PM-728VT Stand

[randale]

I am adding a PM-728VT to my shop and trying to decide on ordering the PM stand or building a 24x36 steel table for holding the mill.

Need opinions re:

How stable is the OEM stand?

Does the stand need to be anchored in a concrete floor?

Thanks!

Randale

 

[7milesup]

I would build the table. Quite frankly, nearly all of the stands for "benchtop" or similar mills are junk. Build your own, and then you can customize it. I built a very nice base for my 833T, which included space to place a tool chest for the necessary accouterments for the machine.
Either build the table as heavy as possible or bolt it to the floor. Weight is your friend.

There are many ideas on this forum for stands, bases and storage.

Here is one thread to get started.

The PM932V

Hello! I wanted to make a post on the PM-932V I know I had talked about it and him hawed in a "what to buy thread" and I have had it a few months now and due to various reasons finally got it setup and first chips made so I figured I could share some info about it. In short its a PM932 but...

www.hobby-machinist.com

Oh, and welcome to the best hobby machinist site on the net!

 

[randale]

Thanks for the reply.

I was leaning towards the build vs buy option - unless someone said the stand is a work of exquisite art not to be missed...

Thanks for the welcome, too.

Randale

 

[tweinke]

I would also say build a stand. The factory stands are not built very sturdy. yes it will hold the mill off the floor but isn't ridged enough.

 

[55fairlane]

I purchased the factory PM728VT cabinet, I didn't want to screw around building a stand.....I did have to do some work to make the cabinet "stout"
After having to add some ¾ aluminum plate & making "T" nuts the factory cabinet seems to be good to go.
You can see where there in no solid bearing surface for the machine feet or the bolt head. The steel metal deformed easily.......the plate made a world of difference.
If you buy a factory cabinet, be prepared to add these and you will be good to go

 

[jonnyphenomenon]

I was just thinking about starting a thread about the table I built for my new pm728vt. I took a harbor fright 27" toolbox that I had just recently bought so I could have all the important tools next to my lathe, and wrapped an extra 300+ pounds of steel around it. All quarter inch thick, sheet, plate, angle and rectangle tubes. It was murder on my tig welder. It's still on the casters the toolbox came with, but when I clear out my garage I will put it down on the feet.

I have one of there 72" toolboxes with the top drawer box on it, and I had to take the cover off of it because my garage ceiling is too low. As a result, I have had this huge hunk of metal kicking around constantly in my way. When I built the table for my mill I decided to use it to make a side cabinet for my c5 collet set.

Overall it came out pretty nice. It will be a lot more stable when I take it off the wheels. and it will be 4 inches lower too which I am looking forward to.

 

[rwm]

Here's mine:

Stand for New Mill

As you may have seen, I recently got a new PM 728 mill: I wanted a stand that would incorporate a tool box so here goes: As an aside, I have this awesome Dewalt chop saw that uses a 14" carbide blade cuts steel like butter. I cut all this 120 wall tubing with it. Faster and easier than a...

www.hobby-machinist.com

 

[tominboise]

I was just thinking about starting a thread about the table I built for my new pm728vt. I took a harbor fright 27" toolbox that I had just recently bought so I could have all the important tools next to my lathe, and wrapped an extra 300+ pounds of steel around it. All quarter inch thick, sheet, plate, angle and rectangle tubes. It was murder on my tig welder. It's still on the casters the toolbox came with, but when I clear out my garage I will put it down on the feet. View attachment 491621

I have one of there 72" toolboxes with the top drawer box on it, and I had to take the cover off of it because my garage ceiling is too low. As a result, I have had this huge hunk of metal kicking around constantly in my way. When I built the table for my mill I decided to use it to make a side cabinet for my c5 collet set.
View attachment 491623
View attachment 491622

Overall it came out pretty nice. It will be a lot more stable when I take it off the wheels. and it will be 4 inches lower too which I am looking forward to.

View attachment 491624

That's a helluva tool box, for sure.

 

[tominboise]

Here's my stand. It works well, the additional surface area on the table is handy. I put a piece of 1/4" plate between the chip pan and the top of the box.

Tom's mill stand

 

[55fairlane]

Your stand is looking nice, I personally do not like have my tools stored under a source of chips & oil, not to mention I filled up the bottom of my machine cabinet with about 400 or 500 pounds of lead & sand....added a lot of rigidity to the machine.
The top ....you would be well to drill & tap or use studs....this will be very helpful when you go to level the machine. You need to level the base with a better then average carpenters level, then with percision level level your machine or it will never cut true flat & square.