Author Topic: Which "house Mill"?  (Read 16001 times)

Offline Stuart

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Re: Which "house Mill"?
« Reply #15 on: October 15, 2012, 05:35:25 PM »
Let me qualify my comments a little I had to rebuild the quill after two years of work from new,

In that time it had made all the running gear for a 5 inch G loco and finished off another one, so it had done a fair amount of work before it needed work on it


 Stuart
My aim is for a accurate part with a good finish

Online sco

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Re: Which "house Mill"?
« Reply #16 on: October 15, 2012, 05:40:51 PM »
Let me qualify my comments a little I had to rebuild the quill after two years of work from new,

In that time it had made all the running gear for a 5 inch G loco and finished off another one, so it had done a fair amount of work before it needed work on it


 Stuart

And how much setup and fettling to begin with if you don't mind me asking?
Ars longa, vita brevis.

Offline Stuart

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Re: Which "house Mill"?
« Reply #17 on: October 15, 2012, 05:54:22 PM »
just a clean and adjust,  the main reason was I had to break it down to get it in the WS tables off, column off , a good clean adjust the  gibs as required  then it when to work

That was because I am on Crutches and needed to make it easier for next door  to move it for me


the only Machine that did not require attention/adjustment was my Myford connoisseur ( before the closed down ) that went into service after it was put in the WS by Myford themselves , but that was the machine that required a defect to be put right ( the out board HS bearings failed after 30 mins running  :Mad:

but look at the price difference between a mill and the Myford


Stuart
My aim is for a accurate part with a good finish

Online sco

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Re: Which "house Mill"?
« Reply #18 on: October 15, 2012, 08:44:09 PM »
Hmm thanks - I think!  There seems to be a gap in the market for a small high quality mill a couple of steps down from a Cowells.  The proxxon is close apart from the dodgy motor.
Ars longa, vita brevis.

Offline Jo

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Re: Which "house Mill"?
« Reply #19 on: October 15, 2012, 10:02:36 PM »
The bigger one yes, but it is not cheap. You are well on the way to the price of a Cowells.

Jo
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Arbalest

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Re: Which "house Mill"?
« Reply #20 on: October 16, 2012, 10:21:13 AM »
I wonder how difficult/expensive it would be to make a small house mill? It could be made using ball screws, linear guides and one of those ready made X,Y tables. Just thinking out loud ...  :embarassed:

Offline Groomengineering

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Re: Which "house Mill"?
« Reply #21 on: October 16, 2012, 06:42:58 PM »
I've always kinda imagined a Dore-Westbury as a "house mill".  It's not as small as some, it has it's quirks, oh and you have to build it yourself, but....  :thinking:  Not sure if castings are still available, but I've seen several made from barstock. 

Cheers

Jeff
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Online steamer

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Re: Which "house Mill"?
« Reply #22 on: October 16, 2012, 06:54:46 PM »
A LOT OF WORK!.......trust me on this one....

Dave
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Damned ijjit!

Offline Jo

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Re: Which "house Mill"?
« Reply #23 on: October 16, 2012, 07:43:21 PM »
I had a work colleague today explaining why I really should just go out and buy a new house Mill... Boy I don't need encouragement.

Jo
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Arbalest

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Re: Which "house Mill"?
« Reply #24 on: October 17, 2012, 12:01:31 PM »
These any good? This is head and column only at ?475.00 but may form the basis of something?

http://www.homeandworkshop.co.uk/DSCN2171.jpg

Offline Jo

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Re: Which "house Mill"?
« Reply #25 on: October 17, 2012, 12:23:34 PM »
I have an entire Prazimat mill ;D

A second is a bit big for what I am intending.

Jo
Enjoyment is more important than achievement.

Offline NickG

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Re: Which "house Mill"?
« Reply #26 on: October 18, 2012, 06:31:20 PM »
I've had a dore-westbury, it was versitile but crap, guess it's largely down to how well it's been made but I've always been wary of round column and quill feed only type machines. As I've said in another post, my chinese mill give OK results, but the quality is pretty naff, especially as I always draw comparisons with the harrison lathe.

Had a centec 2A which with a vertical head would have been a superb machine, just a bit small but also a bit heavy for a house mill!

Also had a Sherline, it was one of the earlier ones before they went to the more torquey DC motor. Must admit I haven't kept up with what they're doing but mine was excellent. Quite limited in capacity but great quality and gave great results for small stuff. That one lacked a quill feed though so not great for drilling, the head could tilt but obviously couldn't drill at an angle.

It was largely aluminium which was good to keep weight down and it's a stiff material but weight helps.

Nick

Arbalest

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Re: Which "house Mill"?
« Reply #27 on: October 18, 2012, 07:21:32 PM »

Offline Jo

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Re: Which "house Mill"?
« Reply #28 on: October 18, 2012, 07:31:19 PM »
I'm waiting for Dave to give in and donate his to me ;D.

Jo
Enjoyment is more important than achievement.

Online steamer

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Re: Which "house Mill"?
« Reply #29 on: October 18, 2012, 08:35:59 PM »
Mine has more accessories....... 8)

......yea yea......but you know it was the one time in my life I stepped in the bucket of proverbial and came out smelling nice!

Dave
"Mister M'Andrew, don't you think steam spoils romance at sea?"
Damned ijjit!

 

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