Bench top lath/ drill press milling machine
- Thread starter Ripped
- Start date
E.Marquez
Well-known member
Ive had a Smith Midas 1220 XLT for several years now.
If miling steel is your plan, skip all but the most robust 3:1 machines, the Smithy Granite in example. . and even then its going to be slow going, but very doable.
I CAN mill steel on my Smithy 1220XLT, but its not very fun or productive.
It does well on Al, brass and other softer materials, but I leave steel for the lathe or drilling functions. Which it does very well at in respect to its capabilities.
If miling steel is your plan, skip all but the most robust 3:1 machines, the Smithy Granite in example. . and even then its going to be slow going, but very doable.
I CAN mill steel on my Smithy 1220XLT, but its not very fun or productive.
It does well on Al, brass and other softer materials, but I leave steel for the lathe or drilling functions. Which it does very well at in respect to its capabilities.
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I agree with above.
I had the larger Smithy, the 1239 and it was a much better lathe than milling machine. On aluminum it was ok but not steller, steel not worth the headache at times.
As for task specific benchtop milling machines, check out Precision Mathews. Matt has a PM727 or the larger PM932 that are nice machines. My son just built up a CNC version of the PM932 and it seems quite solid and cuts well for what it is. Matt is also great to deal with, excellent customer service.
I had the larger Smithy, the 1239 and it was a much better lathe than milling machine. On aluminum it was ok but not steller, steel not worth the headache at times.
As for task specific benchtop milling machines, check out Precision Mathews. Matt has a PM727 or the larger PM932 that are nice machines. My son just built up a CNC version of the PM932 and it seems quite solid and cuts well for what it is. Matt is also great to deal with, excellent customer service.
HanShotFirst
Well-known member
The small knee mill from Harbor Freight is a downright decent hobby mill. You're better off buying a mill, and then picking up a lathe later on. The 3 in one machines are rather annoying to work with.
Ign
Well-known member
This. I'd sooner have a bench top mill than a 3-in-1
And don't mill on a DP, the bearings are not intended for those loads.
i keep leaning toward getting a multi purpose CnC machine for my shop and have been looking hard at the Shopmaster Mill/Turn. The company has been around since i can remember and it looks like a decent (non professional) machine. Anyone has experience with this one while were on the subject?
https://www.shopmasterusa.com/
https://www.shopmasterusa.com/
Stuey
Well-known member
If you decide to go with separate equipment, Little Machine Shop's configured Seig-made equipment seems to be a step above others brands' Seig-made tools. Their benchtop mill is on my wishlist, and their lathe too if I ever outgrow my Sherline.
txvwnut
Well-known member
DON'T JUST DON'T! No customer service, the machines are worse built than some of the Harbor Freight ****. These are the cheapest of the cheap Chinese **** out there. Yes they say made in America but all of the casting is done overseas and all of the parts come from overseas suppliers too.
I owned a Smithy before I got a shopmaster built machine and I wish I had never sold the Smithy.
thanks, glad i brought it up. I was aware they were imports (what isnt these days) but did not know they were so bad. Also like a lot of things these days they sink more into marketing then the actual product . . . . thanks, i'm guessing thats gonna save me a headache.
jonesg
Well-known member
I stared with sherline. Went bigger with south bend 9" model A with threading capability.
Ended up selling the SB and sticking with sherline with its greater accuracy. I just made bronze axle bushings for my old snowblower with it, it's a nice hobby size machine.
CNC is perfect for high volume production runs, for one or two off custom work it's not worth the expense, anyone can work to high degrees of accuracy with manual machines, hand fitting everything. I can mill free machining steel, brass, bronze. Alum ,nylon no problem.
jonesg
Well-known member
Using a 90 degree adapter plate you can mill on a lathe. You cannot lathe on a mill.
Most machinists said start with a lathe, get a mill later.
My Old Tools
Well-known member
If you don't want to spend the time tracking down a good older US machine, at least step up to a Grizzly. They seem to be doing a bit better than the average Chinese **** these days, and they have some parts service.
larry4406
Well-known member
link?
manwithtools
ALLIANCE MEMBER
As has been said before, the three in one machines are an entry into the machining world with limitations. If you think you might want to do more than simple items, I'd suggest seperate machines or buy the 3n1 with wide open eyes about future upgrade paths.
Tooling, gauging and misc items will cost as much if not more than the simplest machines. You can upgrade over time, but you need to consider the tooling expandability. If you start with a MT2 machine and want to move to a larger machine, you may have to replace much of what you already bought for the smaller machine.
The main problem I see with 3n1's is setup conflicts and working envelope limitations. It's a slippery slope, enjoy.
If forced to make decision, I'd start with a mill and get a lathe second, highly project dependant, so your choice might vary.
Tooling, gauging and misc items will cost as much if not more than the simplest machines. You can upgrade over time, but you need to consider the tooling expandability. If you start with a MT2 machine and want to move to a larger machine, you may have to replace much of what you already bought for the smaller machine.
The main problem I see with 3n1's is setup conflicts and working envelope limitations. It's a slippery slope, enjoy.
If forced to make decision, I'd start with a mill and get a lathe second, highly project dependant, so your choice might vary.
davethorik
Well-known member
"You cannot lathe on a mill."
Yeah, you (sorta) can(necessity is a MOTHER
)
If you're gonna mill steel, I'd go for a square column mill if you can't find a decent Bridgeport - mine's a Grizz G0755... Steve
Ive seen it done before as well...although it was on a cnc G&L horizontal, and it was just a fixture base because all the shop lathes were *******.
7635tools
Well-known member
If your going to be milling steel, I wouldn’t waste time with a 3 in 1 machine. Bridgeport style mills are a dime a dozen on the used market. As said before, the tooling can cost just as much as the mill if not more. Already been down that road.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
HanShotFirst
Well-known member
https://www.harborfreight.com/vertical-milling-machine-40939.html
It's actually a decent little mill. Grizzly sells the same mill for much more money.
I have a 1961 Rockwell 21-100 which the HF machine seems to be copying for the most part. I find this size mill works well in the garage, and I get a LOT of stuff done on this mill. Most of what I do is gunsmithing, but I do other stuff as well, and my little Rockwell has yet to let me down.
HanShotFirst
Well-known member
Buying an old/cheap Bridgeport is a dicey proposition for someone who doesn't know machine tools. For a first time machinist, I'd stick with something simple and probably new. Once he knows how everything is supposed to work, he can then learn how to evaluate a Brideport and upgrade at a later date.
HanShotFirst
Well-known member
That's the standard line, but it really depends on what you're doing. If I had to choose between my mill or my lathe, it would be a rough call to make. Sure I can mill on a lathe, but it's FAR from ideal. I tend to do much more milling than lathe work... But I've noticed that my mill tends to make things I want. Whereas my lathe tends to make things I need; and gets me out of binds.
jonesg
Well-known member
manwithtools
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I like this statement, it reflects my experience as well.
Orionrising
Well-known member
timely thread, theres a 1220 locally listed for $900.
worth it to play with and see if I like machining or too frustrating?
worth it to play with and see if I like machining or too frustrating?