Dream Machines?

[zmotorsports]

Nick and Ray, thank you for that overview. That is kind of where I was going in my decision making but it is really nice to hear others reiterate that philosophy. When deciding on equipment I was torn between the larger of the benchtop mills (45M/932PDF) and the smaller of the knee mills (935) and with the cost difference and the space limitations there was just no way to go with the knee mill. If I had unlimited funds and room I would definitely go the knee mill route but I don't know too many people who have unlimited budgets. I have been extremely worried whether or not the 932 would be big enough to handle the workload.

I tried to invision if I would ever really put more than the 300 lbs on the 932 that the table can accomodate and then realized that how would I even get a 300 pound part on the table. In my small motorcycle/automotive shop I have only had a few occasions where I had to take a part(s) to a friends/associates machine shop. So with that in mind the 1340 lathe and 932 mill should be well above and beyond the capabilities of my previous machine and fit the workload of my shop perfectly.

Mike.

 

[wrmiller]

Bill, if you feel like making the drive you're welcome to come out and play with the 1440BV. I seem to recall you are in one of the L (Longmont/Louisville/Lafayette) up north, I'm a bit over an hour away, between Parker and Elizabeth.

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Hey Mike,

That would be great! I'm in Longmont. Maybe a Saturday some time in the near future (after the blink'n snow leaves)?

I'll PM ya.

Bill

 

[mgalusha]

Hey Mike,

That would be great! I'm in Longmont. Maybe a Saturday some time in the near future (after the blink'n snow leaves)?

I'll PM ya.

Bill

Yeah... spring snow, joy. Most weekends are fine, just shoot me a PM.

 

[nickmckinney]

I tried to invision if I would ever really put more than the 300 lbs on the 932 that the table can accomodate and then realized that how would I even get a 300 pound part on the table. In my small motorcycle/automotive shop I have only had a few occasions where I had to take a part(s) to a friends/associates machine shop. So with that in mind the 1340 lathe and 932 mill should be well above and beyond the capabilities of my previous machine and fit the workload of my shop perfectly.

Mike I do automotive machine as secondary (hobby) income now, the biggest thing I can think to put on a mill is a V8 block to mill the decks. There you also need a round bar fixture (thats $1800 for a good one that can also do heads) and the flycutter is $1K for the cheap one and $1500 for the CBN style. Then you need a 9x49 minimum table as the X travel will be at the limits and a 10x54 makes more sense here. Preferably the mill head uses a NT40 instead of a R8 as a CBN head needs to be heavy to be happiest. So if you say no to deck jobs then a much smaller mill is all you need.

Now I on the other hand plan to do as many deck jobs as I can get in. Just as side work every time a cylinder head touches my surfacer someone needs to be placing a pair of Andrew Jacksons on the table - 3 if its a straight 6 head or any diesel head or if wanting me to take more than 0.020" off. I can probably get 1-3 jobs a day without trying, so thats good side money for my situation.

 

[zmotorsports]

I don't do engine machining other than motorcycles. My automotive machining I have a friend who runs a large machine shop do my automotive machining so I don't have the need for anything quite that large like you do. I don't know how I would lift one up there anyhow.

Mike.

Mike I do automotive machine as secondary (hobby) income now, the biggest thing I can think to put on a mill is a V8 block to mill the decks. There you also need a round bar fixture (thats $1800 for a good one that can also do heads) and the flycutter is $1K for the cheap one and $1500 for the CBN style. Then you need a 9x49 minimum table as the X travel will be at the limits and a 10x54 makes more sense here. Preferably the mill head uses a NT40 instead of a R8 as a CBN head needs to be heavy to be happiest. So if you say no to deck jobs then a much smaller mill is all you need.

Now I on the other hand plan to do as many deck jobs as I can get in. Just as side work every time a cylinder head touches my surfacer someone needs to be placing a pair of Andrew Jacksons on the table - 3 if its a straight 6 head or any diesel head or if wanting me to take more than 0.020" off. I can probably get 1-3 jobs a day without trying, so thats good side money for my situation.

 

[Ray C]

Mike I do automotive machine as secondary (hobby) income now, the biggest thing I can think to put on a mill is a V8 block to mill the decks. There you also need a round bar fixture (thats $1800 for a good one that can also do heads) and the flycutter is $1K for the cheap one and $1500 for the CBN style. Then you need a 9x49 minimum table as the X travel will be at the limits and a 10x54 makes more sense here. Preferably the mill head uses a NT40 instead of a R8 as a CBN head needs to be heavy to be happiest. So if you say no to deck jobs then a much smaller mill is all you need.

Now I on the other hand plan to do as many deck jobs as I can get in. Just as side work every time a cylinder head touches my surfacer someone needs to be placing a pair of Andrew Jacksons on the table - 3 if its a straight 6 head or any diesel head or if wanting me to take more than 0.020" off. I can probably get 1-3 jobs a day without trying, so thats good side money for my situation.

FWIW, you can get an NT spindle on the 932 or 45; available as a special-order factory option. It's overkill by an order of magnitude though... You'd be wasting your money to order it and your tooling fixture costs would equal the value of the unit itself.


Ray

 

[nickmckinney]

FWIW, you can get an NT spindle on the 932 or 45; available as a special-order factory option. It's overkill by an order of magnitude though... You'd be wasting your money to order it and your tooling fixture costs would equal the value of the unit itself.

No way I would have a NT mill at under 2000lbs, it defeats the purpose of the tooling the NT is really needed for holding. I am planning a 10" face mill in the future and that is sketchy with an R8 but about the limit of whats doable there, but you need some weight to keep the machine from dancing around if something this big is not balanced perfectly.

 

[tmarks11]

I want the 1440HD...

You seen one in person? How is the fit/finish? How do you think it compares with the Grizzly G0509G or the Jet 1440-W?

I definitely would prefer a Taiwanese machine, but of course, none of the above three are...

thanks.

 

[Ray C]

You seen one in person? How is the fit/finish? How do you think it compares with the Grizzly G0509G or the Jet 1440-W?

I definitely would prefer a Taiwanese machine, but of course, none of the above three are...

thanks.

Oh yes, I looked it over quite carefully. Fit and finish are amazingly good and the gearbox is sweet. It only needs a gear re-positioning to switch from US to metric threads; everything else is just switching dials. For under 7 grand, you can't beat it. Next step up are the Taiwanese T-series that I have which cost about 1500 more -also heavy-duty. Both are substantial lathes. The 1440HD's in stock have factory DRO installed. I think there's 2 in stock; one with single phase 220 and another w/3phase.

Gimme a shout if you're interested...

Oh, and by the way, our shipment of 1236 units and some 1440ELB's arrived yesterday.

Ray

 

[zmotorsports]

Oh, and by the way, our shipment of 1236 units and some 1440ELB's arrived yesterday.

Ray

Any info on the 1340GT's yet? Are they still on schedule for the first part of May? I am hoping Matt saved one of the 932's that he had in stock for me to ship out with my 1340 when it shows up.

Mike.