grizzly/enco/tawain mill for seat machine

airflowdevelop · Post by **airflowdevelop** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 1:27 pm

Since everyone here is far more experienced with industrial machinery then me...And finding a used bridgeport around here is about impossible. I wanted to see if anyone had experience with these "knock off" taiwan mills. We have a grizzly plant local, but I have no idea what I am looking at so it really doesn't matter. I am thinking about trying my 3 angle system again, but with a dead rigid system like some of you are using (winter play project). I hate to get 20k wrapped up in a paper weight, So curiousity has it wether these are worth while machines, or junk.

Here is a link.
http://www.grizzly.com/products/item.as ... mber=G9903

Thanks
Dennis

mach9 · Post by **mach9** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 2:10 pm

I'm no where near an expert, but I'd shy away from the Grizzly stuff. I have their 9X20 lathe and I really work on it more than with it. I'm sure the bigger stuff is a lot better, but I'd still be hesitant. I have seen the Jet brand lathes and mills up close as I know a couple of guys that have them, and they seem to be very sturdy, and accurate. Both of these guys speak very highly of them. And, they are HEAVY, and that is a good thing. You might want to snoop around and ask some questions here.................

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.craf ... =srg&hl=en

Also here.................MJ

http://www.mermac.com/

SupStk · Post by **SupStk** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 2:54 pm

Dennis,
I don't know thing about grizzly mills, but I can tell you there is some good Taiwan mills out there. Sharpe and Jet are two that come to mind.

I wonder about the wisdom on using a mill for rigid seat cutting. They work well when using a drive ball and running the cutter arbor on the pilot. (Similar to the Sunnen VGS-20) Running a solid drive set up might be a nightmare dialing in each guide. Not all guides are in perfect alignment or angluarity, that is why the Serdi style systems work so well. They are self centering off the guide centerline, and when the machine locks down the pilot is mostly along for the ride. When the company rep was setting up my machine he removed the pilot to show that seats could be cut after centering.

Just my 2 cents

bill jones · Post by **bill jones** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 2:54 pm

-A couple of things about using a mill is the spindle travel is only 5" and that is always an issue.
-I have 60 rpm as the slowest speed I can get on my mill and I'd sure like to have it down to about 20 or 30rpm sometimes.
-The 3 phase means you need another $500 to $700 for a phase convertor.

Post by **maxracesoftware** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 3:07 pm

-A couple of things about using a mill is the spindle travel is only 5" and that is always an issue.
-I have 60 rpm as the slowest speed I can get on my mill and I'd sure like to have it down to about 20 or 30rpm sometimes.
-The 3 phase means you need another $500 to $700 for a phase convertor.

Bill excellent points ! i was going to Post those same points

especially the 5" Travel and the "lack of" a 20-30 RPM setting

i wish someone would make
a Vertical Mill with 10" Quill Travel and down to 20 RPM setting

Dennis , try this Link

http://www1.mscdirect.com

Type in Search => Vertical Mill

airflowdevelop · Post by **airflowdevelop** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 3:23 pm

Bill,
I agree on the quill and speed! I thought about the use of a VFD drive?
this is just a "play" scenario though, and don't want to tie up dedicated equipment.

Larry,
Do you think the knockoffs that msc sells are better? I have been told that most if not all of the china stuff is made in the same place? Just like anything else, you have to wonder what is fact, and fiction.

Thanks
Dennis

crazycuda · Post by **crazycuda** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 4:21 pm

I can't say how good the grizzly products are, but on a fiew metal meet boards people have complained about the quality of the grizzly mills.
I personally use an enco 10x54 mill with a 6" riser block and the mcglogan head fixture for all my valve seat and guide work. I also mill my heads on the same machine using the BHJ cutter set up. Which saves time and most of all adds versitality. I used a serdi set up before and for me I prefer using a mill, It just feels more stable to me.

airflowdevelop · Post by **airflowdevelop** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 4:52 pm

how is the quality of the enco?

Post by **SchmidtMotorWorks** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 5:58 pm

I strongly prefer older USA made machines for manual work.
If you are in PA take a look at this government auction site.

I have seen some super deals go through one military site in PA on machinery.

I saw a "to die for" precision surface grinder go for $1700 last month, if it were local I would have gladly paid $5K for it.

http://www.govliquidation.com

Adger Smith · Post by **Adger Smith** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 12:43 am

I bought a 2 year old mill this summer at an online auction & got a bargin.
It has all the HD drive motors & CNC 3 axis controls & computer. I was able to go to the plant & take the machine off line my self. It has a bunch of tooling & a HD taping set up. I needed it to do blocks on the mains(caps) & use my BHJ lifter bore setups. I have looked several years for just the right machine. They are out ther if you look for them.
I bought my Storm Crank Grinder at a Govt auction about 8 years ago.
It had been in storage since the Vietnam war. The documents with it told me it was actually "In Country" about the same time I was. The serial # is one number from another machine here in town. Talk about a small world!! Ther is a govt. disposal facility west of town & you can inspect machines befor bidding. Sometimes there are buys & other times there is junk. You just have to look & wait for the bargin.

crazycuda · Post by **crazycuda** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 1:14 am

airflowdevelop wrote:how is the quality of the enco?

I really couldn't give a defined answer for that one because I am not a machine specialist by any means. Personally I think the quality is good, everything is definatly heavy duity. The guy I get my machine tools from was quite impressed with the quality and accuracy. I had him set up the mill for me.
Is there any thing in particular you would like me to look at?

ZEROMAN91 · Post by **ZEROMAN91** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 5:19 am

Air flow, I see your in york Pa. There are 2 used machine sales places here in nj. We are about 3 hrs from you. Try machineryvalues .com they are from harrison nj. There is another Place in Sommerville NJ. Lacey Williams machine Sales Both Have advertised used Bridgeport Equipment.

airflowdevelop · Post by **airflowdevelop** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 8:06 am

Tried buying a mill yesterday from machineryvalues....They had it listed for 3k. When I said I was coming to pick it up...the price magically became 4k...then even higher.

I am very "pro" american on my equipment. But being nobody wants to sell it. I think I will be buying a new foreign piece.

Dennis

k-star · Post by **k-star** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 8:26 am

Dennis,, you are more then welcome to come down and try out my mill before you buy one to see if you like it, or maybe help you decide what you want to buy.....

I would also go with a used american mill before i bought a off shore brand...

What was the deal with the mystery price jump?????

I am still looking for one for you...

Keith

airflowdevelop · Post by **airflowdevelop** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 1:27 pm

Thanks for the offer Keith, Not to concerned about liking it or not if it works. I have had the price jump happen twice this week. I was told from a friend that the used machinery market is that bad, that when you call it's just another time for them to cash in on fresh meat...

Hopefully something will work out soon.

Dennis

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