[pete from TN]

Congrats on your new mill purchase. I personally feel like the IH is a good machine and the travels speak for themselves. Had they been available to me when I bought my RF45 I would have one now. Are ya sure you do not want to CNC that baby? Here is some inspiration for ya!! haha peace

85ipm Rectangular Pocket - YouTube!

Pete

[hoss2006]

Hoss, that's an interesting point, for the price and hastle of delivery I could think about spending a day with a hire van having a bit of a roadtrip.

Getting the mill out of the van at my house might be a challenge though, I'd only have an engine crane and planks, I'm sure it's possible but a challenge!

Going off topic here but I was starting to think about welding up a stand/table for the machine, I'm going to make my own as I want to integrate it into my existing shop setup. What do you think about mounting four inverted ball transfer units on the table for mobility? I thought this might be the best way to move the machine when required for CNC conversion, painting, etc. Can easily get them with a suitable rating and my floor is concrete.

Well something that you could lock down would be needed if they are to be permanent
otherwise the thing would just wander about the shop while it's running.
The place you visit that sells the machine may carry a quality caster like these.
Leveling Casters: Many Uses, Many Places | Access Caster
Hoss

[loply]

Yeah I was thinking about having some screws (threaded studs with a handle on top) that screw down and jack the stand off the floor, thereby unloading the BTUs, and allowing levelling. Moving the machine would require backing the screws out and the machine settles on the BTUs.

Just spent all day trying to track down someone who has either a BF30 or RF45 in stock with an R8 - nobody!

Nearest thing I could find that was actually in stock was an RF45 with an MT3 and a three phase 440v motor... Was half tempted to order it since I wanted to put a VFD on it anyway (I have 220 single phase), but wasn't sure if the rest of the electrics would need tinkering in some way (eg the NVR switch?).

Other than that it looks like a wait for a few months...

[hoss2006]

Ah, good things come to those who wait as they say.
Good time to check the papers, someone might have a good used machine to check out.
Usually get those with tooling and such already.
Best of luck, Hoss

[loply]

Been watching eBay, Gumtree and other such sites for months. Loads of big machines (500kg+) and the odd old Bridgeport for £2-£3k, but nothing really suitable or on budget.

Might just bite the bullet on a RF45 w/ an MT3, was thinking about how I'll make the tool changer and it would push the taper out anyway I think, so... Hm.

[pete from TN]

Go for the RF45 if the price is right and you can power it. Dunno much about power overseas but if it is possible to run it with a VFD off your house current I think you will enjoy it.

As far as the toolchanger, if you do get that far on your build you can either purchase an R8 spindle for the machine or just use MT3 with TTS and buy their new toolchanger grooved tool holders. The RF45 really is a STOUT machine and I disagree about the EXCESS weight idea. Everyone who has seen my machine run was impressed with it. There are also quite a few guys doing conversions on them here so you will have plenty of people to get ideas from and bounce ideas off of. For milling steel as you said you are it is a great little beefy mill. You will see what I mean when you go see it in person. Nice that you have that option it sounds like.

You can also make a belt drive pretty easily on these as several have already done it and it is not difficult at all really. That puts you into the high speed spindle that makes for a real sweet mill. Good luck with whatever you choose. Peace

Pete

[hoss2006]

Been watching eBay, Gumtree and other such sites for months. Loads of big machines (500kg+) and the odd old Bridgeport for £2-£3k, but nothing really suitable or on budget.

Might just bite the bullet on a RF45 w/ an MT3, was thinking about how I'll make the tool changer and it would push the taper out anyway I think, so... Hm.

I'd suggest to just be a little more patient and not rush into buying something you may regret later.
R8 machines are pretty popular so you may just have to order one and get on the list.
Hey, gives you time to get that stand and such built.
Good luck, Hoss

[loply]

I'd suggest to just be a little more patient and not rush into buying something you may regret later.
R8 machines are pretty popular so you may just have to order one and get on the list.
Hey, gives you time to get that stand and such built.
Good luck, Hoss

Wisdom :cheers: Will probably do just that.

Cheers for all the advice folks, really appreciate it.

[hoss2006]

Glad to help, you never know that IH clone with R8 might pop up next week.
Have fun, Hoss

[digits]

If I were you, I'd get it delivered - it is much easier to get the nice delivery man to plonk your 250-350kg crate in the corner of your shop on his pallet-truck than to lift an uncrated mill youself.

If you buy from Warco, or another UK supplier, they might be able to help you load your van, but you'd still have to unload it at the other end - these mills are damn tippy on an engine crane...

As for MT3 vs R8 - I've had both, my WM18 just happens to be MT3, and yes you need to tap the drawbar after some heavy drilling - but I do mean tap. I have just invested in some TTS tooling myself, and I am going to have a crack at a pneumatic drawbar - I don't think MT3 will be an issue...

I can understand your impatience, but these things are so damn bulky - even if you've got money to burn, you don't want the wrong mill as a paperweight!

Cheers.

[pete from TN]

If I were you, I'd get it delivered - it is much easier to get the nice delivery man to plonk your 250-350kg crate in the corner of your shop on his pallet-truck than to lift an uncrated mill youself.







That is true but delivery is USUALLY an extra charge....





If you buy from Warco, or another UK supplier, they might be able to help you load your van, but you'd still have to unload it at the other end - these mills are damn tippy on an engine crane...





I dunno I have moved my mill, lathe, collet lathe, you name it many times with my engine crane and it is pretty easy actually. I even lifted a 60 inch monster lathe I bought awhile back with my engine crane one side at a time. Perhaps you need a better engine crane?





As for MT3 vs R8 - I've had both, my WM18 just happens to be MT3, and yes you need to tap the drawbar after some heavy drilling - but I do mean tap. I have just invested in some TTS tooling myself, and I am going to have a crack at a pneumatic drawbar - I don't think MT3 will be an issue...





I agree MT3 is not really much different than R8 in actual use and really has more bearing surface in actuality. I have had MT3 tooling before and it really was not a drawback and with the TTS tooling it kinda levels the playing field here. Nothing wrong with MT3. My lathe has an MT3 tailstock and it works great there too...haha




I can understand your impatience, but these things are so damn bulky - even if you've got money to burn, you don't want the wrong mill as a paperweight!




Yeah you could wind up with a mill that is really too weak to mill steel.... haha I like Hoss's idea of waiting for the IH clone....peace
Cheers.

Pete

[hoss2006]

Wisdom :cheers: Will probably do just that.

Cheers for all the advice folks, really appreciate it.

Just ignore the implications that some people like to imply you need and rf45 to cut steel,
it's not based on ANY kind of facts.
Hoss

[pete from TN]

Much like many of the implications you make about your BF20... :stickpoke As I said before even a sherline can cut steel, the question is how well...

Pete

[hoss2006]

Uh no, not one implication about my bf20, you see I have lots of videos that actually show what it can do
so you see I have a little thing called proof.
You can choose to ignore it but I can't do anything about that.
You can choose to ignore machine specs too that show an rf45 is pretty much the same as a bf30 from even the same vendor.
That's the problem with forums, people can say or imply anything they want and not have to back it up.
Hoss

[pete from TN]

The only thing the same about the RF45 and the BF30 is that their travel specs are similar. That also depends on which supplier you are talking about. I can make all the videos you want with my RF45 but I do not apparently have the kind of time to do that like you do. The fellow asked about a machine to make STEEL parts and then expressed that he was considering an RF45. Having owned and run an RF 45 for many years now as well as quite a few other machines several of which were larger than an RF45 I feel quite confident giving him my opinion. You do not even own a BF30 yet you seem to have no trouble recommending it to him. I have NOTHING against the BF30 or the BF machines in General. I am just stating it as I see it from my personal experience having used my machine for many years now both manually and CNC. I know you absolutely hate it when people disagree with you, sorry about that man...peace

Pete

[digits]

Wow, I pop into the workshop for 10 mins to machine some steel on my BF30 clone and half a dozen posts appear

[hoss2006]

this is also what he said he was looking for a

I've pretty much decided I want one of the BF type mills as I gather they offer the best quality:cost ratio and are fairly easy to convert. I can't decide to go for the big one (250kg) or the smaller version (140kg).

Those are bf20 and bf30 weights and why several of us have suggested the bigger bf30.
the bf30 shares the same endmilling capacity as an rf45 as you may have noticed in the link I gave.
I don't own a bf30 but I DO own it's smaller cousin and an rf45 and I know for a fact how well a bf design cuts steel.
I've run bigger and smaller mills too over the years, I was giving MY suggestion from my personal experience too.
You can disagree with my suggestions all day long, can't anyone also disagree with yours, just don't get personal with me, that's not gonna fly anymore.
Hoss

[pete from TN]

Man you really know how to ignore things. He specifically stated several times he was looking at an RF45...

You really think you own this place don't ya. Are you threatening me, how is anything I say not gonna fly? The comments I made are no more offensive than many of the posts you have made to myself and others on here. You have a right to your opinion, I have a right to mine. I will and have post input and information on topics I know something about to anyone on here in an effort to help them any way I can. It is not your place to determine who can say what. I posted about what I know to be a decent machine in steel. Manufacturers can say what they want about a machine, as many on here have said that is not ALWAYS reality. Especially when you are talking about these chinese mills. I stand by what I said about the RF45 and I am sure there are quite a few people on here that have them that could back up what I am saying. You love the BF machines, I am happy for ya... That does not mean they are the best for everyone.

Pete

[hoss2006]

I didn't say they were the best for everyone one or even him, I said what what I would do for me.
Sorry you want to flip things around but I never said to not get an rf45.
It's pointless to continue with you because you see things how you want.
Sorry you have to be so aggressive when someone else gives their opinion.
I'm really sorry but best of luck with all your endeavors.
Hoss

[pete from TN]

I dunno what else to say to you hoss... There was a time that I had a great deal of respect for your ideas and talent, but you make it awfully difficult too like you with the comments you make not just to me but to many others on here. I will not even attempt to respond to your comments there. Again, good luck to you..peace

Pete