Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Mill-Drills

Everyone is entitled to their own way of thinking. Here in the UK many model
engineers making seven and half inch gauge track locos etc use a drillmill
with a round column, they cost less than £1000 and yes they do need some
care, or they tend to turn. I now have the pride of Tiawanese benchtop
millers with a Vee Wayed vertical column and a 30 x 8 inch table that gets
round that problem,but of course I cant turn the head round to get at a job
say on the floor. It cost here £1600 inc taxes and transport. they are
available in either Imperial or Metric and single or three phase power. Yes
the paint is a bit flimsy and some design features leave you wondering.The
Handbook is OK for a laugh but not much else. It is basic very basic but
for me and many others it fits well into the small spaces many people here
have to work in. I took my apart and filled the ways with decent grease and
readjusted the slideway clearances. The gearbox is noisy and as difficult to
use as one on Bridgeport in our Colleague here. The down feed gearing
suspect. It will let me do a 3mm deep cut with a 16mm slot mill and I really
do not need more. We can also get smaller versions down to watch maker sized
things for about £600?? think that most or all of them come out of the same
factory with different paint, it is then up to the importer to do what he
will with them on arrival. I don't own or have an interest in any business
dealing with engineering equipement. I have fitted mine with normal verniers
on all three axis and they do what I want in the way of telling me how far
away I am from the first point. Most of my jobs dont have drawings and my
skills with CAD are limited to near non existant, but it works.
regards
Fiddlerphil