Thread: New Mill - a Big Day at the Auctions

nice looking mill lokes like a derect copy of a bridge port herte is a linl to a bloke in the us for parts http://www.matacoinc.net/index.html go to his ebay store he listes just about all the parts

Very nice Hux. Congrats on the new toy.

Congratulations Graig on your purchase. May I ask roughly what did you pay for it?

In regard to the Clarksons Autolock, they are a great chuck. I have attached 2 images of the chuck and it's accessories.

In image 1 it shows the main body and the threaded nut.

The nut is rebated (as shown) this is to accept the collet you are going to use.

This is decided by the body diameter of the cutter you are going to use.

When you have chosen the cutter you want to use locate the appropriate collet inside the nut.

This is then screwed up inside the main body until the nut is up tight against the main body.

Then screw in the cutter into the collet (do this with some leather gloves or a thick rag around the cutting edges so you don't cut your precious fingers) until it stops - this should be because the countersunk hole in the top of the cutter should be hard up against the centre point (as marked in the image) inside the main body.

Then turn back the nut half a turn and screw in the cutter until it won't go in any further.

Finally select the lowest gear speed you have and lock up the nut with the appropriate spanner that should come with the chuck. Just check that the cutter is not moving (unscrewing).

I have know for some tradespeople to put metric cutters into imperial collects (and vice versa). The cutter generally operates OK but if the cutter looks to be wobbling then stop the machine and check you have the correct collect for the cutter you are wanting to use.

I apologize if I have made things more confusing for you but explaining things isn't one of my strong points.

Cheers
MH

Originally Posted by Metal Head

Congratulations Graig on your purchase. May I ask roughly what did you pay for it?

Cheers
MH

Thanks guys - can't wait to get it home.

MH It was a good auction. I paid at the top of what I was prepared to pay $2800. Having the VFD was a $500 saving and add in a DRO and the collets and chucks and I think it was a reasonable buy. A picture is worth a thousand words. I now see how it works. The end bit on the collet locks into the nut and you screw the endmill in until it hits the centre point.....great.

I picked up a heap of cold rolled steel (took me an hour to load it) and some tool steel and stainless spring steel as well. There is also two sheets of a steel I have not seen. I will try and get a decent shot and see if anyone recognizes it. Its only 1.6mm or so but is still in the Specialty Metals wrapping and has an odd heat treated patina to it. The sheets are maybe 1000x300 and seem flexy (for 3mm of steel packed together anyway).

Hi Graig,

Thanks for the swift reply. I think you did very well with your purchase - I have seen a lot worse machines going for more.

What I forgot to mention what I liked about the Clarksons Autolock Chucks is that the cutter never comes out of the collet in operation - well I have never seen one come out. Only a fortnight ago whilst using a ripper cutter I had to use a friction holding collet. Whilst cutting I suddenly noticed the cutter starting to slowly move downwards (out of the collet) but I stopped the mill straight away before it fell out or smashed into the job.

MH

G'day Hux

A good buy for you
congrats
Grahame

I forgot to mention that it has a functioning 1 shot oiler system as well.

Hopefully this rain will ease off enough for the truck to get it into the back yard without making a complete mess of the lawn.

a Clarkson Autolock collet chuck


Hi hux,

I am sitting here at my computer with a Clarkson milling Handbook that contains info on most of there cutters (at the time of printing 35 years ago). It gives you the cutting speeds as well as feeds of certain size cutters and what they should be for different materials.

I tracked the company down via "google" but it appears like many other companies that they have amalgamated with others in order to survive. The homepage is at the first link, where the second one is the sales area. They may still sell these handbooks (updated) for a small charge but they are well worth it if you are planning on using their equipment for a while.

http://www.clarkson-osborn.co.uk/main/index.html

Sales - [email protected]

Btw, did the mill arrive on Friday as promised?

Regards
MH

Originally Posted by Metal Head

a Clarkson Autolock collet chuck


Hi hux,

I am sitting here at my computer with a Clarkson milling Handbook that contains info on most of there cutters (at the time of printing 35 years ago). It gives you the cutting speeds as well as feeds of certain size cutters and what they should be for different materials.

I tracked the company down via "google" but it appears like many other companies that they have amalgamated with others in order to survive. The homepage is at the first link, where the second one is the sales area. They may still sell these handbooks (updated) for a small charge but they are well worth it if you are planning on using their equipment for a while.

http://www.clarkson-osborn.co.uk/main/index.html

Sales - [email protected]

Btw, did the mill arrive on Friday as promised?

Regards
MH

Legend. Thanks for the link. I tried googling but couldn't find their homepage in all the links.

Mill arrived and is now plugged in and running. Haven't made chips due to a lack of workholding equipment.

Made up a 2nd draw bar (metric) to suit the other day and I have 4 or 5 days off later this week so will be chasing up important things like clamps etc so I can get to work.
Its a PITA when you have zero workholding capacity and can't even make up some T nuts to suit.

Originally Posted by hux

Made up a 2nd draw bar (metric) to suit the other day and I have 4 or 5 days off later this week so will be chasing up important things like clamps etc so I can get to work. Its a PITA when you have zero workholding capacity and can't even make up some T nuts to suit.

Hi Hux,

How is the project progressing mate? Have you achieved any of the things you said you were hoping to above?

I just spotted a milling machine that is up for sale at auction but I don't know where - not that I am after one atm. I thought it was interesting in the concept given that it appears they have used two milling machines to make one. I've never seen a bridgeport head section used on the body of another very unusual.

Regards
David

Originally Posted by Metal Head

Hi Hux,

How is the project progressing mate? Have you achieved any of the things you said you were hoping to above?

I just spotted a milling machine that is up for sale at auction but I don't know where - not that I am after one atm. I thought it was interesting in the concept given that it appears they have used two milling machines to make one. I've never seen a bridgeport head section used on the body of another very unusual.

Regards
David

Hi David

Things are progressing slowly. Got my 2nd draw bar made...bit of 12mm all thread and then turned and centre drilled and tapped a collar and then a quick and dodgy though effective all thread joiner nut on top ))
However, a break away chewed up my last days off and was racing around on other jobs sorting things out. However found time to buy an auto boring/facing head at an auction the other day. Need to get the correct arbor but otherwise it is like new.

The beauty of the generic bridgeport clone I guess is that you can fit the head or shaper attachment on to any of the turrets without too much drama.