Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Milling machine stiffness

dave engvall wrote:

> Hi all,
> I just have to ask: on typical knee mills. i.e.
> BP sized, which part is least stiff...i.e spindle
> and head or table/knee.

Most likely it is the spindle/head/ram assembly.
There is some small flex in the knee/saddle/table,
but these are pretty bulky castings, and once the slack in
the ways is taken up, they should be quite stiff.
The coupling between the ram and the head on the
typical manual Bridgeport is probably the most flexible part,
as the tool has about a 1 foot lever arm. The second
most flexible part is the tool holder. A small tool holder,
like with a 1/2" straight shank in a collet, is pretty
flexible.

Jon