Discuss which one: R8, MT 2/3, 30 INT Tapers

[zzr1200]

I am actively searching for a vertical mill (possibly with horizontal capability), been looking for a sensible hobby sized mill Myford/Warco/Tom Senior or possibly the likes Harrison 600 mill. I don't have enough room for a Bridgeport style mill unfortunately.

But then there's the tooling taper to consider when buying a second hand machine, which one is the most reliable, robust or has limitations.

Tooling prices, depending on their quality seem fairly equal, the taper doesn't seem to make a difference.

Your experiences, preference?

Please.

 

[Paulbarrett]

My machine is mt3 gear head mill, I'm no expert but my research leans towards r8 being most favourable, but for the amount of work I intend doing whatever I could get at the time would've sufficed.

 

[MattH]

On a small machine like you are considering then the performance of the taper is never going to be an issue. Get something with R8 as there are loads of new and secondhand tools available out there for good money.

 

[Stueeee]

R8 taper if you have a choice, for a small machine. 40 taper for a larger machine. There's loads of secondhand/reasonably priced tooling available for both these sizes.

 

[Maker]

I spent ages looking at the title thinking " two thirds Morse taper?"

I don't think the taper is a consideration really, they all work well and tools are readily available for all of them.

 

[Spark plug]

R8 is a good choice for a small mill.

But what I defiantly wouldn't want is a mill without a drawbar. Some small mills I've seen use a collar that screws on the spindle noise to retain the tooling. This is a major probloem as its time consuming to change and in some cases the tooling has to be designed for use with the spindle noise collar

 

[Wendelspanswick]

My mill has a 4MT with an internal U2/SO collet holder that will hold shanks upto 17.5mm. The trouble is there are a lot of cheap* large milling cutters about that have shank sizes of 19mm or 25mm so on my list is a ER40 or ER50 collet chuck, the down side is it reduces the available height between the table and head.

*Cheap as in they don't sell as well as the smaller sizes as, I guess, they don't fit the smaller hobby engineer mills.

 

[mr_splatter]

I'd go R8 as a choice for a home mill. Loads of tooling available and I find it releases easier than my MT2 on my lathe. Plenty use MT2/3/4 though and find them fine.