HF mill/drill $600

[Jawn]

http://www.harborfreight.com/1-1-2-half-horsepower-heavy-duty-milling-drilling-machine-33686.html

I realize this ain't no bridgeport, but this class of machine seems to have a decent following and if you're in a machine tool desert like me, it could be a pretty fair deal for a hobbyist.

Add in coupon 83222653 for 25% off to bring it to $600.

 

[ngray]

Maybe that's the price now, but I paid like 450 after the coupon last year, shipped.

 

[Jawn]

Sure it was the same one? I know they used to have a smaller one.

 

[dogdog]

how is it compare to this popular grizzly ones ?
http://www.grizzly.com/products/Drill-Mill-with-Stand/G0704

 

[Jawn]

Looks like the HF one has a slightly larger work envelope and greater travel. The G0704 has variable speed though. I was seriously considering that one, but the HF one came up for half the price, so I'm giving it a shot.

 

[PT Doc]

Round column-pass.

 

[zeekh]

Round column-pass.

Yup, they rotate when moving the head up & down making you lose position

 

[dogdog]

Round column-pass.

Yup, they rotate when moving the head up & down making you lose position

..... maybe wrong thread on this discussion but can you elaborate on this "Round column-pass" ?

 

[Jawn]

..... maybe wrong thread on this discussion but can you elaborate on this "Round column-pass" ?

I'm new to machining, so pardon my terminology (may not be accurate). When you loosen the clamps to be able to raise/lower the head, it may move side to side due to the round column, thus forcing you to re-establish the head's position in relation to the work. I realize this is a hassle, but for the price I figure I'll just deal with it.

 

[elronin]

Looks Like This Grizzly model http://www.grizzly.com/outlet/2-HP-Mill-Drill/G1006

 

[PT Doc]

The round column deficits were well explained. As long as you know this and plan as best you can, it should work well. The rf45 style solves this issue with the square column. More bucks though.

 

[zeekh]

I'm new to machining, so pardon my terminology (may not be accurate). When you loosen the clamps to be able to raise/lower the head, it may move side to side due to the round column, thus forcing you to re-establish the head's position in relation to the work. I realize this is a hassle, but for the price I figure I'll just deal with it.

Dealing with it can be difficult at times.

 

[danny_barkley]

I guess if you wanted to turn it into a CNC the square would be better as well?

 

[zeekh]

I guess if you wanted to turn it into a CNC the square would be better as well?

I can't think of any instance were a square or at least a keyed column wouldn't be better.

 

[Jawn]

Looks Like This Grizzly model http://www.grizzly.com/outlet/2-HP-Mill-Drill/G1006

Indeed it does... Grizzly may be a viable source of parts if need be.

The round column deficits were well explained. As long as you know this and plan as best you can, it should work well.

That's what I'm hoping. Saving a few bucks on this means more left for another machine (lathe), tooling, and projects to be made on the machines.

 

[JonnyC]

Seems like a really good deal. For the work I would need to do though, it would be better to go with a mini-mill.

 

[danny_barkley]

Seems like a really good deal. For the work I would need to do though, it would be better to go with a mini-mill.

For some of us less enlightened can you describe what is helping you make this observation? If I bought a mill I would want it to be capable of being CNC converted.

 

[JonnyC]

I'm not very enlightened, but most of my work right now is on smaller aluminium parts. There's a lot of parts and information out there for the mini-mill, including CNC conversion kits. Plus it weighs a ton less for moving it into my basement I doubt I will get a mill though. Right now my work is doing done on a lathe, and I can use my drill press as a ghetto mill for what little stuff I need to do.

 

[ineedtools]

The griz 704 has a fanatical following, I've been saving for one. Considered the HF but after reading and seeing one in person running mach3 I decided on the 704 as kits are readily available for $650. The guy that showed me his griz said that you'd spend many times over on tools and tooling for the mill than what you paid for it so it seems to me that starting with a good one makes sense.

 

[Jawn]

Deal is dead, back to $1200.

I did get a tracking number though, so mine's on the way.

 

[JonnyC]

Sweet, you'll have to post up when its in operation

 

[ducksface]

I am not NASA approved.

 

[macgee]

Deal is dead, back to $1200.

I did get a tracking number though, so mine's on the way.

Bummer, at only $600 bucks I was actually going to jump on this for my home for random jobs. Already have plenty of R8 tooling at my shop.

Glad u were able to get one. You'll have to do a write up after u set it up.

 

[theoldwizard1]

For some of us less enlightened can you describe what is helping you make this observation? If I bought a mill I would want it to be capable of being CNC converted.

I have personally been researching mini-mills and found that Little Machine Shop.com and mini-mill.com both contain a wealth of knowledge for beginners.

Mini-mill comparison chart

 

[theoldwizard1]

Okay experts, what is the difference between a drill-mill ans a mill ?

 

[danny_barkley]

I have personally been researching mini-mills and found that Little Machine Shop.com and mini-mill.com both contain a wealth of knowledge for beginners.

Mini-mill comparison chart

Thanx!

 

[lrhredjb]

My round column allows me to swivel the head completely away from the bed and use it as a drill press or to mill something too big for the bed. I can groove tires with it(as an example).
I can fly cut some very large things with it.



I don't have a square column machine but imagine with a LOT of work and lifting they would do the same...or maybe they have a pivot in the base somewhere....

Did you modify the machine to be able to do this?

 

[theoldwizard1]

Did you modify the machine to be able to do this?

You can buy mini-mills with tilt columns, usually 45° left and right. Most hobby machinist agree that the lack of a column permanently affixed to the based means worse location repeatablity.

 

[Jawn]

Well, they tried to deliver it. After I was told by the freight company that yes it would be on a truck with a liftgate, it shows up with no way to get it to ground level. Back to the terminal it goes, and they're going to get back to me on what it'll cost to have it re-delivered on a liftgate truck (or else I'll just go get it).

 

[3 at 8]

That *****. Im interesred in how you guys like these.

 

[Jawn]

This has turned into "Oh I need to buy this too..."

I bought a stand from wttool
I bought an engine crane to unload it from the truck and set it on the stand
I bought assorted tooling from enco and ebay

My wallet hurts. But here's a pic of it set up. I borrowed a pickup to drive to the freight terminal to get it. To unload, I busted the crate apart, removed the belt cover, and wrapped a chain through the hole in the head casting. Getting the belt cover off is a PITA though... have to remove the belts, spindle pulley, tensioner pulley, disconnect wiring from motor, remove switch from side of machine, and a bunch of bolts holding it all together.

 

[JonnyC]

Damn that thing is massive! Looks great, thanks for the followup.

 

[A_Pmech]

OK, it's been half an hour.

What have you made with it?

 

[diggerrick]

Dad has the older geared head version. It works great, but he had to modify something in the spindle so the collets would fit. (In the back corner of the photo)

 

[Jawn]

OK, it's been half an hour.

What have you made with it?

Hah.

Additional T-nuts out of a piece of 1018 bar.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Okay experts, what is the difference between a drill-mill ans a mill ?

My round column allows me to swivel the head completely away from the bed and use it as a drill press or to mill something too big for the bed. I can groove tires with it(as an example).
I can fly cut some very large things with it.

I don't have a square column machine but imagine with a LOT of work and lifting they would do the same...or maybe they have a pivot in the base somewhere....

These 2 topics (mill-drill vs mill and round column vs dovetail square) are very closely related.

Expert, feel free to correct me. A mill-drill has a fixed table and the head and quill move up and down for Z-axis adjustments (full sized machine have a fixed head and the table moves up and down). Typically, there is a coarse and a fine hand wheels for Z-axis movement. The coarse typically moves the whole head up and down while the fine moves the quill within the head.

The head is mounted on a column, either cylindrical or square w/dovetails. The cylindrical column allow the head to be rotated to either side so that if there is clearance next to the mounting stand, your "table" is the floor. Handy especially for woodworking projects where work piece might not fit between the quill/collet/chuck and the table and vice.

Some mill-drills can tilt their column left or right 45°. With people have actually use this feature and going back to 90° takes some work to make certain it is square to the table.

The complaint about the round columns is variability every time you move the head (not the quill) up or down. The square columns with dovetail have much less variability as you raise and lower the head.

Digital read outs (DROs) are optional on all of these machines. Many have been converted to CNC. Some people have done customization for larger tables and/or more X and/or Y travel.

 

[MadMechMaster]

I have one(round column), and haven't done much with it except small maintenance jobs where tolerances were loose.

When I did look into solutions to repeatability in locating the head after moving it, I found a suggestion to use a laser pointer rigidly mounted to the head. If you mark a spot on the wall across the shop, say 15', then if you move it away and back, you can be reasonably close to where you were originally. If you mark a plumb line, you can stay in one vertical axis.