Table Top Milling Machine ? ?

[jamesob]

i got a hf multi tool and it works just fine. the only thing bad about mine is that the measurements are in mm and not in inches. im happy with mine because everything i wanted done , it has done it so far.

[gadjeep]

I'm saving my pennies for one of these: http://www.grizzly.com/products/Vertical-Mill/G3102

Not a tabletop for sure, but after using a real Bridgeport I'm going to wait until I can have a machine with a knee AND some mass to it. If I had the room I'd get a Bridgeport. You can find them used for less than some places want for their mini equipment.

[jamesob]

I'm saving my pennies for one of these: http://www.grizzly.com/products/Vertical-Mill/G3102

Not a tabletop for sure, but after using a real Bridgeport I'm going to wait until I can have a machine with a knee AND some mass to it. If I had the room I'd get a Bridgeport. You can find them used for less than some places want for their mini equipment.

grizzly has another model thats bigger for around the same price.

[hylander]

How about this Unit ?

http://www.littlemachineshop.com/3900

[rabagley]

How about this Unit ?

http://www.littlemachineshop.com/3900

That's the one I mentioned in post #4. I think it's the best-of-breed mini mill and if the work envelope works for you and you understand and can accept the limited rigidity that a little machine provides, it's an amazing little machine.

That machine is a Sieg SX2 with an oversized table and XY ways. Here's a detailed review of the SX2 with stock table (it does pretty well).

And oooohhhh, Sieg just released the SX4 mid-sized mill... I know what I'm eagerly awaiting more info about... Not sure what to make of it though. Looks like a slightly bigger and much stiffer SX3, though they chose a MT4 spindle over R8, which seems odd...

[bob_e95482]

I have an HF mill I bought used, with a vise, table, and some tooling, for $350. 110V, and R8 taper.

[Roccobro]

Watch Craiglist. I got an older Enco sized like the Grizzly 3102 for $400. Came with some T- nuts, full set of R8 collets and other little stuff to get me going. Tooling has been $50 at a time, to the tune of $300. And I already had half the stuff needed to go.

I went this rout after thinking about the pain and aggravation a HF "bitmoore vise on a DP" would cause. Figured CG'ers in the area would see it the same way and donate when completing their paperweights on it.

Justin

[woodey]

Here you go, again

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/tls/1942183751.html $250
Table top to get your feet wet pretty ease to CNC also

[hylander]

How about this ?

http://reno.craigslist.org/tls/1933017482.html

[rabagley]

How about this ?

http://reno.craigslist.org/tls/1933017482.html

Wait for a square column mill. Round column mills are a serious PITA and you'll be wishing you'd waited or eventually just keeping it for a drill press.

[ar15barrels]

You can usually get a fullsize used bridgeport 9x42 clone for $1200ish delivered in the LA area.
I got mine on eBay for $610 with a DRO on it, but it cost $600 to move it from san diego.
In the end, I paid the same price as buying local, but I got a great DRO with it...

[hylander]

I'm thinking I will order this one.
Any reason I should not ?
Will this do the Job well ?
I know I need some tooling, so what do I need right off ?

http://littlemachineshop.com/3900

[hylander]

Or what about this, it has DRO

http://www.grizzly.com/products/Drill-Mill-with-Stand/G0704

[rabagley]

Or what about this, it has DRO

http://www.grizzly.com/products/Dril...th-Stand/G0704

Well, the DRO on that mill is a single scale on the spindle. You can retrofit the 4" version of this scale with a little planning. That's also a fine small mill, but personally, I think you'll be happier with the SX2L from littlemachineshop in your previous post. I don't think the stand is worth enough to justify the price difference and I think the littlemachineshop mill has the performance edge.

I'm thinking I will order this one.
Any reason I should not ?
The first thing I want to be able to do, is complete a couple of 80% Lowers.
Will this do the Job well ?
I know I need some tooling, so what do I need right off ?

http://littlemachineshop.com/3900

That will do fine on an 80% lower with the likely exception of three holes*. In addition to your favorite jig and recommended drills, you'll want a kit of basic accessories that fits your mill (this kit will fit either mill since they're both R8). You'll use a lot of this for holding your 80% w/ jig and the collets/end mills will make the fire control pocket much easier than using drills

For the drilling, I personally would opt for a better chuck than littlemachineshop has available. Something like this: Jacobs keyless 3/8" JT2 chuck along with this JT2 to R8 arbor. I personally choose to stay with a known US/German brand like Jacobs or Albrecht or Rohm on this component. One thing to watch out for with keyless chucks and that mill: the spindle to table distance gets eaten up pretty fast. The 3/8" chuck shouldn't be too big, but I'd be careful getting much bigger than 3/8".

Backing up for a moment: you're not me, and I'm going to cautiously say that if you want to have it all in one order, save a few dollars and get a good accuracy 1/2" chuck that will definitely fit the mill, go for this chuck and this arbor. It's keyed, which is a slight annoyance, but like I said above, you can comfortably fit a bigger keyed chuck than a keyless chuck.

* The possible exceptions are drilling the bolt catch hole and the two takedown pin detent holes. I think you're going to have to use a drill press or a BIG mill for those holes just because you're going to need a lot of space between the spindle and the table to get everything in there. A mill is still a MUCH better way to open up the fire control pocket and either one of the little bench mills you've chosen will both serve you well on this first project.

[Grumpyoldretiredcop]

Just laid my hands on a used Grizzly G8689 mini-mill with collet, several mill bits, vise, and rotary table for $300. I haunted Craigslist for a month looking for this. The Y ways need to be tightened up but everything else looks ready to go... just dirty.

Now that I've seen one, I'd agree with those who say it's a little small. However, it's about as big as one man can move unassisted (not that my back agrees with this statement), which makes it right for me.

I'll be making chips... in two weeks