Thread: Hafco Hm -45 milling Machine

Hi,
Just to remind me what do you want to do with a mill? I would still recommend staying away from the new Chinese machines especially after what I have found with mine.

Only one's that I can, find most of milling I want to do is small jobs to bring them to a shop they are not interested in doing them or quote a outragous price to get rid of you. I tried a milling attachment to fit the lathe useless, so want else could I use I thank you for your help

I think one of the HM45's was mine if you were looking on Gumtree. Mine sold this week and I will be replacing it with a BM30 after looking around for a good used Bridgeport or clone. There isn't much in Perth and every one that has come up is flogged. Last one I looked at had one handwheel replaced with a bit of welded on flat bar on the screw.
I don't have time to recondition a clapped out machine.

As for the HM45 it did everything I wanted it to do quite well. I need the extra travel so that is my reason for going bigger otherwise I would still have it. I had a powered X axis and DRO on the HM45 which made it a lot better machine.

I know what you mean some of junk that is for sale here, The only thing that I didn't like was MT3 taper which those machines use . What do you use your mill for model making I wish to use it for general toolmaking cheer's. David

Nothing wrong with an MT3. It is held in the taper with a drawbar and never had it slip. Have drilled 32mm holes (my largest drill bit) and used 75mm facing cutter in steel with no problems.
It is the same taper as my lathe tailstock so handy to be able to interchange bits with the lathe.
I mostly make parts for CNC machines so most of my stuff is a larger scale than model making.

I bought that mill on ebay as my next door neighbour worked for telsra that machine is near brand new as it never was used he doesn't know why they bought it in the first place he tell me that it is a very solid machine with home use last for years so I would very much like to thank you Rod for bringing to my attention. David

Glad you got it and solved your mill purchase. I reckon you got an ideal mill for youself there. Look at getting a VFD to run it on and you should be going in no time.

Well done David
Just to clear things up though, did you but a HM 45 or the other mill that Rod pointed out in one of your other threads (the one on ebay that did not come with the vice).

I actually purchased rodm's old HM-45 and could not be happier, he obviously looked after it and although I found a couple cheaper around perth, it was definately his care for the device during its lifetime that made the decision easy.

I just purchased a slightly discounted Anglock 6" vice from Hare and Forbes [code: V3061] (its their copy of the Vertex) and it works great

Have just purchased some 878oz/in X & Y motors and a 1600oz/in for the Z so without further ado I am converting it to a CNC machine.

Thanks again Rodm, an easy purchase and great advice

The mill I bought is a Romac it had a three phase motor which replaced the 3ph one horse power with a single phase 2HP quite simple to do. It is a imperial machine made in taiwan it was in telecom's machine shop invery good condition I have tried it and works very well and far better than those chinese mills

Have a look at the OZMESTORE on ebay I bought a vice from there 125mm for $110.00 free delivery the vice is much better finished and much smoother with replaceable jaws swivel base and well made I think they are much better than the H&F stuff and cheaper Iam very happy with it David

Originally Posted by woodfast

The mill I bought is a Romac it had a three phase motor which replaced the 3ph one horse power with a single phase 2HP quite simple to do. It is a imperial machine made in taiwan it was in telecom's machine shop invery good condition I have tried it and works very well and far better than those chinese mills

I think you have done really well purchasing that machine. Sadly, I agree with your last sentence. Everytime I take a different part of my mill apart to make a n improvement or to add something I get a surprise. None of them have been pleasant...

Simon