interesting mini mill

[yari]

Just saw this thing on grizzly's site, looks kind of cool. since Ive been seeing people talking about x2 mills lately, i thought id share this as an alternative. looks like it would be more rigid and i like the knee feature.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/Mini-Horizontal-Vertical-Mill/G0727

[Intimid8tor]

That's definitely a different design. The 6 1/2" from spindle to table is a deal breaker as I don't think that will give enough travel.

It would be nice to see a knee mill design on a benchtop mill that didn't break the bank.

[kcstott]

It would be nice to see a knee mill design on a benchtop mill that didn't break the bank.

What do you mean?? Two completely different machines. Are you saying you want a bench mill with a Knee?

[yari]

^^ look at the mill. It is a mini knee mill.

The 6.5 table to spindle is very short. Especially when you add a tool! I like the idea though.

[kcstott]

True but I don't know what people mean by break the bank.

Machine tools cost money and there is a reason why the small cheep chinese machines are cheep. They don't have enough iron in them to be rigid enough to do a decent job unless you want to take super small cuts.
There's a reason a Bridgeport weighs 1800 lbs

BTW they make a horizontal conversion for the Bridgeport mill for about $1000 for the US made version or $500 for the chinese version.

[Rizzle]

What are used Bridgeports selling for out in CA? Around here you can find them all day long for $1000-1500.

[kcstott]

What are used Bridgeports selling for out in CA? Around here you can find them all day long for $1000-1500.

About the same just a little less frequent. $2000 will get you a nice machine with plenty of tools.

I think the big problem is the size of the machine. I think people are afraid to try to move it.

All you need is a good engine hoist and a couple of nylon rigging straps.

[Intimid8tor]

Socal seems to have more used machines than up north. Up here, they don't come around too often.

[kcstott]

Yeah but a tank of gas and a good trailer will get you what you need.

[wash]

Space #1, a Bridgeport will take up most of a parking spot in a two car garage and a lot of people don't have a two car garage.

Three phase power #2, people don't have three phase service in their garage so they need a phase converter which is expensive or probably better a VFD that can run on 220 single phase and do soft start to reduce the peak current requirements.

Moving a Bridgeport is #3, it's not that hard if you have a decent truck and rent a flatbed trailer.

[Intimid8tor]

Space #1, a Bridgeport will take up most of a parking spot in a two car garage and a lot of people don't have a two car garage.

Three phase power #2, people don't have three phase service in their garage so they need a phase converter which is expensive or probably better a VFD that can run on 220 single phase and do soft start to reduce the peak current requirements.

Moving a Bridgeport is #3, it's not that hard if you have a decent truck and rent a flatbed trailer.

^^^^^This.

I don't have room for a bridgeport. Period. Most of us don't. So that means either we go with nothing or find an alternative.

Someday I will have the space and will have a fullsize mill. For now, I just have to make do with what I can.

[kcstott]

Space #1, a Bridgeport will take up most of a parking spot in a two car garage and a lot of people don't have a two car garage.

I had a lathe and a Bridgeport mill in my single car garage in an apartment complex. with enough room for my tool box and a small work bench.

This is my garage circa about eight years ago. 1929 south bend lathe and a 1970's bridgeport Running off of 110 into a VFD to the mill. The air compressor popped the breaker not the mill. notice the over loaded power strip mounted to the wall.

Three phase power #2, people don't have three phase service in their garage so they need a phase converter which is expensive or probably better a VFD that can run on 220 single phase and do soft start to reduce the peak current requirements.

VFDs are dirt cheep and will run a mill all day long. Even on 110volt. There are VFDs out there that take 110 in and output 220 3 phase for around $350 for a two HP unit. Most bridgeport's are 1.5 HP and that based on my motor face plate is 4 amps @ 220 (8 amps 110 into a VFD that outputs 220 3 phase)

Moving a Bridgeport is #3, it's not that hard if you have a decent truck and rent a flatbed trailer.[/QUOTE]
Yep that's how I did it.

I'll put it out there right now. I WILL HELP ANYONE HERE INSTALL A VFD ON THEIR MILL TO GET IT UP AN RUNNING. I work on 480 VAC and install setup trouble shoot and program VFD's for a living. Yes I do that too. I'm a tool maker by trade but gave it up due the the High production shops needing production machinists around here. So Now I work on my stuff, on my time.
a twelve pack of newcastle is my usual fee when you supply all other materials

[kcstott]

Oh and again with this notion of parking a car in a garage. Who ever heard of such a thing???

[RodFromGod86]

Those mills are really great for making gears.

[wash]

I finally looked at the mill in the link.

It's pretty cute but it doesn't appear to have a quill for z travel.

A little horizontal mill would be neat any way and at that size, I bet it can actually do some nice size appropriate work.