ship69

Regarding the small (c. 32mm) V-blocks, I need them to be:

a) "pretty accurate" 
i.e. Accurate to say 1/1000 inch  (0.02mm)

b) made out of good quality hardened & heat-treated steel, so that they will resist being accidentally filed/dropped etc

Budget: £40? (but hopefully a lot less)

e.g. Brand: "White Hinge" (c. £35)
2X Precision Engineers V-Block Clamps - 1"/25mm
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B077Q7271M/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2

e.g. Cromwell Tools - (c. £40)
Oxford.32x42x32mm WORKSHOP VEE BLOCKS C/W CLAMPS
https://www.cromwell.co.uk/shop/measuring-and-test-equipment/vee-blocks-and-clamps-steel/32x42x32mm-workshop-vee-blocks-c-w-clamps/p/OXD3702310K

e.g. Bluefox Tools (India) ) (c.£32)
Precision Engineers Vee Blocks Clamp Set - V Block Matched Pair 1-5/8" x 1-1/4"
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Precision-Engineers-Vee-Blocks-Clamp-Set-V-Block-Matched-Pair-1-5-8-x-1-1-4-/164123187633

e.g.Buy Brand Tools - BBT (c.£23 + incl postage)
"Precision V-Block Clamp Set" 
https://www.buybrandtools.com/acatalog/precision-v-block-clamp-set.html

In general, are there any brands that you recommend for tools?
And are there any brands to avoid?

With thanks
 

J

PS I do also still need to buy some much larger ones  c. "seven inch" 

Hello

I need to buy:  A) a pair of small V-blocks and a pair of really large V-blocks. Do you have any buying advice?
(e.g. what brands, what features, where to buy from etc)

Background:

A. SMALL SCALE
I need the small v-block for working at small scale 
e.g. this sort of thing:  (e.g. 40mm x 32mm x 32mm). 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Precision-Engineers-VEE-Blocks-CLAMP/dp/B08W4M44JH/

What about something more exotic like the Tormach V-block set?
They sit "below flush" at the sides which is quite clever as allows you to clamp the whole block in a vice, or use it on its side

https://tormach.com/90-degree-v-block-clamp-set-matched-pair-33243.html
Wait, here is a video!

B. LARGER SCALE
A friend has a pair of large "Seven inch" (180 x 115 x 45mm) v-blocks which he says he uses "every day" for all manner of random model-making task. (e.g. holding things down, holding things at 90° whilst glue sets etc:

i.e. This sort of thing:

https://www.zoro.co.uk/shop/measuring-and-test-equipment/vee-blocks-and-clamps---steel/200x100x140mm-grade-2-vee-blocks-pr/p/ZT1017529X
Although that get pretty expensive (GBP200+)... also it's rather irritating to have the writing on the top.
Also would it be better to have a round or square cut trench down the middle?

Any thoughts?

J

1 hour ago, Maury S said:

Sherline
Maury

I am investigating Sherlines. Reasonably light and well made by all accounts but they are rather expensive.
They also don't seem to have quills which makes drilling very difficult & slow.

I can't find anything about "Maury" milling machines.

J
 

19 hours ago, grsjax said:

Looks like a good drill press but does it have heavy duty quill bearings able to take a side load during milling and does it have a solid or hollow column?  Both of these issues are going to be important in doing any kind of milling.

I have been trying to find out more about Servo machines for milling - which they seem to imply is possible, but they haven't beeen replying to my emails.

On 4/7/2021 at 6:41 AM, noel_colledge said:

If you are looking to mill mild and stainless steel I would not suggest the Proxxon MF70. It is a great machine for light work such as wood or brass, but those materials over time will put too much pressure on the bearings. I take it from the currency quoted you are in the UK. I have an Axminster SX2 for larger work and although too heavy for your needs, they do a smaller model the SX1, it is a little lighter than the taig. I am very pleased with the Axminster and have no doubts it's little brother will do the job also.

 

Noel

Given that I don't have a permanent workshop, so what would you do? 
OR just give up trying to mill completely?

One thought would be to buy a Proxxon MF70 (or EuroTool DRL 300.00??)  and pay someone to insert better bearings!

At least it would still be easy to move it on/off a shelf!

J

PS My budget is up say GBP 750 or so, maybe twice that for something really good. Buying a second hand machine would be a possibility. 

PPS Another line of thought would be to buy a light-weight CNC milling machine and set it running (e.g. overnight if necessary) taking very small cuts off. The problem is that I suspect that think the learning curve would be painful. Also I work at a computer screen all day so it would be nice to NOT involve any computers!

PPPS: Maybe I should get this guy to improve a small milling machine for me.
(turn of sound unless you speak er Russian I think it is)

16 hours ago, mnl said:

Aciera f1 or Sixis, why compromise.

What would be the going rate for such machines (2nd hand, presumably)?

And where would you suggest I look? I am based in the UK

12 hours ago, Bob Cleek said:

It's been said that the quality and accuracy of any machine tool is, relative to its capacity, directly proportionate to its weight. 

 

I'm sure that will be true. After all, why else would all these machines weigh so darned much!

What happens if I don't care very much about quality or accuracy? But instead I care about being able to move the darned thing at the end of the day onto a shelf?


 

12 hours ago, Jaager said:

I checked Little Machine Shop  - the model that is in your zone seems to be a version if a Sieg SX1P or SX1LP

Not low cost or light weight, but it looks to be quality for a hobby machine.   It is probably a good idea to make sure that the decision points that you use be ones that matter.

Sadly I don't have a permanent space for a workshop, so whatever mill I buy will need to be put away on a shelf overnight.  The SX1P is 48Kg. I'm in reasonable shape but I think that's a lot to ask.

[Am I correct in thinking that the Axminster Tools SX1 i really just the same thing as the Seig SX1??]

Either way "AXMINSTER MODEL ENGINEER SERIES SX1 MICRO MILL" (c. £610) seems to weighs in at 40Kg, has a rather slow top speed of 2000 rpm, and 150w motor. Presumably the slow top speed will mean not so good drilling/milling with very fine cuts.

What about Proxxon BFW 40/E (900 -  6,000 rpm, c.16Kg, 250watts)? (c. £490)

 

Hello 

I am new to milling but I am thinking of buying either a:

A. Proxxon MF70 a micro milling machine or

B. Proxxon BFW 40/E "Complete Mill/Drill System" or 

C. Sherline 5400??

D. Taig is probably too heavy
E. [something else]

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR
- At least 10,000 RPM (so that I can drill/mill mild steel at sub 1mm diametre) 

- Less than say 30Kg ?? (needs to be easy to put away at night. If dead easy to dissemble could be quite a lot heavier)

- Power 150+watts ?
- Low runout (so that fine mills & drills don't snap)

BONUS:  If possible, I am hoping to be able to drill/mill mild steel at as large diameters as possible (e.g. 4 to 6mm?). If accuracy suffers somewhat due to the device flexing at little that wouldn't matter. 
 

TYPIC USES

I will need to cut mild steel & stainless steel quite of then.  e.g. Right now I am needing to cut 1mm thick mild steel plate and then put a 45 degree chamfer on the edge, that must be accurate to c. 1 to 1.5°. 

POSSIBLE PRODUCTS:

A) The Proxxon MF70 (c. £287)
Spindle speed: 5,000 - 20,000 rpm. 
Motor power: 100 watts
Weight: 7Kg

It looks like a very interesting machine, although the reviews seem rather mixed. I do not have space for a workshop so all of my equipment will need to be put way overnight, so the MF70 weighing just 7Kg seems brilliant. 
e.g. Some reviewers are complaining about the spindle being noisy and having too much "run out".  I like the idea of being able to upgrade at some point to CNC (not yet though!) Also although very high speed, the motor does seems rather weak at just 100 watts.  My concern is that the whole machine will flex too much, making accurate milling very difficult. 
Does the device adust power to maintain the selected RPM speed?

B. Proxxon BFW 40/E "Complete Mill/Drill System" (£586)

The Proxxon BFW 40/E "Complete Mill/Drill System", has a 250 watt motor. It'll do "900 -  6,000 rpm" - although there is no gearing so I am suspicious that the torque will be poor at lower RPM. I think the whole thing weighs in at more like 16Kg, which still sounds easy to put away over night.
The table does look rather small (just 200x200mm). 

Does the device adust power to maintain the selected RPM speed?

C. Sherline milling machine e.g. 5410 metric
Power: 1/3hp?? (c.250watts), RPM 70 to 2800 ==> 10,000rpm with pulley kit, 16.3Kg
Somehow they seem much more "grown up" and seem well-reviewed, but they are also quite a lot more expensive!
About £1040 + pulley kit 

D. Taig mills 
up to 10,000 rpm (motor upgrade), but 36Kg seems to too heavy

E. Servo Products - Heavy Duty Drill Press?

200-20,000 RPM, 9.5Kg, c 230 watts? (power used)

Elegant little thing but seems to be more of a high quality Drill Press, except that it looks like Mill Heads are available??
http://www.servoproductsco.com/html/heavy_duty_drill_press.html

In truth I don't need super-accuracy, nor the ability to drill/mill with very large diameters but is there anything significantly better-made than the Proxxon MF70, that will do at least 10,000rpm, and not weigh as much as a small battleship? 

J