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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    149

    Default Optimal table height for Milling machine

    Hi Guys,
    I just picked up my first milling machine (Exciting times!).

    I want to either buy or make a table for it but not sure what height is good...
    I got this

    http://www.paramountbrowns.com.au/in...ovetail-shaft/

    basically any '45' type chinese milling machine.

    if anyone can tell me what is a good height they work with it would be great. Not sure it matters, but im 6 foot 2. thats about 190cms tall.

    I've made the mistake of building a workbench that was too high before becuase I thought It would suit me...was a real pain to get things off the wall!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    149

    Default

    Was thinking of something like this...780mm High.

    calling them now to see if it will support the 350kgs

    http://www.carbatec.com.au/heavy-dut...r-stand_c21066

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Bendigo Victoria
    Age
    80
    Posts
    7,471

    Default

    Nice addition to the playpen That ParamountBrowns xx45 mill was on my shortlist before got my DM45. I had a look at it several times as I travel back to Adelaide regularly, you should be happy with that.

    I originally bought the OEM stand with mine but it was much too low, even for a vertically challenged person like me, I am 168cmm short, so I returned it for a credit.

    The stand I finished up with is 730mm high, 1000 wide and 820 deep, this height suits me perfectly but could be a bit low for you. The stand is welded using 40x40 SHS, I think I vae some pics on the forum in my DM45 thread.

    I wouldn't have that Carbatec stand, looks to flimsy to me, plus you want a bit of a bench top to put down spanners and other tools. Remember that the full travel of the Y axis is even more than the 1000mm of my top so you can use that space beside the mill anyway, other than to have low stuff on the floor.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    149

    Default

    Thanks Fred,
    I think you're right, that stand is a little small.

    I don't mind making my own stand, but I fear that I will royally stuff something up, and hence not get it 100% level.
    I did hear about the stands that they have are not that good hence why I didn't buy one.

    I tell ya what though, I'm not looking forward to lifting it on the table, Was hard enough getting it off the trailer in the crate, with the engine crane!
    haha

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    149

    Default

    What are any of your thoughts on this.
    I have a full Rack It system in the garage where all my storage is and they are very very solid units. I think this bench is a bit bigger than what I wanted (as I will most likely need another one for the lathe that is arriving in a few weeks!) My mrs is going to kill me..I snuck the mill in but not sure i can sneak the lathe in haha..

    http://www.bunnings.com.au/rack-it-1...ench-_p2760381

    924fbf8e-4fe4-48b4-b9f4-2e4923d1fcc5.jpg

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Bendigo Victoria
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    80
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    Default

    I didn't weld that stand either, can't weld for xxxx!

    Maybe have a read through my DM45 thread and look at the pics of how I lifted it, some people said there were better ways of doing it.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Bendigo Victoria
    Age
    80
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    7,471

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by oohsam View Post
    What are any of your thoughts on this.
    I have a full Rack It system in the garage where all my storage is and they are very very solid units. I think this bench is a bit bigger than what I wanted (as I will most likely need another one for the lathe that is arriving in a few weeks!) My mrs is going to kill me..I snuck the mill in but not sure i can sneak the lathe in haha..

    http://www.bunnings.com.au/rack-it-1...ench-_p2760381
    Don't know how strong those RackIt legs are, but I would like to see the legs tied together close to the bottom with a cross member the same as the top.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    9,088

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Big Shed View Post
    Don't know how strong those RackIt legs are, but I would like to see the legs tied together close to the bottom with a cross member the same as the top.
    If I was using something like that I think I'd just add a bottom shelf. If it was still a little "iffy" diagonally, wouldn't screwing the top and bottom shelves to the rails fix that up nicely?

    Stuart

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    149

    Default

    Yes you're right, You can add a cross beam across middle on the back and front very easily (the slots are already there to lock in) <br>&nbsp;which would also allow you to put a shelf there.<br><br>They say that with those two legs, it will hold 1000kgs. Which is pretty ideal...<br><br><br>

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Victoria, Australia
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    74
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    5,080

    Default

    Probably ok for a small mill if you brace the legs diagonally... or you could make up panels to fill in the back and sides, just filling it in would stiffen it up considerably.

    Ray

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Norwood-ish, Adelaide
    Age
    59
    Posts
    6,541

    Default

    Being 6ft 2 does matter as if you don't set these things up properly you will not be comfortable and won't want to use the machine.
    The sort of things to consider are -
    • It must be high enough that you don't have to bend over (much) to crank the (machine) table. How much depends on how good your back is, but I'd try and get it so you don't bend over at all when cranking.
    • Ideally the (machine) table surface should be probably around waist height so you are not lifting heavy things (vice, work piece) up or down excessively.
    • You don't want it too high such that you have to stretch to reach features on the top of the machine when it is fully up. I would suggest that the knobs on the front should ideally not be higher than eye height.
    • When thinking about (support) table width & depth, remember that you don't want to be leaning over the (support) table to get to cranks etc, so something less than the full width of the machine is preferable, although having the table the size of the footprint of the machine means that there is nowhere to put keys, spanners, measuring gear etc while cutting, so a little bit of surface area is good.
    • Sturdy is good. Those slot together things are not necessarily all that rigid. It may pay to find someone with welding capability and see if you can swap a slab + material for a (support) table


    At a rough guess I'd suggest thinking about something 900mm high (I'm 6ft).

    Michael
    Last edited by Michael G; 21st Feb 2014 at 09:25 PM. Reason: added clarification

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Far West Wimmera
    Age
    63
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    4,049

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by oohsam View Post
    Hi Guys,
    I just picked up my first milling machine (Exciting times!).

    I want to either buy or make a table for it but not sure what height is good...
    I got this

    http://www.paramountbrowns.com.au/in...ovetail-shaft/

    basically any '45' type chinese milling machine.

    If anyone can tell me what is a good height they work with it would be great. Not sure it matters, but im 6 foot 2. thats about 190cms tall.

    I've made the mistake of building a workbench that was too high before becuase I thought It would suit me...was a real pain to get things off the wall!
    If you have a look at this thread you should notice that I have the same mill. I thought at the time it was the best option. I have not changed my mind. The making of the stand is featured in this thread. I am 5 ft 7. The height seems to be fine for me. It is about 800mm to the base of the mill. When my forearms are held level and flat at the mill table height, my upper arms are on about a 45 deg angle.

    Dean

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    BRISBANE BAYSIDE
    Posts
    90

    Default

    That RackIt table looks too light to me for a 45 type mill. I think that a substantial fully welded stand would be a better option.
    I have an original Taiwanese made RF45 mill which I bought second hand and the stand it came with is 685 to the drip tray level that the mill sits on. This gives a table height of 950. I am 5'7" and I have always felt that this is a bit low for me. I think that a table height of 1000 would suit me better as I find I am bending over a lot when using the mill.
    I lifted my mill from off the trailer and onto the stand with a 2.5 T engine hoist. Did it fairly easily, the only tricky bit was getting the release to operate in a slow controlled manner as there was a lot of pressure in the hydraulic ram. Pays to clamp a large pair of vice grips onto the tiny release valve stem to give a large lever arm to allow small movement for slow gradual release.

    Alan

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    South Coast, Australia
    Age
    62
    Posts
    225

    Default

    Oohsam

    The cabinet I made for my mill ended up being 900mm high.

    This height was more the result of the height of the cabinet/steel/wheels I used with but it seems to be about the right height for me @ 6'.

    Those Bunnings and Carbatec stands look a bit on the flimsey side and it's good to be able to store gear in drawers away from flying swarf, dust and other spos.
    He Who Dies With the Most Tools Wins

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    149

    Default

    Thanks guys. I bought a rackit table and put the mill on it. It bowed about two mm. Wasn't happy with that so I went shopping today. All the stores had the same milling table, which was a hafco copy. I ended up buying one but had to drill some new holes in it to line up with my mill.

    It's not ideally what I wanted but the height is good and I'm satisfied.
    In future I will build my own like yours blu rock, which is an amazing table.

    I checked the levels today and as i guessed it, it's sloping slightly to the front. The garage floor in my new house is really poor, it's not level at all. I have it in the most level spit but it's about four mm off from being level.
    Will this really affect me and how serious should I take this levelling business.

    Sorry guys for the noob questions. I'm new to all this stuff.

    Cheers. Sam

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