- Joined
- Jan 7, 2016
- Messages
- 3,268
Hi guys. First thing I would like to say is that I really enjoy this forum and the help that is offered. This is, without a doubt, one of the best sites out here on the webbidy thing.
I have been looking for a mill for a while and I need to buy one this month. I purchased a Precision Matthews 1022 lathe about a year and half ago or so. It is a pretty decent lathe for the money, not perfect, but ok. It was my first lathe and I have learned a lot on it, plus Matt’s service is great. I also have a Horror Fright mini mill that I got for practically nothing from a friend of mine. It has been a learning machine, but that is about it. It is too small and of course, the quality is mediocre at best.
This brings me to my question, or maybe just me rambling out loud so I will apologize in advance if you guys determine that I am just yammering. I originally figured I had $2200 to spend, but I may reconsider that, not that I have extra money but if I am going to be spending money on a mill, I could put a little more towards it. I also would like to have the option of eventually converting it to CNC, but that will be a work in progress due to funding.
I have pretty much ruled out a Bridgeport type because I do not want something that large in the shop and I don’t really have room for it anyhow. Also, it seems that even though I scour the auctions and machinery sites in the Twin Cities area, the stuff that is being offered is either had its life used up or it is too expensive, or lastly, such a behemoth that there is no way I could move it. All of my other equipment has wheels under it, including my lathe. I built custom stand for my lathe utilizing a hockey puck type leveling system, which works great, not that I really move my lathe around, but at least the option is there should the need arise.
I am considering the PM-30MV, the 727, and the PM-932. I figured that the PM-833T was too much money, but now I may reconsider that. I like the thought of a higher quality machine and looking at what few posts I could find about the 833T, it seems like a very nice machine. The 932 and the 940 are the same except for bed size and the hardened way option on the 940, but then again, if I start adding all that to the 940 then we are getting way out of whack for budget. Even if I did convert any of these to CNC, I just don’t see wearing out the ways on it, although I do find it odd that my little 1022 has hardened ways but these mills don’t.
I like the 30MV because of the belt drive (quiet) along with the variable speed, which does go up to 2250 RPM. It is also 110 volt, although that is not a huge deal because I do have 220 in my shop. Most of the other mills are at 1500 RPM (PM833T) to 1750RPM (PM932). Is doing aluminum at those slower speeds going to be problematic?
All of Matt’s mills have a three year warranty except the 833T which has a 5 year warranty, which is quite a long warranty.
I keep coming back to the 833T but just can’t find a lot of information about it, IE. Guys that have one and love them or hate them along with pictures of it. What are it’s drawbacks? Is the quality that far above the 932 for example, or am I better off saving my $1000 and put it towards a power feed or tooling for the 932? Ugghhhh, I’m pulling my hair out. Maybe I should take that extra $1000, which isn't really an "extra" because I don't have it stuffed in my sock, and upgrade my lathe to a PM-1340GT. Crikey, nevermind, now I have lost my mind...
I have been looking for a mill for a while and I need to buy one this month. I purchased a Precision Matthews 1022 lathe about a year and half ago or so. It is a pretty decent lathe for the money, not perfect, but ok. It was my first lathe and I have learned a lot on it, plus Matt’s service is great. I also have a Horror Fright mini mill that I got for practically nothing from a friend of mine. It has been a learning machine, but that is about it. It is too small and of course, the quality is mediocre at best.
This brings me to my question, or maybe just me rambling out loud so I will apologize in advance if you guys determine that I am just yammering. I originally figured I had $2200 to spend, but I may reconsider that, not that I have extra money but if I am going to be spending money on a mill, I could put a little more towards it. I also would like to have the option of eventually converting it to CNC, but that will be a work in progress due to funding.
I have pretty much ruled out a Bridgeport type because I do not want something that large in the shop and I don’t really have room for it anyhow. Also, it seems that even though I scour the auctions and machinery sites in the Twin Cities area, the stuff that is being offered is either had its life used up or it is too expensive, or lastly, such a behemoth that there is no way I could move it. All of my other equipment has wheels under it, including my lathe. I built custom stand for my lathe utilizing a hockey puck type leveling system, which works great, not that I really move my lathe around, but at least the option is there should the need arise.
I am considering the PM-30MV, the 727, and the PM-932. I figured that the PM-833T was too much money, but now I may reconsider that. I like the thought of a higher quality machine and looking at what few posts I could find about the 833T, it seems like a very nice machine. The 932 and the 940 are the same except for bed size and the hardened way option on the 940, but then again, if I start adding all that to the 940 then we are getting way out of whack for budget. Even if I did convert any of these to CNC, I just don’t see wearing out the ways on it, although I do find it odd that my little 1022 has hardened ways but these mills don’t.
I like the 30MV because of the belt drive (quiet) along with the variable speed, which does go up to 2250 RPM. It is also 110 volt, although that is not a huge deal because I do have 220 in my shop. Most of the other mills are at 1500 RPM (PM833T) to 1750RPM (PM932). Is doing aluminum at those slower speeds going to be problematic?
All of Matt’s mills have a three year warranty except the 833T which has a 5 year warranty, which is quite a long warranty.
I keep coming back to the 833T but just can’t find a lot of information about it, IE. Guys that have one and love them or hate them along with pictures of it. What are it’s drawbacks? Is the quality that far above the 932 for example, or am I better off saving my $1000 and put it towards a power feed or tooling for the 932? Ugghhhh, I’m pulling my hair out. Maybe I should take that extra $1000, which isn't really an "extra" because I don't have it stuffed in my sock, and upgrade my lathe to a PM-1340GT. Crikey, nevermind, now I have lost my mind...
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