Ok. I've been trying to keep it to myself till everything was up and running but who can hold on to a goody like this?
Last Friday I got my milling machine. I told you in the first post that it was to be a C-frame mill. My friend decided that this was not the mill best suited for my purposes; the electrics were wrong, it was more of a "hog-out" machine for rougher work. So he decides to give me a conventional one like the knee type vertical mill. He had slated this mill for his home workshop but decided instead that I should have it.
It is a good solid piece of iron, 3200 lbs heavy. The thing is 43 years old believe it or not. Someone along the line took good care of this machine.
It has a 3 hp motor for the spindle; a 1/2hp for the power feed and a small motor for the coolant pump. It is 575V 3 phase.
Of course I only have the conventional household current of 240V 1 ph
This did not deter my friend at all. Since he is also an electrical engineer, he promptly made me a rotary phase converter
He also found a brand new step-up transformer from down in Georgia. It should arrive here in any day now. It is brand new and since he is in the process of working a deal with the guy in Georgia for making some parts, the prediction is that I might get this unit for a good price. More on that later.
So..last friday he sent two of his employees with two trucks and trailers plus a bobcat loader...picked up the mill and set it right in the spot where I wanted it. They leveled it up.
When the transformer arrives, my Samaritan will come here and spend a Saturday hooking it up and showing me a few ins and outs. Plus, he has promised me a bunch of used tooling that he figures I need.
Now how can you beat that? There really
are some very good people left in this world!
I will of course keep you posted with demo pics etc once I get it up and running.
![Mill-003.jpg](./download/file.php?id=593&sid=78fdf5c2f7115baa01bc6dd44ced2614)
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