Return-Path: Received: from ms-smtp-02.southeast.rr.com ([24.93.67.83] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 4.1.5) with ESMTP id 2624798 for flyrotary@lancaironline.net; Sun, 05 Oct 2003 08:43:03 -0400 Received: from o7y6b5 (clt78-020.carolina.rr.com [24.93.78.20]) by ms-smtp-02.southeast.rr.com (8.12.10/8.12.2) with SMTP id h95Cd2ku007766 for ; Sun, 5 Oct 2003 08:39:05 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <000c01c38b3d$e9b31740$1702a8c0@WorkGroup> From: "Ed Anderson" To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" References: Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] Re: Mill Drill and Lathe Date: Sun, 5 Oct 2003 08:40:52 -0400 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0009_01C38B1C.6265F4E0" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1106 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1106 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0009_01C38B1C.6265F4E0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable MessageNo offense taken, Mike. We all want to know the good, the bad = and the ugly. Not having any experience with anything other than my = old Sears Atlas small lathe, I will have to accept your experienced = based views. I recognized some of the limitations of this machine from = the start, but decided that I could live with them. Some of the other = limitations I was not aware of. I would have loved to been able to afford a Bridgeport Mill and a nice = 48" 12" swing Lathe, but alas could not. Since time is not an issue = with me, I can adapt. I am certain that such things as not being able = to rapidly transverse a piece of work will become an irritant in time. =20 I am not familiar with the Smithy 3 in 1, but from you comparison, it = would appear that this machine is different in some areas. For = instance, the milling head on this machine does not use a single drill = post like column apparently like the Smithy and many others do. It has = 4 steel rods at each corner that it rides up and down, don't see how it = can be swung out of the way.=20 The SHOPMASTER ELDORADO BRIDGEMILL is the only 3 in 1 machine with this super rigid function. Unlike some machines which use a drill press style column, the BRIDGEMILL uses 5 steel columns to insure rigidity and accuracy in your milling operations. This = exclusive feature allows the mill head to bring the tool within reach of the table = for smaller work as well as raising it up for larger pieces. Your mill = setups=20 will be fast and precise. It would appear you have to elevate it to its maximum height to get the = mill head out of the way.. Don't know how the four posts may add or = detract from its stability.=20 Regarding the table to mill head clearance, the specs claim: HEIGHT FROM MILL TABLE 14" MAX 4" MIN I realize that the tools and vice will take up some of that space so not = all is "usable", but if it leaves me 6- 9" of head room that will take = care of any needs I foresee at this time. =20 So I may end up disappointed, but having made do with a drill press and = 6" Atlas Lathe all these years, the capability of this mill will = probably serve my needs for the foreseeable future. However, I agree = that if you can afford the dedicated well known machines and have room = for them, that is certainly the way to go. I'll provide some reports once I get it set up. =20 Ed Anderson RV-6A N494BW Rotary Powered Matthews, NC eanderson@carolina.rr.com ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Michael D. Callahan=20 To: Rotary motors in aircraft=20 Sent: Saturday, October 04, 2003 8:57 PM Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Mill Drill and Lathe Rusty, Just my $.02, but hold your horses here. If you want to get into = the machine tool end of things, the FIRST thing you want is a good lathe = that is at least 12x36". A lathe is the basis of all machine work, and = learning how to properly operate one is the best basis for learning = machine tools. With a nice milling attachment, the lathe basically converts into = a 3in1 machine as it can be used for turning, milling and drilling = operations. The milling and drilling are horizontal and it won't have = quite as much movement when milling. Now here's why you don't really = want this 3in1 machine. Ed, I don't mean to knock your new toy, but I had a little 3in1, a = Smithy 12x20 (basically the same machine as this one, but this one is a = LOT nicer). I was not at all impressed and kept it less than a year. It = was an OK little machine...if it's all you had. what machine it is, this one or a =20 SNIP I will be glad to help you find a nice lathe if you want me to. I = recently found a lathe for friend in PA, who is finishing an Exec helo. = I found him a hardly-used 20yr old variable-speed 5hp South Bend 14x50" = toolroom lathe with quick-change box, 3 and 4 jaw chucks, follow rest, = steady rest (roller type), collet holder, full set of 5C collets, taper = attachment, coolant system, quick change toolpost, Jacob's tailstock = chuck, and cabinet for about $3K. He had to drive about 250miles to get = it. Mike C. ------=_NextPart_000_0009_01C38B1C.6265F4E0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Message
No offense taken, Mike.  We all = want to know=20 the good, the bad and the ugly.  Not  having any = experience with=20 anything other than my old Sears Atlas small lathe, I will have to = accept your=20 experienced based views. I recognized some of the limitations of = this=20 machine from the start, but decided that I could live with them.  = Some of=20 the other limitations I was not aware of.
 
 I would have loved to been able = to afford a=20 Bridgeport Mill and a nice 48" 12" swing Lathe, but alas could = not.  Since=20 time is not an issue with me, I can adapt.  I am certain that such = things=20 as not being able to rapidly transverse a piece of work will become an = irritant=20 in time. 
 
I am not familiar with the Smithy 3 in = 1, but from=20 you comparison, it would appear that this machine is different in = some=20 areas.  For instance, the milling head on this machine does not use = a=20 single drill post like column apparently like the Smithy and many others = do.  It has 4 steel rods at each corner that it rides up and down, = don't=20 see how it can be swung out of the way. 

The SHOPMASTER = ELDORADO BRIDGEMILL=20 is the only 3 in 1
machine with this super rigid function.  = Unlike some=20 machines which
use a drill press style column, the BRIDGEMILL = uses =20 5  steel columns
to insure rigidity and accuracy in your = milling=20 operations. This exclusive
feature allows the mill head to bring the = tool=20 within reach of the table for
smaller work as well as raising it up = for=20 larger pieces.  Your mill setups 
will be fast and=20 precise.

 
 It would appear you have to = elevate it to its=20 maximum height to get the mill head out of the way..  = Don't know=20 how the four posts may  add or detract from its=20 stability. 
 
Regarding the table to mill head = clearance, the=20 specs claim:
 
HEIGHT FROM MILL TABLE   14" MAX  4"=20 MIN
 
I realize that the tools and vice will take up some of that space = so not=20 all is "usable", but if it leaves me 6- 9" of head room that will = take care=20 of any needs I foresee at this time. 
 
So I may end up disappointed, but = having made do=20 with a drill press and 6" Atlas Lathe all these years, the capability of = this=20 mill will probably serve my needs for the foreseeable=20 future.  However, I agree that if you can afford = the dedicated=20 well known machines and = have room for=20 them, that is certainly the way to go.
 
I'll provide some reports once I get it = set=20 up. 
 
Ed Anderson
RV-6A N494BW Rotary Powered
Matthews, NC
eanderson@carolina.rr.com
----- Original Message -----
From:=20 Michael D. Callahan =
Sent: Saturday, October 04, = 2003 8:57=20 PM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Mill = Drill and=20 Lathe

Rusty,
    Just my $.02, but hold your = horses here.=20 If you want to get into the machine tool end of things, the FIRST = thing you=20 want is a good lathe that is at least 12x36". A lathe is the basis of = all=20 machine work, and learning how to properly operate one is the best = basis for=20 learning machine tools.
    With a nice milling attachment, = the lathe=20 basically converts into a 3in1 machine as it can be used for turning, = milling=20 and drilling operations. The milling and drilling are horizontal and = it won't=20 have quite as much movement when milling. Now here's why you don't = really want=20 this 3in1 machine.
    Ed, I don't mean to knock = your new=20 toy, but I had a little 3in1, a Smithy 12x20 (basically the same = machine as=20 this one, but this one is a LOT nicer). I was not at all impressed and = kept it=20 less than a year. It was an OK little machine...if it's all you=20 had.
     what machine it=20 is, this one or a 
 
SNIP
 
    I will be glad to help you find = a nice=20 lathe if you want me to. I recently found a lathe for friend in PA, = who is=20 finishing an Exec helo. I found him a hardly-used 20yr old = variable-speed 5hp=20 South Bend 14x50" toolroom lathe with quick-change box, 3 and 4 jaw = chucks,=20 follow rest, steady rest (roller type), collet holder, full set of 5C = collets,=20 taper attachment, coolant system, quick change toolpost, Jacob's = tailstock=20 chuck, and cabinet for about $3K. He had to drive about 250miles to = get=20 it.  Mike C.
    =
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