I managed to pick up a italian metric universal knee mill for 300 quid made by ARNO.
It has more than enough capacity to handle anything, power feed in x-y-z axis and a 40int taper. It does weigh in at just over a tonne and half and need feeding with 3 phase and suds etc. I just have a few 40int collet chucks giving me access to the various types of shank (round with flat, clarkson threaded etc) so collet size isnt a issue, I can use about 12 different sizes with a quick flick of the spanner. If you get a big enough clarkeson chuck, itll cover most collet size ranges in one, but its handier to have a big and a small one, as the monster one will get in the way for more delicate work.
Id say the head being rigid rather than a rise and fall affair, has much more rigidity even in vertical mode, and I use mine for reboring cylinders before theyre finished with a delapena hone ,using the micrometer head which is something you couldnt really do unless the machine is sound and cuts true....
Something big, and old but good cuts the mustard in a mill. They need the bulk for strength and rigidity...
Ive used the chinese stuff, and its not up to the job, a few months into use and the table gibs start to slack off, and the thing gets sloppy quick. Its also easy to break them if a tool digs in etc.
Id keep a eye on ebay if budget is tight and pay next to nothing or get to see it cut before you bid, if your a shop who needs to buy stuff now rather than hunt and needs the quality, theres a couple of big machinery dealers worth contacting...
These chaps usually have some interesting stuff and Ive found them quite reasonable. Ive found they shift a bit too on price if they like you. My mrs had to hide my cc when I used to live up the road from them and go out for a "sat am drive"...:-
http://www.gandmtools.com/cat_branch.php?sub=6
Originally only went to collect my furnace, but bought bits and bobs which turned into 500 quids worth of tooling from these guys too, and they bought me a bacon butty as part of the deal so Ill give them a mention too. I may steam over there in the van to buy one of their nice harrison 140's. In my experience if you turn up on the day prices are more negotiable. You can see the machines running under power if you call first and arrange.
http://www.homeandworkshop.co.uk/stocklist.htm
These people made my crap list and should be avoided at all costs:-
http://www.theengineersemporium.co.uk/
I bought a vert milling slide for a lathe from them, and paid for international shipping. The courier returned it undeliverable despite me being home on every date with the note that a neighbour had said I moved away a few years ago.
I was expected to try and deal with the courier issues myself and they washed their hands of it. WHen the courier finally returned it to them, I provided a address in the uk for it to be sent to instead (despite paying for international) and the cheeky b*stards wanted me to pay for shipping all over again.They still have my milling slide, my 100 quid, but do not have my respect or recommendation.
It has more than enough capacity to handle anything, power feed in x-y-z axis and a 40int taper. It does weigh in at just over a tonne and half and need feeding with 3 phase and suds etc. I just have a few 40int collet chucks giving me access to the various types of shank (round with flat, clarkson threaded etc) so collet size isnt a issue, I can use about 12 different sizes with a quick flick of the spanner. If you get a big enough clarkeson chuck, itll cover most collet size ranges in one, but its handier to have a big and a small one, as the monster one will get in the way for more delicate work.
Id say the head being rigid rather than a rise and fall affair, has much more rigidity even in vertical mode, and I use mine for reboring cylinders before theyre finished with a delapena hone ,using the micrometer head which is something you couldnt really do unless the machine is sound and cuts true....
Something big, and old but good cuts the mustard in a mill. They need the bulk for strength and rigidity...
Ive used the chinese stuff, and its not up to the job, a few months into use and the table gibs start to slack off, and the thing gets sloppy quick. Its also easy to break them if a tool digs in etc.
Id keep a eye on ebay if budget is tight and pay next to nothing or get to see it cut before you bid, if your a shop who needs to buy stuff now rather than hunt and needs the quality, theres a couple of big machinery dealers worth contacting...
These chaps usually have some interesting stuff and Ive found them quite reasonable. Ive found they shift a bit too on price if they like you. My mrs had to hide my cc when I used to live up the road from them and go out for a "sat am drive"...:-
http://www.gandmtools.com/cat_branch.php?sub=6
Originally only went to collect my furnace, but bought bits and bobs which turned into 500 quids worth of tooling from these guys too, and they bought me a bacon butty as part of the deal so Ill give them a mention too. I may steam over there in the van to buy one of their nice harrison 140's. In my experience if you turn up on the day prices are more negotiable. You can see the machines running under power if you call first and arrange.
http://www.homeandworkshop.co.uk/stocklist.htm
These people made my crap list and should be avoided at all costs:-
http://www.theengineersemporium.co.uk/
I bought a vert milling slide for a lathe from them, and paid for international shipping. The courier returned it undeliverable despite me being home on every date with the note that a neighbour had said I moved away a few years ago.
I was expected to try and deal with the courier issues myself and they washed their hands of it. WHen the courier finally returned it to them, I provided a address in the uk for it to be sent to instead (despite paying for international) and the cheeky b*stards wanted me to pay for shipping all over again.They still have my milling slide, my 100 quid, but do not have my respect or recommendation.
