I want to sell my mini mill

A torrent mill can also expand the working area over a fixed head machine. I may be able to adjust to not having a knee, but not the lack of a turrent... everyone has different tastes though.
If the comet does not nod, it's not a deal killer to me, mass is king with these machines. If it has a 2hp motor, awesome. Take the plunge for the comet. I drove 3 hours 1 way to get my mill, never regretted it.

Rich
 
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I think I agree, guys. That column seemed weird to me. I don't see rigidity. The lack of a vise means I will have to come up with more money to get one, or wait till Christmas. But I like that it has a dro, at least on two axis. I find, however, I mainly used the z axis dro on my mini mill the most, but maybe I can set up a second dro like igaging, or a caliper style on the quill.

I like the opinions, guys.
 
It appears the head nods. Third photo seems to give up the ghost.
 
It appears the head nods. Third photo seems to give up the ghost.

If you are talking about the Comet mill, yes is has the same functionality as a typical Bridgeport 2J head.

Ted
 
Well this kills me. I had set everything up with the comet mill when I asked for physical dimensions... It's a big mill!

from base to top of motor: 90"
Front to back of machine: 64"
Handle to Handle on table: 66"
Back of Ram to Front of head: 5'

Sooooo. That doesn't actually fit in my garage. It will literally take up half the width. I will have no room to stand in front of it or walk by. Not to mention I'd have to tear down a shelf, move my welding bottles, and move the grinders to another location.
I may have to pass on it and go with the First with its column... I mean. I'm not doing production jobs or anything that requires accuracy down to the ten thousands, or thousands for that matter. It's just hobby... How bad could it be? .....
 
How bad could it be? .....

Don't kid yourself. It can be pretty bad. The problem isn't necessarily with the machine's ability to produce an accurate part, it's more about how much functionality it has and how easy it is to use. If that head doesn't have some means to keep itself in alignment with the table each time the head is raised or lowered on that round column, I think you will become very frustrated. Since that mill doesn't have a knee, all vertical adjustment has to be done by raising and lowering the head. Just think of how many operations you may be wanting to do that will require raising and lowering the head. Many times, even changing tooling will require changing the distance between the table and the spindle. Also, sooner or later you will have a need to tilt or nod the head as well, which it doesn't appear that the First mill will do. I'm not trying to rain on your parade, just hate to see you buy something you may quickly be unsatisfied with. Take your time and get what you want. You've mentioned a couple of times about the distance you'd have to travel. I drove eight hours to get my lathe which I didn't particularly enjoy, but after I got the lathe home, I forgot all about the drive and I've never regretted doing it.
O.K., I'll quit blathering now.

Ted
 
Uhhg I knooow... How do I justify a machine that doesn't physically fit in my garage tho? I honestly didn't realize how BIG turret mills were...
I'd have to tear apart half my garage to make it fit.
 
What I should be doing is buying a good bench top that's big enough for me. Much like Stefan gotteswinter's RF40 clone. But I just don't have the money...
 
Well, let's discuss this... Cause the reality is, the turret and knee mills don't fit in my shop. That's just not a reality I can deny. I didn't investigate their physical dimensions prior to setting my heart on something. I honestly overlooked it.
IF I get this First with its culumn, and I switch from a mill to a drill and raise the head, it will likely twist. So, the worst case is each time I move I will have to recenter and zero everything. So then I get myself some good edge finder's and a wigler set.
The collar around that column seems big enough that it shouldn't go out of tram...
I know the nodding and tilting can be handy, but if a need ever arises I can get a tilting vise...
What else?

Edit: the Fist does tilt, doesn't nod. So, that's half way there. There appears to be a good amount of Y travel available too.
 
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Tilt and nod are not a big deal. You are correct that you can get a tilt vise, or other arrangements when you need that feature. I have tilt on my mills and have use it very seldom. I have never need the ability to nod the head. Sure, I wouldn't reject a machine because it had the nod feature, but I would not give that feature any credit in a machine consideration.

I feel your pain on getting a machine that fits in the garage. Are you sure there is no way to squeeze a knee mill in?

The Cinci TM is a great machine. The one shown is probably a 1A or a 1B. I don't see any table feeds or a quill feed. Also it looks like it uses the monoset collets. I think the other ones you are considering would be more appropriate.

Let us know how you make out.
 
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