Thread: buying a mill

I don't like your chances for a reconditioned Bridgeport machine, but if you want a good quality second hand mill look around at the second hand tool dealers.

If you want to buy new, something like this would fit the bill, leaving around $4000 for tooling (but that will be on going).
https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/M596D

If that is to big they have smaller ones and a lot of companies supply similar machines.
https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/Tu...lling-Machines

Dave

Originally Posted by scottyk

First post on the metalwork side of things, here goes
I work on an oil rig off WA and we are looking to buy a mill for the onboard workshop. We currently only have a large drill press and we would like to do away with that and use the space to put a milling machine.

I was thinking a Bridgeport, recconditioned?, Does anybody knwo of a place in Oz you can buy these? What to look for?
So I have a budget of $15000 and out of that I need to get a mill and some start up tooling. The rig runs 60Hz power which is why I was thinking a Bridgeport branded machine.

So please don't hold back, give me your ideas and places I might want to talk to to supply it. I would prefer to buy one in Australia to support some local buisiness but I am worried they might not be able to supply 60Hz machines.?

Thanks
Scotty

50Hz or 60Hz doesn't really matter, it only affects the motor speed. You can run a 50Hz motor on 60Hz power quite safely. I assume you do have 240V single phase & 415V 3 phase power.

Get a VFD and you can vary the frequency to suit your needs anyway.

Don't get a B/port, get something with a 40 ISO taper. The B/port R8 taper is pretty feeble. I've got one so the voice of experience here.

Not sure where you'd find a new one, but Kondia made nice heavy-duty turret (B/port type) mills with 40 taper spindles. They work very nicely.

Really big thing to think of is, what are you going to use it for? If it's milling, you need a milling machine, sure. If it's drilling *small* holes on a precision layout, a turret mill and DRO will be the right tool. If you need to drill big holes, get a big drill press with power feed, an Arboga for choice as they're the best. The power feeds on milling machine quills are there to drive boring heads, not big drill bits. They break if you abuse them. For a B/port, the limit is around 10mm with power feed, don't know for a Kondia but given it's a lot heavier, 12 to 16mm would be my guess. My old Arboga drill press can drive a 35mm bit effortlessly through 40mm plate.

So - work envelope, type of work and weight of work are the things to consider first. This helps to eliminate 'nice' but unsuitable tools.

PDW

I don't think the frequency would matter, it would just run a smidge faster than spec. But if it's 60Hz, what's the voltage?

Yeah it sound slike we may have to keep our large drill press as we do drill 20-30mm holes a bit. There is room to have both.
The machine will maybe only do 1-2 hours a day so the 50hz thing might not be a drama.
The voltage would be 440V 3 phase so that shouldn't be an issue.
Cheers for the adivce, big help
Scotty

I'm not so sure 415 rated motors will be happy on 440v. Anyone confirm/deny?

I like the look of this mill...

It is overpriced though, that is why it has been for sale for years..

Johnford Toolmaster Horiz. & Vert. Milling Machine

Hi RC
Wow they must think there is something specail about that mill. I wonder good the rack driven table is when used for vertical milling?

Stuart

The mill runs on leadscrews.... The traverse handle runs in a bevel gear...

A fair few of the heavier Japanese/Euro turret mills are like this..

lol omg of course
And a very good idea it is to, my table it something over 1200mm long so the handles can get a long way away.

Climb milling with a rack would get interesting lol

Thanks RC.

Stuart

Originally Posted by Bryan

I'm not so sure 415 rated motors will be happy on 440v. Anyone confirm/deny?

I run a few 3 phase motors off a static phase converter running 480V and have never had any issues. I doubt 440V (6% above 415V) would cause any significant issues, especially if good quality motors are used.

Originally Posted by Vernonv

I run a few 3 phase motors off a static phase converter running 480V and have never had any issues. I doubt 440V (6% above 415V) would cause any significant issues, especially if good quality motors are used.

While I'd agree* there isnt likely to be an issue. I'd doubt "isn't likely to be an issue" will cut it with the OHS on an oil rig. Of course I've been wrong before, not long ago in fact

Stuart
*bearing in mind I dont know a great deal about such things.

Originally Posted by Vernonv

I run a few 3 phase motors off a static phase converter running 480V and have never had any issues. I doubt 440V (6% above 415V) would cause any significant issues, especially if good quality motors are used.

Isn't the voltage standard tolerance

+10% -6%?

Originally Posted by .RC.

Isn't the voltage standard tolerance

+10% -6%?

Not sure of the exact % figures, but yes I would say that it would be within tolerance, or very close to.

Originally Posted by .RC.

I like the look of this mill...

It is overpriced though, that is why it has been for sale for years..

Johnford Toolmaster Horiz. & Vert. Milling Machine

It doesn't seem over priced (depending on condition) as it's around half the price of a new one at Hare & Forbes and was probably built better back (then.I just noticed H&F's have dropped the price a little as they where nearly $19,000)
https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/M621D

Dave