NGC Small milling machine

[screamday]

I may have the opportunity to pick up this small milling machine for free. Anybody have a experience with this machine or something similar? I just plan on playing with it and learning to use it. I used a larger machine years ago.....about 27 years ago. Never mastered it just used it part time as my job required.

[Mike Tashjian]

I have not used a lathe /mill combo like that, but I don't see any problem making stuff with one.  They should be able to make both metal and wooden parts. And the price is right to see if you have any interest.  Mike

[sidecarnutz]

That's an old Harbor Freight unit. I have a Shop Task XT17  that I bought new in 1997. Very similar, but a bit larger. They can be very handy machines for home use IME! Mine still holds tolerance to .001". I buy only USA made cutting tools for it as the third world stuff is awful IME.

[Sasquatch Jim]

  Work slow, you will learn from that machine.

[canuck750]

did you say FREE!!

grab it, you will find at least 100 uses for it.

Jim

[Chuck in Indiana]

For the price, you can't go wrong.

[pehayes]

That is known as a 3-in-1 machine as it can lathe-drill-mill.  I have a Shoptask 2000 and do a lot of one-off work with it.  As canuck750 said, there is no end to what you will do.  When in doubt and with a big bank account always buy separate machines.  However, if space is limited and dollars are limited you can do a lot with a 3-in-1.  The limitations are constrained setup spacing for each project and a lack of real rigidity in the mill function.

I'm a moderator on the 3_in_1_Lathe_Mill_D rill@yahoogroups.com
Join there and seek a lot of advice about your specific machine.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[jrt]

I have the operators manual and an old video tape of 'basic machine skills' that came with a Smithy CB1220 XL if anyone wants them.  I'll even pay shipping (CONUS).  I would be happy to get them out of my house and into someone's that could use them.  I have full size machines and this...I can't even remember where I picked it up.  Garage sale? 
Honesty- they aren't much of anything, but since this came up, I would be happy to help someone starting out. 

I'd echo what others have said- the price is right and you can actually make some interesting stuff if you do it slowly and patiently.  Please be careful!  They can remove metal and fingers with equal ease.  Well, fingers are easier.

[screamday]

Thanks guys.....great info. It looks like "Free" kinda went away. But, the friend that has it is not hurting for money and is looking to clean house for a major down size retirement move in the next 6 months. So I will still make him an offer to see how bad he wants to get rid of it. 

[nobleswood]

While this topic is alive & kicking, what would be a good beginners milling machine for someone who has never used one ?

My defaut is often Harbor Freight

[Mike Tashjian]

A bench top Mill Drill with an R8 spindle is a cheap way to start and is pretty versatile.  I have a HF one from the eighties and it has served me well.  It would be a good idea to take a course before operating a mill  or any machine that can seriously hurt you.  I have formal training and enjoy making projects, parts and tools.  Taking a course or two will also let you run some machines and get a feel of what you can do before you spend your money.  Mike

[pehayes]

While this topic is alive & kicking, what would be a good beginners milling machine for someone who has never used one ?

My defaut is often Harbor Freight

Milling machines require a LOT of cast iron mass and strength for stability and accuracy of results.  No cheap 'starter' machine is going to be massive enough or have enough room between tool and mounting to do any large work.

Having said that, it is hard for a beginner to justify the cost or the space for full size machines.  Hence the availability of 3-in-1 machines, etc.  A good start for 'bench top' machines would be at littlemachineshop.c om  Their 'HiTorque' machines are good quality.  I personally think the nicest of the combination machines is the current CNC ready, variable speed ShopMaster for $6K.  https://www.shopmasterusa.com/  I have their older, manual machine.

Beware, while they may seem expensive, the machines are the cheap part of the deal.  You're going to have to buy special fixtures and cutters for almost every project and those will break the bank.  Just browse through the catalog at https://www.mscdirect.com/enco

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[sidecarnutz]

That company used to be called Shop Task. They invented the 3 in 1 machines. The smaller ones you see today are just copies of their older machines.

Good comments about the mill rigidity. Mine is better than the older and lighter 3 in 1s. But I still can only take cuts of about .010" and maintain a smooth cut. So it can take a long time to remove material. I do use the lathe more than the mill. But the mill has saved my butt on a number of complicated projects. For instance having to drill out  the broken studs in a old Dnepr MT16 rear drive so I could then helicoil the holes and install better studs that weren't made of stale cheese steel left over from the Chernobyl disaster. I was able to square away that drive and it never gave me any more trouble!

[PeteS]

That machine has handwheels to keep track of table movement in X and Y. To keep track of Z (vertical) you can get a dial indicator long enough to handle the chuck/collet movement. Just place it on the quill.
Have fun.

Pete

[jrt]

I have a Burke Millright machine that I really like.  It was built in the '60s and had very little use. 
Burkes are about a 3/4 size machine- not as big as the 'standard' Bridgeport, but also a lot less money and a lot less frequently abused. 
But Pat is right- they do have a sizable footprint.

[Sasquatch Jim]

 I taught myself to use lathe and milling machines.  Then I began to make my living with them repairing parts for earth moving machines.  I once even made a male spline piece with 11 rows.  It was about two inches in diameter and twelve inches long.  I took me quite a while to mathematically figure how to space the cuts with the mill.
 I once looked at a piece of scrap steel about 3 inches wide and 2 inches thick and less than a foot long.
 I cut away everything that didn't look like the steam engine I wanted and made slide valves out of brass and a crankshaft out of bronze.  1 inch bore X 2 inch stroke two cylinder, double acting so each piston powers in each direction.
 That gives 4 power strokes per revolution.  It worked the first time I put pressure To it.  I didn't have any plans or sketches, I just made it one piece at a time by shaping each piece to do a specific job.  You don't need formal training to use such tools, just the patience to teach yourself.  With the lathe the first thing to learn is how to sharpen a bit and what angle to mount it at.  With both lathe and milling operations, remember that is a hobby tool.  Don't try to be a blue chip champion by hogging off too thick a cut.. Sharp bits, shallow cuts and correct speed does it.

[nobleswood]

Thanks for the advice.

$6K puts in the pipe dream file though.

[Lee Bruns]

Lathe is what a lathe is. But hear me now, If any one disagrees with what I am about to tell you, ignore them, they are wrong., This is not an opinion, this may well be a matter of you not killing yourself with a flying piece of broken tooling.
   Do NOT, ever attempt to climb mill using that machine. Ever.

[John A]

Yep, a lathe will kill you when you crash it where a milling machine will just cripple you.

[Lee Bruns]

Yep, a lathe will kill you when you crash it where a milling machine will just cripple you.

Trying to add the thumbs up thingy to this.

[Triple Jim]

I have a Burke Millright machine that I really like.  It was built in the '60s and had very little use. 
Burkes are about a 3/4 size machine- not as big as the 'standard' Bridgeport, but also a lot less money and a lot less frequently abused. 
But Pat is right- they do have a sizable footprint.

You're the first person I've ever heard of who owns a Millrite other than me.  I picked up a used one around 1985 and have used the heck out of it ever since.  It's very simple, but very useful, and compared to a larger mill, it's a real pleasure to use.  I got a single phase 240 in, 240 3-phase out VFD off eBay cheaply, and use it to run the mill's 3-phase motor, and the variable speed drive means I rarely have to move the belt on the pulleys.