Van Norman Mill

[SuperSonic]

Not sure where to put this since Practical Machinist is down.
But I have a chance to buy this Van Norman for $1200, with the collets shown. This is far far bigger than I ever need for a mill but it seems to be in good shape, all power feeds work. Two handles are broken and one was repaired, some of the flex seal needs replaced and just general clean up.
Is it worth his asking price or should I spend a little more and get something like a BP style?

Thanks guys.


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[cvairwerks]

Got enough power to run 12 hp continuous?

 

[SuperSonic]

Got enough power to run 12 hp continuous?

I’d have to run a giant VFD or something as I only have single phase... probably costs as much as the machine does.


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[Oregon rock crusher]

I have a VN No. 26 mill which is a bit older than that 3R10 but is very similar. Nice features on them including front and rear controls and full rapids. That looks like a 50 taper spindle which is easy and cheap to find tooling for. My spindle motor is only 3hp and I think the feed motor is less. There is also a small coolant motor. I gave 1k for my machine several years ago and have not regretted it. The Ram type Van Normans are big heavy machines and really versatile but sometimes less handy than a Bridgeport would be. Ed.

 

[larry_g]

That is one hell of a mill, for the right shop. What are you doing that requires a mill? If your thinking parts under a 12" cube than that machine starts to get unweildly. Small parts take a lot of time to set up, you have no quill for drilling holes so you have to move the table to drill. Works good on big holes but not so good on the smaller holes. If your getting your first mill I'd not suggest this one. It can be dangerous and expensive to screw up, something that I've learned a few times. Tooling up a machine that size could easily cost 5x what the asking price is.

For the beginner I would say that machine is akin to getting a dump truck when you only need a pickup to haul the trash.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[tool_scrounge]

Nice mill. Build a rotary phase converter - lot cheaper presuming you can find an inexpensive 3 phase motor. Can be a lot easier to wire too.

 

[cvairwerks]

I’d have to run a giant VFD or something as I only have single phase... probably costs as much as the machine does.

That's assuming that your local power company will let you run that much horsepower if it's a residential drop. I know ours is limited to 7.5 hp max. To run that on a VFD or phase converter, you are looking at close to a 100 amp circuit and large $, as it's most likely a 480 3P unit.

 

[catalytic]

That's assuming that your local power company will let you run that much horsepower if it's a residential drop. I know ours is limited to 7.5 hp max. To run that on a VFD or phase converter, you are looking at close to a 100 amp circuit and large $, as it's most likely a 480 3P unit.

A smaller VFD can usually run a bigger motor. For example, a 1.5hp VFD can run a 3HP motor, but you'll just get 1.5HP out of the motor instead of 3hp.

That's still a Big VFD, even assuming you just need 7hp or so. It can be done, but my guess is that unless you luck out on ebay you may end up with a rotary phase converter.

About the mill, it looks like an awesome machine for large work. You can likely take huge passes with it and it will be way, way more rigid and with more travel than a Bridgeport.

Personally though, I would only want a mill with a quill, as I drill a lot of holes on my mill. Also, make sure you're comfortable putting something so heavy in your shop. They take some planning to move.

 

[Whitworth]

Find a Bridgeport. That thing is a boat anchor and a white elephant and a money pit all in one.

 

[Whitworth]

That's assuming that your local power company will let you run that much horsepower if it's a residential drop. I know ours is limited to 7.5 hp max. To run that on a VFD or phase converter, you are looking at close to a 100 amp circuit and large $, as it's most likely a 480 3P unit.

Wouldn't surprise me if the power feed alone was 7 HP.

 

[cvairwerks]

If I read the book right, main motor is 10 hp, there is a 2 hp feed motor and a 1/8th hp motor for the coolant. It weighs somewhere between 7500 and 8850 lbs, depending on how it's equipped. Add some of the options and it will run up another several hundred pounds in weight.

 

[rsanter]

That is an awesome machine, however you need to ask several things
What do I need in a mill?
Do I have the space for this one?
Do I have the power for this one?
How heavy and can I move it?

The good stuff....
If in good shape that is a good rigid machine that will likly never wear out.
It is large so you will no be limited working on larger items.

The bad
It’s big and heavy.
Looks like it does not have a quill feed
Looks like the head does not tilt

I think it is overpriced for the market on those, seems like a good price for its abilities, but there is low demand on that size machine

 

[Brock Wood]

Van Norman heads tilt 90 degrees from vertical to horizontal.
They get the bad rap from the Bridgeport fans because they don't generally have a quill movement.
I agree, if I want an all purpose floor mounted drill - A Bridgeport Mill is the best solution. But for actual milling Cincinnati, K&T & Van Norman are much better options. IMHO.

 

[zkling]

Spend quite a bit more, get a prototrak, and you will have a far more capable machine. Unless you are just squaring blocks, slotting, and jabbing holes.