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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
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    Melbourne, Australia
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    Default What beginner tools to get for first mill

    Hi guys.
    Well I am so overwhelmed with my new mill. Im excited that I can cm start fabricating but I'd love to get some insight from the more experienced.

    What are the `must haves', for the mill. I'm looking at a decent vice as the vice it came worth is laughable.

    But not sure what tooling I will use the most.

    Cheers.

  2. #2
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by oohsam View Post
    Hi guys.
    Well I am so overwhelmed with my new mill. Im excited that I can cm start fabricating but I'd love to get some insight from the more experienced.

    What are the `must haves', for the mill. I'm looking at a decent vice as the vice it came worth is laughable.

    But not sure what tooling I will use the most.

    Cheers.
    Decent machine vise with swivel base.

    ER32 collet chuck with collets.

    Decent set of end mills & slot drills. No need to go overboard here, you'll blunt them fast enough.

    Drill chuck preferably keyless and not too big - it's a mill with limited Z space. 12mm max, another one of 8mm or 10mm is useful for small drill bits. I have one on a stub shank that goes in an ER32 collet. Works fine unless I'm *really* short on Z space.

    DTI for setting stuff up.

    Parallels but you can kludge by for them.

    I assume you already have a decent set of calipers and a micrometer or 2.

    Rotary table is very useful but unless you're doing rotary type work straight away, wait.

    Ditto a dividing head - there's overlap between the RT & DH anyway depending on if you need to set up for cuts at other than vertical or horizontal to the mill spindle.

    PDW

  3. #3
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    Far West Wimmera
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    Default

    I am sure that there was a thread about this recently. I cannot think of the name but maybe someone else will.

    If you have a look at my thread you may get some ideas.

    http://www.woodworkforums.com/showth...ght=mill+tools

    Cheers

    Dean

  4. #4
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    Default

    Hi there,

    Congratulations on your new purchase!

    In terms of tooling, how long is your piece of string? Or, should I say how deep is your wallet or what budget (if any) limitations do you have. Some things are must have (otherwise you just can't make chips) while other things are really nice to haves and then there are other things that are really, really nice to haves. At some point regardless of your budget (unless it's unlimited) you will need to prioritise with your initial setup purchases. My priorities in order would be:

    Collet set (ER32 full set)
    selection of end mills
    Drill bit set (if you don't already have them)
    Clamping Kit (more important than a vice. You can do basic work without a vice but you can't do anything without a clamping kit)
    Engineers square
    Boring bar
    Facemill
    Milling vice
    Drill chuck (This is a lower priority since you can use your collet set for drill bit holding)
    DTI
    DI
    Edge finder
    Set of Parallels
    Angle plate

    Obviously if you have the budget then you can buy all of these items straight away, otherwise start at the top and work your way down. This list is not exhaustive and there are many more items that you may want as the need to project arises.

    Cheers,

    Simon
    Girl, I don't wanna know about your mild-mannered alter ego or anything like that." I mean, you tell me you're, uh, super-mega-ultra-lightning babe? That's all right with me. I'm good. I'm good.

  5. #5
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    Ueee is offline Blacksmith, Cabinetmaker, Machinist, Messmaker
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    Default

    Congrats on the new machine, PDW and Simon have made a good list so far.
    I will add:
    Soft face hammer-deadblow or rawhide/copper for seating things in the vice properly.
    Individual spanners to leave with the machine for drawbar etc,
    1-2-3 blocks,
    Cheap paint brushes for cleaning chips as you mill.

    Have a look at CTC tools for your collets, although ebay may give you cheaper options these days, the CTC shipping price has become a killer. http://www.ctctools.biz/
    Look at getting some Parallels and 123 blocks on ebay from the states. IIRC you can fit 5 pairs of 123's and a set of parallels in a flat rate box. You will sell the extra 123's on ebay not a problem. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-20-PC...item5d4062ca6d http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-PAIR-...item2a12f28a81

    Ozmestore on ebay has the best value angle plates around http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/6-X5-X4-1...item58ac0ca36b

    Last but not least get a copy of this book http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Milling-N...item1e6e035f24

    Chhers,
    Ew
    1915 17"x50" LeBlond heavy duty Lathe, 24" Queen city shaper, 1970's G Vernier FV.3.TO Universal Mill, 1958 Blohm HFS 6 surface grinder, 1942 Rivett 715 Lathe, 14"x40" Antrac Lathe, Startrite H225 Bandsaw, 1949 Hercus Camelback Drill press, 1947 Holbrook C10 Lathe.

  6. #6
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    Well, before answering, what sort of mill do you have?

    That will dictate the sized tooling that is best suited...
    Gold, the colour of choice for the discerning person.

  7. #7
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    Default Mill Tooling

    1-2-3 blocks,

    There are at least 2 types of 123 blocks. Ones that can bolt together and ones that cant bolt together.
    The type that I bought have 5 threaded holes and the remaining holes are NOT clearance on those threads. It is useful that the blocks can be bolted together to form an angle plate or similar. Mine cannot so I am looking for another set.

    Roger

  8. #8
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    A flycutter in a vertical mill is a good cheap tool for getting the best finish, especially on aluminium. Width of cut possible means you often don't have to make multiple passes for a large flat area, and it looks better.

    Jordan

  9. #9
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by .RC. View Post
    Well, before answering, what sort of mill do you have?

    That will dictate the sized tooling that is best suited...
    True. I should have mentioned.
    I have an MMD 45.

    Here is a picture of it.

    IMAG0816.jpg

  10. #10
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    Very nice, what spindle, MT4 or R8?

    PS I don't think anyone mentioned a boring head (with boring bars) yet?

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Big Shed View Post
    Very nice, what spindle, MT4 or R8?

    PS I don't think anyone mentioned a boring head (with boring bars) yet?
    Thanks!

    it's MT4.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by oohsam View Post
    True. I should have mentioned.
    I have an MMD 45.

    Here is a picture of it.

    IMAG0816.jpg
    OK you also need a power feed attachment for the X axis. Not immediately, but add it to the (long) list.

    A boring head is very useful if you want precision holes.

    PDW

  13. #13
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    Default

    Oh power feed would be sweet. I think it's time to go shopping!

  14. #14
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    Default

    best thing i did on my mill and i would be lost without it is fit cheap DRO to the downfeed 40 bucks from h&f and a bit of work making brackets ,
    other than that like everyone else has said an er 32 chuck and full set of collets i could not do without .
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  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by texx View Post
    best thing i did on my mill and i would be lost without it is fit cheap DRO to the downfeed 40 bucks from h&f and a bit of work making brackets ,
    other than that like everyone else has said an er 32 chuck and full set of collets i could not do without .
    Nice work.
    I've had a look at a few of the "cheap" dro kits that some of the guys have got on here (Big Shed and Blu Rock) which I think will do me nicely and do my wallet nicely too.

    Pretty much the same as your setup,

    Really loving these replies guys. ​

    I already bought the book that Ueee mentioned and am currently looking for collets, 123 blocks and some parallels, End mills and fly cutters are also on my short list. Should be able to do quite a bit with those until I work out what else I need/want (same thing!)
    Still haven't decided on a vice. It seems the more I read, the more I find out. I was almost settled on a parlec vise, but I'm not so sure now.


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