Thread: BM30A mill

Ok firstly they appear to have used mostly pictures of the BM-30.
Secondly have you thought about buying the BM-30 and a VSD?

Stuart

p.s. anyone know what thhat guard is bolted to?

Hi Stuart,
Yeah I thought about a VSD and have fitted a few so they aren't a total mystery but the BM30A is a single phase so no extra expense if I buy one of those. Working on the KISS theory I reckon single phase suits me better.

Moving a machine this size is a problem but I have a pair of skids in the making thanks to the suggestions on this forum.

Like all purchases I want to be sure well doubly sure at $8k that I will get a reasonable mill.

Hi Rod,
Being made in taiwan it should be a better machine than the Chinese ones. However i think some members with 960b lathes have found the same problems with low quality as the chinese ones have.
At 8k why not fly to the machinery capital (melbourne), buy a machine and get it freighted over?

Hi Rod,
No problems, I just thought I'd run the idea past you. As long as you are aware the BM-30 has 16 speeds 80-5440rpm and the BM-30A only has 8 speeds 80-2720rpm.

2720rpm being about the correct speed for a 10mm cutter in Alum. So the extra speed might be handy if you do much work with smaller cutters.

Of course the "its only an extra $100" is never ending

I doubt the "3 phase is smoother" would matter much on a mill?

Stuart

Hi Ewan,
Very tempting to fly over but you guys would only lead a niave westerner astray.
Bad enough with the BT influence over here.

Seriously I have pondered this for months and come to the conclusion I don't have the time or inclination to rebuild a machine. My focus is building new CNC machines so time tinkering with a rebuild on a mill doesn't press my buttons.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Hi Stuart,

I have CNC machines that I lean to for cutting ally. With 24,000 spindle and rapid moves they are ideal for working with ally.
The lower speed is what interests me as I use a manual mill mainly with a large face cutter so both the single and three phase machines stack up fairly equal on that.
Good pick as I hadn't even noticed the speed difference of the two - never assume hey.

Eight LARGE You and Leonie could fly to Switzerland, buy and ship something exquisite back home and still have enough left for a Toblerone or two.

B ha ha T

Hi Bob,
My stocks and shares with SWMBO are high at the moment with all the house improvements. I have to strike quick on the mill or my mouth will wipe out all the credits in no time. Not knowing the gender like a learned fellow such as yourself I might be fooling myself too.

Hi Rod,
Just try to make sure the "made in Taiwan" is not advertising hype, as I am pretty sure I remember they where advertised them as Taiwanese head.

I wished I had of bought the BM20 back when I bought my HM52 as it was only around $2300 more. If I had of bought that one I would have bought the 3 phase one and fitted a VFD because of the top speed like Stuart has said..

Dave

Yes Rod, I fully understood your desire to act with some haste.

I have found out to my cost that an ill-considered comment or two can instantly unravel domestic harmony. And you would think that at my age I would have learned.

No nice second hand Bridgeports at Ron Mack's? Would you like me to send you a scanned Bridgeport catalogue as a temptation to look for something non oriental?

Bob.

Hi Dave,
You are right advertising these days is about smokes and mirrors and anything that resembles the truth is coincidence. I will ask the sales guy but he is probably well versed in the same sales pitch or doesn't know.

Hi Bob,
I have twidled the handles on a Bridgeport a few years ago and instantly fell in love. Touble is they are getting long in the tooth now and finding a good one with little wear has been a problem. Been looking all this time and nothing is coming up. Perhaps those that have them want to hold on to them. I rang Fiora and Ron Mack this week in a last ditch bid and no luck. The BM30 isn't my first choice but it is available. A machine like that should see me well into retirement.

The easiest way to find a Bridgport is good nick is of course to buy the BM30. I assume it works that way for everyone.. or is it just me? I only bought my lathe as there was nothing around I liked second hand at the time.....of course shortly after they were everywhere. China isnt always a bad thing, in the 80's at least some Mazak lathes had casting from China, assembled in Japan with Japanese bearings.

You might want to run a tape over the travels that H&F quote in their specs sheet. From my experiance they tend to round up a little, though I guess you have limited options there might not be much point.

Anyone know what Applied or Asset would charge for freight?

Stuart

Hi Stuart,
That is what I have concluded. Having had a manual mill for years I already miss the HM45 I sold last weekend.
I am reasonably settled on the BM30 now and just waiting for next pay packet to top the play money up to get one.

Originally Posted by rodm

Hi Stuart,
That is what I have concluded. Having had a manual mill for years I already miss the HM45 I sold last weekend.
I am reasonably settled on the BM30 now and just waiting for next pay packet to top the play money up to get one.

Let me know when you need a hand.