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Help! => Machines, Tools and Fixtures => Topic started by: propforward on January 03, 2013, 08:49:56 PM

Title: Opinions on a mill
Post by: propforward on January 03, 2013, 08:49:56 PM
Hello all.

I am hoping that in a few weeks I will be in a position to buy a milling machine. Naturally, I have been researching mills, and have asked this question around the interwebz to get a good spread of opinions.

If I can find a decent used bridgeport, I will go that route, but since good quality used machinery seems difficult to find at a low price, I am naturally looking at the imported machines.

I think a small mill will do the job fine, and I was considering the Grizzly range, particularly the G0619. In fact I had just about settled on that, but Grizzly just released this:

 
http://www.grizzly.com/catalog/2013/Main/598
 
(http://cdn0.grizzly.com/pics/jpeg500/g/g0755.jpg)
 
 
 
I have to tell you, I am quite excited about this mill, as it seems to have taken all my favourite aspects from the mills I have been considering, and plonked them into one machine.
 
It has a nice 2HP 220V motor, and it looks like it does not use the converter electronics board - which I am happy about. I have a 220V circuit wired in for a mill already, so I really wanted to make use of that feature rather than have a control board handle it. Plus the extra "oomph" of the motor is a good thing. Possibly even a higher grunt motor than is really needed - and I am OK with that.
 
I am still waiting for fully detailed specs to be published, and also the manual (I like to have a good look through those documents before buying 0 you can raise / answer a lot of questions that way), but this is looking good. Nice size table, square column, beefy construction.
 
The downside - six speeds. Is this enough? The speed range is 90 through 1970 rpm. Does this seem adequate?
 
As always - very interested in any thoughts and opinions, but this tool looks like it may well be just the job.

I don't anticipate getting into full size engines - a scale steam tractor is my ultimate model engineering goal.
Title: Re: Opinions on a mill
Post by: zeeprogrammer on January 03, 2013, 11:27:04 PM
Looks interesting to me. I can't provide any input but am interested in seeing what others say.
And, if you do go that route, a detailed post about receiving it, setting it up, and using it would be highly desirable.
Title: Re: Opinions on a mill
Post by: 1hand on January 04, 2013, 12:59:32 AM
Hi and welcome. I was born and raised there in MN, nice place to be.

I have a g619 and converted it to CNC. The variable speed is nice and will miss the hell out of it when I get a Bridge clone someday. G619 is a good mill, but has limits as every machine does. I want to work with more steel and take heavier cuts, so I'm looking to upgrade. Mills are like work shops, ain't never big enough!

Matt
Title: Re: Opinions on a mill
Post by: Arbalest on January 04, 2013, 10:27:13 AM
That's a very nice looking mill. I don't much like what I've heard about some variable speed stuff so I'd be happy with the geared head. Looks to have reasonable capacity and a powered "y" so what's not to like!
Title: Re: Opinions on a mill
Post by: propforward on January 04, 2013, 01:18:55 PM
That's pretty much what I thought. I have heard both +ve and -ve things about the 110V driven variable speed stuff, and am a little leary of it. I am sure those are nice mills, but I think the simplicity of the 220V motor gear drive is a winner. I haven't yet come up with a reason not to go for this mill, so with a bit of luck in february I'll pull the trigger. I shall certainly post a review in that case.
Title: Re: Opinions on a mill
Post by: Jo on January 04, 2013, 01:22:35 PM
I have a belt driven Prazimat mill, earlier versions were gear driven and notoriously noisey.

The Prazimat mills also used to strip the gears, which is what I have hear about some of the little SEIG milling machines.

Jo
Title: Re: Opinions on a mill
Post by: propforward on January 04, 2013, 01:29:54 PM
Now there's a genuine point of concern. Hmmmm.

I might see if I can go and visit the showroom before buying. Might be worthwhile, especially as this is a new model.
Title: Re: Opinions on a mill
Post by: Arbalest on January 04, 2013, 02:07:08 PM
Jo has a valid point. It would be worth hearing one running. The small Chinese stuff have/had plastic gears, I expect that big fella will have steel gears so stripping the teeth should be unlikely - not had any problems on my geared small lathe.  ;)
Title: Re: Opinions on a mill
Post by: propforward on January 04, 2013, 02:11:55 PM
I think I'll shoot a note to Grizzly and ask them what material the gears are made of.
Title: Re: Opinions on a mill
Post by: propforward on January 05, 2013, 01:51:14 AM
I went to visit a couple of friends today, to look at their Grizzly mill. Lo and behold - they happen to have an older version of the same mill, so I got to check it out a bit.

The gear drive on the old one (G0484 - now discontinued) is all steel. The older version had a 1.5HP motor. I haven't verified yet, but I would be surprised if the new version is plastic gears.

The G0484 is a pretty nice tool, and my friends have really been beating the snot out of it, so I am actually fairly encouraged by this.

I need to do a little more follow up, but if I can't find a decent used mill (no luck so far) then this is likely to be the way I go.
Title: Re: Opinions on a mill
Post by: steamer on January 05, 2013, 01:55:06 AM
Well....nothing like a first hand account of a product.   I am told that Grizzly has good customer service and in my dealings with them, they have been very good.

Let us know how you make out!

Dave
Title: Re: Opinions on a mill
Post by: propforward on January 05, 2013, 02:05:56 AM
Will do. My lathe is a Grizzly, and I have been pleased with it, so I don't have a problem with buying from them again. If I buy this I'll do a detailed review. It could be a couple of months before that happens, I like to kick these ideas around a fair bit before laying out the cash. ;)
Title: Re: Opinions on a mill
Post by: Arbalest on January 05, 2013, 10:45:04 AM
Oh yes! I spent months going over all the options before choosing my mill. My budget was ?1000 but ended up spending ?1500 to get the mill I wanted. Glad I did as I enjoy using it.
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