Toolroom Mill

[Mick]

Our toolroom is in need of a new mill. We need a manual mill (with readouts), not a CNC (we have several CNC's in the rest of the shop if necessary. This is to do one offs, plus tool repairs etc. Mainly working with steels etc.

 

Since our toolroom manager has been out of the game for quite some time, we need to know what are some good brands of manual mills out there?

 

Any feedback would be appreciated

[Lumpnut]

Bridgeport

[heavychevy2155]

Look at the MSC sale fliers, they have package deals that come with most anything to get a new mill up and going. They also have leasing plans with fairly low payments.

[jimp]

Agree with a Bridgeports any Toolroom manual milling is possible.

 

Jimp Scotland

[Kevangel]

Is there anything but a Bridgeport? (my last new one I bought) Seiki looks good for an import...Manual toolmaking machines are so cheap at auctions (USA) at this point... if money is an issue I would buy a good used one. I saw a harig surface grinder sell for $250 yeaterday at an auction, was not there to watch Mills sell (went to buy a Roto-grind table and got it cheap) 2ea. optical comparators sold for 100 to 150 dollars (14" sher-tomica)

[bigfloyd]

Bridgeport would be my first choice but I like the clausing's to.

[Colin Gilchrist]

Look into an EZ-Trak. This is a Bridgeport with a 2 axis XY CNC and a manual quill.

 

If you really are stuck on getting a Manual mill with a DRO, then look a bridgeport style machine. I really like the acutal Bridgeport machines, but you can also find a lot of different imports or machines at auction as mentioned above.

 

Kevin, did you say $150 for a 14" Optical Comparator??? Man I wish I could have been there. I would have pounced on that in a heartbeat... I need to get myself to an auction one of these days.

[Kevangel]

quote:

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Kevin, did you say $150 for a 14" Optical Comparator???

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Yup...pretty sobering; owner told me he was tired of being the first one in and the last one out for the last 20 years. ( what I have found at auctions is: there is no such thing as too low a price...and it only takes one other intrested party to run the price up BUT if he is not there items can sell rediculously cheap. Throw out old prices from 12 years ago...I bought a 14" Kodak with 10X 20X 50X 100X lenses and surface illumination for $265 at a different auction (weighs 1000 lbs)...I paid $1,000 for a small used 12"Delltronics 12 years ago (250lbs?)and felt lucky to get it back then (prices are very low right now)

[Mick]

Thanks for your feedback guys. I'll pass this info onto our toolroom manager.

[Ployd]

JET and Wilton make a decent mill with DRO's.

[mold100]

For the cost of new bridgeport I would buy a 2axis cnc sharp first. IMO, it is worth way more. If not new I would check ebay frequently as well.

[Kevangel]

quote:

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If not new I would check ebay frequently as well.

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"No reserve" auctions on e-bay

[1 master]

what about lathes? is there a site that helps you locate local auctions?

[Kevangel]

quote:

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what about lathes? is there a site that helps you locate local auctions?

 

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Go to off-topics side (real info) and click on Nypro Kentucky

[Kevangel]

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shady, machinetools.com and Industrial auctioneers association web page are 2 good sources for auctions. I am gonna try and take a big break next summer...

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Make it easy for ya

[OTOMMYO]

we use several Lagun. They worked fine for 20 years with no magor repairs. I do think Bridgeport has the top of the line in manual mills though.

[sharp_andy]

We've got an old manual (Friedrich) Deckel. It's a solid, versatile, very user freindly m/c. Bridgeports're nice too though.

[Reverend Turk]

I would suggest a Bridgeport style mill as well and if price is not a huge issue I would go with one of the ProtoTrak SMX controllers from Southwest Industries.

 

We have 4 of these in our shop all used for one off stuff.

[chris m]

I'm with Corey; I'd go Sharp with a 2-axis ProtoTRAK