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23rd February 2014, 07:11 PM #1Senior Member
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What beginner tools to get for first mill
Hi guys.
Well I am so overwhelmed with my new mill. Im excited that I can cm start fabricating but I'd love to get some insight from the more experienced.
What are the `must haves', for the mill. I'm looking at a decent vice as the vice it came worth is laughable.
But not sure what tooling I will use the most.
Cheers.
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23rd February 2014 07:11 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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23rd February 2014, 07:25 PM #2SENIOR MEMBER
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Decent machine vise with swivel base.
ER32 collet chuck with collets.
Decent set of end mills & slot drills. No need to go overboard here, you'll blunt them fast enough.
Drill chuck preferably keyless and not too big - it's a mill with limited Z space. 12mm max, another one of 8mm or 10mm is useful for small drill bits. I have one on a stub shank that goes in an ER32 collet. Works fine unless I'm *really* short on Z space.
DTI for setting stuff up.
Parallels but you can kludge by for them.
I assume you already have a decent set of calipers and a micrometer or 2.
Rotary table is very useful but unless you're doing rotary type work straight away, wait.
Ditto a dividing head - there's overlap between the RT & DH anyway depending on if you need to set up for cuts at other than vertical or horizontal to the mill spindle.
PDW
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23rd February 2014, 07:30 PM #3
I am sure that there was a thread about this recently. I cannot think of the name but maybe someone else will.
If you have a look at my thread you may get some ideas.
https://www.woodworkforums.com/showth...ght=mill+tools
Cheers
Dean
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23rd February 2014, 07:59 PM #4GOLD MEMBER
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Hi there,
Congratulations on your new purchase!
In terms of tooling, how long is your piece of string? Or, should I say how deep is your wallet or what budget (if any) limitations do you have. Some things are must have (otherwise you just can't make chips) while other things are really nice to haves and then there are other things that are really, really nice to haves. At some point regardless of your budget (unless it's unlimited) you will need to prioritise with your initial setup purchases. My priorities in order would be:
Collet set (ER32 full set)
selection of end mills
Drill bit set (if you don't already have them)
Clamping Kit (more important than a vice. You can do basic work without a vice but you can't do anything without a clamping kit)
Engineers square
Boring bar
Facemill
Milling vice
Drill chuck (This is a lower priority since you can use your collet set for drill bit holding)
DTI
DI
Edge finder
Set of Parallels
Angle plate
Obviously if you have the budget then you can buy all of these items straight away, otherwise start at the top and work your way down. This list is not exhaustive and there are many more items that you may want as the need to project arises.
Cheers,
SimonGirl, I don't wanna know about your mild-mannered alter ego or anything like that." I mean, you tell me you're, uh, super-mega-ultra-lightning babe? That's all right with me. I'm good. I'm good.
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23rd February 2014, 08:21 PM #5
Congrats on the new machine, PDW and Simon have made a good list so far.
I will add:
Soft face hammer-deadblow or rawhide/copper for seating things in the vice properly.
Individual spanners to leave with the machine for drawbar etc,
1-2-3 blocks,
Cheap paint brushes for cleaning chips as you mill.
Have a look at CTC tools for your collets, although ebay may give you cheaper options these days, the CTC shipping price has become a killer. http://www.ctctools.biz/
Look at getting some Parallels and 123 blocks on ebay from the states. IIRC you can fit 5 pairs of 123's and a set of parallels in a flat rate box. You will sell the extra 123's on ebay not a problem. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-20-PC...item5d4062ca6d http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-PAIR-...item2a12f28a81
Ozmestore on ebay has the best value angle plates around http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/6-X5-X4-1...item58ac0ca36b
Last but not least get a copy of this book http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Milling-N...item1e6e035f24
Chhers,
Ew1915 17"x50" LeBlond heavy duty Lathe, 24" Queen city shaper, 1970's G Vernier FV.3.TO Universal Mill, 1958 Blohm HFS 6 surface grinder, 1942 Rivett 715 Lathe, 14"x40" Antrac Lathe, Startrite H225 Bandsaw, 1949 Hercus Camelback Drill press, 1947 Holbrook C10 Lathe.
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23rd February 2014, 09:15 PM #6Pink 10EE owner
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Well, before answering, what sort of mill do you have?
That will dictate the sized tooling that is best suited...Light red, the colour of choice for the discerning man.
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23rd February 2014, 09:37 PM #7Senior Member
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Mill Tooling
1-2-3 blocks,
There are at least 2 types of 123 blocks. Ones that can bolt together and ones that cant bolt together.
The type that I bought have 5 threaded holes and the remaining holes are NOT clearance on those threads. It is useful that the blocks can be bolted together to form an angle plate or similar. Mine cannot so I am looking for another set.
Roger
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23rd February 2014, 09:58 PM #8Mechanical Butcher
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- Oct 2004
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- Southern Highlands NSW
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- 920
A flycutter in a vertical mill is a good cheap tool for getting the best finish, especially on aluminium. Width of cut possible means you often don't have to make multiple passes for a large flat area, and it looks better.
Jordan
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23rd February 2014, 10:15 PM #9Senior Member
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- Sep 2007
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- Melbourne, Australia
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True. I should have mentioned.
I have an MMD 45.
Here is a picture of it.
IMAG0816.jpg
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23rd February 2014, 10:16 PM #10
Very nice, what spindle, MT4 or R8?
PS I don't think anyone mentioned a boring head (with boring bars) yet?
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23rd February 2014, 10:48 PM #11Senior Member
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24th February 2014, 07:38 AM #12SENIOR MEMBER
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24th February 2014, 09:42 AM #13Senior Member
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Oh power feed would be sweet. I think it's time to go shopping!
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24th February 2014, 10:30 AM #14GOLD MEMBER
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best thing i did on my mill and i would be lost without it is fit cheap DRO to the downfeed 40 bucks from h&f and a bit of work making brackets ,
other than that like everyone else has said an er 32 chuck and full set of collets i could not do without .'If the enemy is in range, so are you.'
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24th February 2014, 11:13 AM #15Senior Member
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Nice work.
I've had a look at a few of the "cheap" dro kits that some of the guys have got on here (Big Shed and Blu Rock) which I think will do me nicely and do my wallet nicely too.
Pretty much the same as your setup,
Really loving these replies guys.
I already bought the book that Ueee mentioned and am currently looking for collets, 123 blocks and some parallels, End mills and fly cutters are also on my short list. Should be able to do quite a bit with those until I work out what else I need/want (same thing!)
Still haven't decided on a vice. It seems the more I read, the more I find out. I was almost settled on a parlec vise, but I'm not so sure now.
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