Info wanted on a vintage mini-mill: Marushin model "MHA"

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RDB79

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I've just joined Hobby-Machinist as I've managed to buy a vintage mini-mill and keen to learn and play with it in the home workshop.
It's made by Marushin Machine Co of Japan, model "MHA". See photo. Approx 5ft high, 800lb (350kg), single-phase power. Has attachments so can change from normal vertical cutting head (in photo) to a horizontal-mill.
I've googled for ages and have found only 1 photo online of the same model, but no other info.
Marushin mini-mill_2.jpg
Does anyone know anything about this cute little machine that they can share?
Particularly interested to know:
- Any opinions if it's a good/handy machine?
- Approx how old is it? Manufacturer's plate on the side has a space to stamp the year but it's blank
- Anyone got a manual for it? (that would be ace!)
- It has a reservoir/tank on the side for cutting fluid and brass piping to the workpiece but there's no pump to be seen anywhere. Is it supposed to have one?

Grateful for any info, experiences, opinions.

Thanks
Rory (New Zealand)
 
That looks reminiscent of a Centec 2A, or an Astra but obviously not any kind of copy of either of those machines.

One thing I'd say is that the term 'mini mill', given its modern usage, doesn't really cover this machine. It's weight alone, at 350 Kg, sets it apart from the kinds of machines you'd see using the term 'mini mill' anywhere in a Google search.

From what I gather, Japanese machine tools tend to be as well built and as capable as any European or US machine tool. The Japanese equivalents of European/US machines seem to be quite rare in the West and are normally quite pricey.

So the machine you have there is capable of both horizontal and vertical milling. Did it come with the arbor for horizontal milling as well as the vertical head?

From the look of it, it looks a solid, rigid, compact mill. The relatively small work envelope is likely to be the main disadvantage but then that depends on the size of work you want to do.

One other thing (going by the photo), the lack of a fine feed on the vertical milling head might be a disadvantage in some use cases.

Often these types of machines came with a stub vertical milling head out of the factory like you have there, but also had an optional, and sometimes separately driven, more expensive vertical milling head with a fine feed (you often find these class of machines on the second hand market only with the horizontal arbor and not even the stub vertical head). The vertical stub heads for this class of machine tend to be hard to find, let alone the more expensive, fully-featured vertical heads.

If the work you want to do fits in the envelope of this machine and the lack of a fine feed quill doesn't constrain the types of work you want to do, you're unlikely to have any complaints about the fundamental quality and rigidity of your mill.

Must say, I'm kind of jealous of your find. ;)
 
SouthernChap said:
That looks reminiscent of a Centec 2A, or an Astra but obviously not any kind of copy of either of those machines.

One thing I'd say is that the term 'mini mill', given its modern usage, doesn't really cover this machine. It's weight alone, at 350 Kg, sets it apart from the kinds of machines you'd see using the term 'mini mill' anywhere in a Google search.

From what I gather, Japanese machine tools tend to be as well built and as capable as any European or US machine tool. The Japanese equivalents of European/US machines seem to be quite rare in the West and are normally quite pricey.

So the machine you have there is capable of both horizontal and vertical milling. Did it come with the arbor for horizontal milling as well as the vertical head?

From the look of it, it looks a solid, rigid, compact mill. The relatively small work envelope is likely to be the main disadvantage but then that depends on the size of work you want to do.

One other thing (going by the photo), the lack of a fine feed on the vertical milling head might be a disadvantage in some use cases.

Often these types of machines came with a stub vertical milling head out of the factory like you have there, but also had an optional, and sometimes separately driven, more expensive vertical milling head with a fine feed (you often find these class of machines on the second hand market only with the horizontal arbor and not even the stub vertical head). The vertical stub heads for this class of machine tend to be hard to find, let alone the more expensive, fully-featured vertical heads.

If the work you want to do fits in the envelope of this machine and the lack of a fine feed quill doesn't constrain the types of work you want to do, you're unlikely to have any complaints about the fundamental quality and rigidity of your mill.

Must say, I'm kind of jealous of your find. ;)
Click to expand...
I may use the wrong terminology, but it came with 2 horizontal spindles and a bracket to hold the near end of them. See new photos.
 
Very interesting.
I've seen the NEWS name on rotary tables and possibly other machine accessories.
NEWS manufacturer is Yamatokoki.
The export agent Gomiya is re-named G-NET and still sells machinery.
Perhaps they have some information squirreled-away in an archive?

Company profile｜G-NET CORPORATION

Company profile｜G-NET CORPORATION official company site. We offer information about our lines of business, initiatives, recruiting.
g-net.co.jp g-net.co.jp
 
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Neat little horizontal mill
Probably not usually exported out of Japan or produced in large quantities
I'm thinking there was supposed to be a coolant pump in the little box?
 
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That is one sweet looking little mill. Definitely in a whole 'nother class from a mini-mill, and the condition is spectacular.
I'm with @SouthernChap, I'm a little jealous, and I own a BP clone.
 
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