Subject: Recommendations for Multi-purpose machine tool

From: [email-masked] (John Elwell)
Date: 21 Oct 94 11:33:12 MDT

A mechanical technician at our lab has expressed interest in a multi-purpose machine tool for doing small machining jobs in his lab. We have a limited budget for this kind of non-project stuff. He has selected a multi-purpose mill/lathe/drill press from Central Machinery, sold by Harbor freight, for about $650.

This particular machine has a 7-1/4" height  of center, 14" between centers, and 5-1/4" lateral stroke. The drill has a 5/8" capacity. The mill has 3/4" milling diameter and 2-1/2" maximum vertical milling facing diameter. Speeds are 430, 800, 1050, 1500, and 2000 RPM, 1/2 hp.

I don't have any experience base to judge the quality of this equipment. Is it worth $650? Will he be able to do small machining jobs, to tolerances of, say, 0.001"? Or are we throwing money away on a machine that will just be an excercise in frustration to use?

Any thoughts and comments will be much appreciated.

TIA 
John Elwell
[email-masked]