, and even it was serviceable.

I personally do not like or use swivel bases because they reduce overall accuracy and raise the cut further above the saddle reducing rigidity. But if you like them, a swivel was another $10.00.
 
If you buy that mill make sure they have a 100% return policy. I bought the Grizzly version of that same mill (Made in the same factory in China, just different paint job) and it broke after 1/2 inch of slot milling in brass with a 1/4 inch 4 flute end mill. I drove it back to Grizzly and traded up to a round column G1005> I can't say the round column machine hasn't had problems, it it is really not rigid enough for the production work I use it for, but if you keep your cuts light it works.

-Page
 
Thanks Nathan and Page for the great advices.

Since it looks like I will be waiting a little while until I have the funds to buy a better mill, would this be better still if it means waiting a few more months?
http://busybeetools.ca/cgi-bin/picture10?NTITEM=CT054

Jim, since it is actually not the truth and that she is a very smart lady and would see through it in a sec I will pass thanks. ;)

Patrice
 
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