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  1. #1
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    Default buying small Milling machine

    Hi All,

    Is this any good for hobby or should I be saving for a better one? Thanks for the inputs

    Quantum Geared Head Mini Milling Mill Machine - Drilling Drill Press | eBay

  2. #2
    Dave J Guest

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    If your only looking to do small stuff in aluminium it would be fine, but if your thinking of steel it's only 60kg and will not be rigid enough to take any decent sort of cut.
    I would recommend something like this for steel if thats what your thinking for only $500 more and you would be a lot happier.
    https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/M121
    On the end of the scale this machine is the ultimate in bench top mills, but they are around twice the price.
    https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/M123

    All these machines are all similar no matter who you buy them off. H&F's has the same one as you linked to for only $825
    https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/M150

    Dave

  3. #3
    Dave J Guest

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    I forgot to add, you can pick up one of those bigger mills second hand for around $1000 if you keep your eye out. Most have done little work so wear is not a problem.

    Dave

  4. #4
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    Default

    Thanks Dave, I'll save a bit more for better machine then. Much apreciated

  5. #5
    Dave J Guest

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    I hate the way advertisers hype these little machines up, then the guy gets it home to find it shakes like crazy trying to cut steel which they said it was recommended for.
    Your in the machinery lucky state down that way, maybe put a wanted add in the local paper and keep an eye out on those online papers etc. These do come up regularly as people loose interest.

    I was going to buy a round column mill like in my second link above. They are a good machine and will cut steel.
    Pipe clay on here has one and he does all sorts with it. a mates father who is a machinist by trade also uses one and has done some wonderful projects with it.

    The only thing with them is you loose position if your job requires you to raise or lower the head, this is where the dovetail column comes into play. This is because they are on a round column and they will move side to side when you wind them up/down. Some guys put a lazer on the head and have a spot on the work shop wall 10-20 feet away and re align it by that.

    Dave

  6. #6
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    Default

    Thanks again Dave, I'm put that on the wishlist. I'll need to save more for cutting bits, vice as well.

  7. #7
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    Default

    Stay away from the seig X2 minimill and clones (HM10 from H&F) (last link in DaveJ's post above). Very disappointing machine and really only good for Aluminium infact if you google mini mill you'll invariably see it cutting Aluminium alloy. I have one and can tell you for a fact that the head has ABS plastic gears which break after a few hours work due to fatigue. The motor power supply is well designed but of low quality construction with dry solder joints a common problem. The slideways need to be lapped to get the gibs to fit correctly. The head shifts under cutting load and many machines have left the factory with the column not perpendicular to the Y axis due to inaccurate machining. You need to shim it up if that's the case. I haven't shimmed mine yet as I'm going to make a larger XY base for it the 100mm travel in y axis is too limiting.

    The X3 is a much better machine I believe but I have no direct experience with it. Many people buy an X3 and convert it to CNC which is fairly easy to do, pleny of info on the web about it. H&F sell them for around $1800

    The Rong Foo jobs RF20,25,30 etc mill drills are OK but limited in capability, I'd recommend the X3 over one of those. The round collumn is the bain of many a purchaser. There's a Yahoo group on the mill drill and many owners have spent countless hours devising ways of keeping the head in position while raising it up to get more clearance during a job.

  8. #8
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    Default

    Do you think the issue with raising a round coloum mill during machining opperations can be put down to mostly bad job planning.

  9. #9
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    Default

    Thanks swarfmaker1.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by pipeclay View Post
    Do you think the issue with raising a round coloum mill during machining opperations can be put down to mostly bad job planning.
    My final decision on which mill to purchase was a long slow drawn out frustrating process! Does not seem to matter what your budget is, you always seem to want the next size mill or the one that's just out of your price range!

    Having said that, I have heard the pro's and con's of dovetail versus round column on many forums. I get the impression if you're a capable machinist then you will make use of what you have and the type of column is of little consequence. In fact I have heard many people with round column mill say they are very happy and in fact that the round column is a feature.

    I choose a dovetail column because I'll be learning and as such I'm not a capable machinist! In fact I have zero milling time experience. I'm still waiting for my mill to arrive.

    Cheers,

    Simon

  11. #11
    Dave J Guest

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    Simon, even though your new to mills, thats great advice.

    Swarfmaker,
    Your kidding about the RF's having limited capacity over the X3 aren't you? There is just no comparison.
    For a start the RF is 100 or more KG's extra in weight which makes it more rigid
    It has 540mm X, 140mm Y travels compared to 400mm x 150mm,
    The RF table is 820 x 240mm compared to 550 x 160mm,
    Spindle to table is an extra 45mm,
    The RF motor is 2hp compared to 0.75hp


    I would have a RF over a X3 any day of the week. I think the X3 is aimed at being the top end of mini mills, where the RF's are the start of the industrial mills.

    Dave
    Last edited by Dave J; 16th Sep 2011 at 03:22 AM. Reason: 0.75hp not 1 hp on the X3

  12. #12
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by pipeclay View Post
    Do you think the issue with raising a round coloum mill during machining opperations can be put down to mostly bad job planning.
    No.

    For what it's worth, I too would recommend an X3 over an RF any day. The RF, especially the smaller ones, are little more than a drill press with a drawbar. Mass alone doesn't equate to rigidity. That's not to take anything away from those who own and use this type of machine, however given an opportunity to purchase either one or the other there should be no contest as to which style to buy.

  13. #13
    Dave J Guest

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    Sorry I miss quoted (and edited) above about the X3 having 1hp, as it only has 0.75hp. The Super X3 has the 1hp, but is more expensive than the RF/HM 45-46's.

    Dave

  14. #14
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    Dave, I don't think you read my post correctly. I said capability not capacity. Sure the Rong Foo has a larger table and motor but It's main call to being is a Drilling Machine, milling is a secondary function, shoot me down if you like. The X3 head tilts left and right and doesn't go out of alignement when raised or lowered and it's got a DC variable speed motor.
    The dovetail column theoretically is more rigid than the the round column (box girder section vs round tube). X3 is an oversized minimill but I agree with Pete F , I'd have one over and RF but ths is hypothetical for me as I have a Bridgeport 2J2 Varispeed 12"x48". Looking at the H&F website I only see 1 RF model for sale, perhaps they are phasing out this design due to falling popularity.

    Quote Originally Posted by Dave J View Post
    Simon, even though your new to mills, thats great advice.

    Swarfmaker,
    Your kidding about the RF's having limited capacity over the X3 aren't you? There is just no comparison.
    For a start the RF is 100 or more KG's extra in weight which makes it more rigid
    It has 540mm X, 140mm Y travels compared to 400mm x 150mm,
    The RF table is 820 x 240mm compared to 550 x 160mm,
    Spindle to table is an extra 45mm,
    The RF motor is 2hp compared to 0.75hp


    I would have a RF over a X3 any day of the week. I think the X3 is aimed at being the top end of mini mills, where the RF's are the start of the industrial mills.

    Dave

  15. #15
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    Default

    Pipeclay, It probably is in some cases but after a time you'd develope enough experience with it to get the most out of it. It could be a problem where you're drilling and boring when you need to swap out for larger drill sizes and have to raise the head then install the boring head and find that you need to lower the head after using a 1" 3mt drill. I think a coax indicator would be usefull if you've got a mill drill. The round column is an advantage if it can extend the coverage range. A triangular gib would be a good modification to the mill drill column.

    Quote Originally Posted by pipeclay View Post
    Do you think the issue with raising a round coloum mill during machining opperations can be put down to mostly bad job planning.

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