Thread: New Mill needed. Advice wanted on 45/46* sized mills please!

Originally Posted by SkydivingSteve

Hi all,

Hope me this finds you well.

I am in the market for a new milling machine in the 45* sized type. All my tooling is for an R8 spindle chuck and most 45/46's that I have found in Australia are MT3. I know that I can get a R8 spindle chuck to covert an MT3 to R8 for not that much money so basically want to know what companies or businesses have decent quality machines, great customer service, good to deal with especially after purchase (but hopefully not needed), etc. I don't care too much if it's a geared head or not as I can convert it to belts later as soon as I get it. I don't mind spending a bit more money as long as it has solid castings and from a good company/business. It's my "first" metal mill so second hand is out of the question as I will need another to fix the second hand one up if you know what I mean. Either single phase (240V) or three phase (415V) motor.

This mill will be used for prototyping products and making parts for a large timber/aluminium mill I am building.

What are HF46's like for the money? I don't care for dro's or a stand (as I've built a stand/cage already), just want the basics with solid castings a must. Titan Machinery is well and truely off the list! Ie No f)$&ing holes in the ways etc please! There are some HF46's in Townsville and Rockhampton that I am thinking of checking out but wanting to know if it's worth 5-8hr drive each way?

Cheers for your info!

Insufficient information. I assume that you're happy with the work envelope of those sorts of mills but:

What accuracy do you want to hold over what distances?

What material are you going to be milling?

What is the maximum size milling cutter you need (want) to use?

What depths of cut do you think you need (want) to do?

You need to think of these things before you buy one of those types of mill because if you don't, you're pretty much guaranteed to disappointment.

FWIW I know someone with one of these bought brand new and he spent a lot of time fighting it, poor finish, light cuts, you name it, he tried it.

Then he bought a used industrial machine and hasn't looked back.

PDW

Hes just said hes in the market for a 45 size mill. Not a used industrial machine. I dare say he has done the research on what these machines are capable of.

Simon

True!

I would be happy with 0.02mm over the whole table but it'll be mainly being worked in the centre as a 5 axis CNC for making prototype parts. As it will be CNC and just for prototyping, I don't care for high speed and massive depths of cuts. Hardest material I'll be cutting at this stage will be stainless but I will try inconel if I can (probably dreaming with inconel but will give it a go lol!). Though the majority will be 6061-T6 and 7075-0 & T6 aluminium. Ie If it takes a whole day to make 1 blade then I am happy. It's just for prototyping. Once I get the patent/s, I'll invest in $100k plus machines for better accuracy as I will be wanting to sell the products, but the prototype doesn't need to be super accurate. I know of heaps of mods to make these styles of mills tram and stay trammed true. I would love an industrial machine but can't afford one until I get the first patent.

Would it be better/cheaper to fly to Taiwan or China and pick one up personally? That way I could organise exact motor sizing, spindle type, ensure the machine is good first hand by being there to inspect it, etc.

The problem with second hand mills is I don't have a mill or lathe to fix the broken second hand mill so would be stuck with a busted mill, unless I get super lucky but I doubt that very much as I am in Aus. I would love one but I need to get something that will work to at least be able to fix second hand machines.

Thanks for the info!

Steve,

Since you are looking at another new mill what was the final result of your problems with your previous Titan TH25v mill?

https://www.woodworkforums.com/showth...SkydivingSteve

Post 24 and other later ones

Frank

Originally Posted by SkydivingSteve

True!

I would be happy with 0.02mm over the whole table but it'll be mainly being worked in the centre as a 5 axis CNC for making prototype parts. As it will be CNC and just for prototyping, I don't care for high speed and massive depths of cuts. Hardest material I'll be cutting at this stage will be stainless but I will try inconel if I can (probably dreaming with inconel but will give it a go lol!). Though the majority will be 6061-T6 and 7075-0 & T6 aluminium.

I'm sorry but as the only mill I own that can hold 0.02mm over the entire table costs far more than a HF45/46 mill and masses at least 4X as much I don't like your chances.

However you did say 'would be happy' not 'I need' so I still have no idea of what you actually *need* rather than what you'd be happy with.

I'm used to working with engineers/scientists. A job I'm working on ATM is specified in terms of dimensions plus/minus small increments (ie 62.5 OD +/- 0.05mm). It also calls out surface finishes which is a big problem with the HF 45 type mills.

Also to get a decent cut in pretty much anything other than aluminium you need to calculate RPM then what cut per tooth and from that travel feed and depth of cut to balance between a tool not rubbing, getting decent surface finish and minimising time in the cut. The stainless steels in particular behave very badly if not cut at proper speeds/feeds, you really cannot play with them (well except for 303). So if you want a decent surface finish with a lightweight underpowered machine you have to go for a shallow DOC and you have to take a cut sufficient for the tool not to rub. Then with bigger cutters you run into rigidity and HP issues - you may have (in theory) the HP to run say a 75mm face mill but you can't take a DOC greater than 0.5mm with a 50% stepover because you don't have the rigidity to maintain surface finish and dimensional tolerance.

Etc.

So since you don't seem to know what you want to achieve WRT cuts, cutters etc *specified in hard numbers*, I guess the only answer I can see is, 'suck it and see'.

As for buying a new mill so as to avoid problems with a used one, good luck with that idea. I thought you'd already tried that now you're up for round 2 in the same rough price point and machine type.....

The thought bubble of spending sufficient money to fly to Taiwan/China etc to inspect/buy and ship home a 45/46 type mill is a fascinating idea but if you applied the same amount of money - some thousands - to buying a better machine in Australia, you'd be a long way ahead.

On that note I think I'll drop out of this as it's pointless and it's all been thrashed to death before in the Titan Machinery thread.

PDW

Originally Posted by SkydivingSteve

There are some HF46's in Townsville and Rockhampton that I am thinking of checking out but wanting to know if it's worth 5-8hr drive each way?

Cheers for your info!

If that is at the stores I think it is in, I would not buy these sorts of tools from them... Or at least look at the one you will be buying as machine tools is certainly not their specialty..

I know the problems you have trying to buy machine tools in the middle of a machine tool desert..