Warco VMC mill

[svk]

I have ordered a new milling machine from Warco, it will be shipped tomorrow. My old rf45 is out of the house and it will be nice with a new toy
The plan is to fit a DRO on it, but does any of you have this or another version of the mill with DRO and what scale lengts do you have?

I see doubleboost in his fantastic videos have the Chester version, and I guess it is the same mill.

[Arbalist]

Yes, the Chester 626 is the same as the Warco VMC. Have a google, there are several threads on the net about these machines. There is also a dedicated 6X26 Yahoo group.

[Jonny]

Just seen a mates 626 with two of the three scales fitted in a 3 axis setup, perhaps the easiest machine to do.

Readout is far better than the budget Allendale and can be halved on the Y axis when set to lathe. Ordered 4pm any length scales and 3 axis for £389 delivered next day tracked within a 1 hour time slot.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-axis-digital-readout-for-mill-milling-machine-complete-DRO-kit-/320919811363?pt=UK_Measuring_Tools_Levels&hash=item4ab84fb523#ht_4281wt_904

Look elsewhere you may pay £200 extra for inferior.

[kayz1]

I have just got a Chester 626 with table PF and DRO, i with put the ruler on them tomorrow.
 Lyn.

[svk]

Thanks
I have the Sinpo DRO system on my 12x36 lathe and I am very happy with it. I will mount the same on me mill.
Need to find a big lump of steel for the riser now..

[Arbalist]

I have just got a Chester 626 with table PF and DRO, i with put the ruler on them tomorrow.
 Lyn.

A picture of the installed scales would be helpful if you get a moment. :-)

[kayz1]

Last one is my mode for the fine feed, Arc euro trade bit of kit and good enough for the bits i do.
Scale across the table is 62cm and it's cover is 66cm.
Below the table ( iny and outy ) Scale 32cm and cover 36cm.
 Hope the pics yurn out.
  Lyn.

[Arbalist]

Thanks for the pictures, very helpful! 

[svk]

Thanks, you dont have dro on the z-axis?

[kayz1]

They do not fit one to the knee ( upy downy ) because they say that they get damaged, so i fitted that little unit to the fine feed.

[Arbalist]

I don't have DRO's on my VMC and as a point of interest I never use the fine feed on the quill. I have replaced the handle and fitted a readout for accurate drilling though.

[kayz1]

I must say it looks far better in green than my grotty grey machine..

[doubleboost]

This video shows some of the mods on mine

John

[NeoTech]

Been thinking about getting me a secondary milling machine, with a quill - basicly im looking for a drill with light milling capabilites..

Whats the price on the Warco VMC machine - and from where? =)

[Arbalist]

Here you are:

http://www.warco.co.uk/milling-machines/40-vmc-turret-mill---vertical-milling-machine.html

[svk]

Thanks guys.
I ordered the mill directly from Warco, no problem to export. Just contact them directly.

I had a rf45 clone for years and sold it to a friend who will cnc it for his shop.

I surfed around for several weeks and desided to go for the 6x26 after seeing Doubleboost videos
of the mill and what he has done with it.
I think it will suit me well.

Ohh....the horrible wait...the mill is on a truck somewhere..

[NeoTech]

Hmm then we wait for a quality review of it then.       

[Xldevil]

Hello.
My mill is similar to the Warco and I've got the Sino DRO installed.

Here are some pictures:










Cheers,Ralph

[Jonny]

Just a point about the three posters piccies above all take the feed off the threaded depth stop, not a good idea but easy route to take. As we all know threads have tolerances and in turn play then more importantly  the threaded bar is able to move vertically with its own tolerance on top.

Ideally need off the quill its direct which just means making a bored in cylindrical clamp, with required offset.
Old piccy circa 2006 just done a quick job here and bolted to the quill casting with C type scale on left of head set back. Plus can see where I still have the cheap vertical scale mounting block, there was another above on the head to clear the depth stop much needed.
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL15/728921/1252422/392394060.jpg
I haven't got a picky uploaded of the other mill now sold but that like above had the coolant and tap off the quill as well.

[Arbalist]

Just a point about the three posters piccies above all take the feed off the threaded depth stop, not a good idea but easy route to take. As we all know threads have tolerances and in turn play then more importantly  the threaded bar is able to move vertically with its own tolerance on top.

I only ever use the quill movement for drilling holes, plus or minus half a mm is no issue for me.
 I only move the knee for milling, that's what it's designed for.

[kayz1]

The threads run through the block and have a nut top and bottom to stop movement, that block is screwed into the quill barrel so the thread has no bearing on the movement of the scale. well that's how the Chester machine is unless i have it wrong.
 Lyn.   PS: i could be wrong but if you look at the pic of my machine it can be seen.

[Jonny]

Same as mine Kayz the nuts have to be free or you cant rotate the screw.
Fine feed is the quill for accuracy, coarse the knee with locking gib strips.

[Meldonmech]

Hi  svk

                     I had to wait 6 weeks for my Chester 626, it felt like 6 years.

                                                                                                                  Good Luck you will enjoy    Cheers David

[svk]

The mill should arrive on Wednesday- Thursday says the carrier. The winter conditions on the roads
are horrible at the moment so I hope the truck dont end up in the ditch.
I´ll keep you updated.

[Xldevil]

Just a point about the three posters piccies above all take the feed off the threaded depth stop, not a good idea but easy route to take. As we all know threads have tolerances and in turn play then more importantly  the threaded bar is able to move vertically with its own tolerance on top.

Ideally need off the quill its direct which just means making a bored in cylindrical clamp, with required offset.
Old piccy circa 2006 just done a quick job here and bolted to the quill casting with C type scale on left of head set back. Plus can see where I still have the cheap vertical scale mounting block, there was another above on the head to clear the depth stop much needed.
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL15/728921/1252422/392394060.jpg
I haven't got a picky uploaded of the other mill now sold but that like above had the coolant and tap off the quill as well.

Hello.
So far,my solution is good enough for my needs.
Never had any issues.

[svk]

The machine arrived today. Have just got it dismantled and brought in to the basement shop. So far so good, a little bit of deburring and cleaning tomorrow

[NeoTech]

Damn you already got snow...

That looks really well packed actually. Not like my shitty optimum deliveries.

[svk]

The machine is up and running now.

Ok lets start on the bottom, the base is fine and sturdy and have lots of room for storage. The z- axis nut is a little bit rough, its made of cast iron.
The column is nice with ground z ways, no binding on the ways. The z-axis gear mesh need some tweaking, maybe some shimming to get them dead smooth. The knee and z- axis lever casting was full of casting sand and the bearings where shite. They are replaced with SKF now.

Y- axis, no binding on the ways but the lead screw nut is a little rough. Also here the roller bearing was replaced, the thrust bearing was fine btw.
X-axis, both bearing was replaced as the chicom ones was 

The spindle was funny, there was three kinds of grease in it, one white waxy one in the lower part, a brownish smelly one on top and a blue very sticky one on the shaft. All cleaned and regreased with SKF bearing grease. The bearing by the way was smooth and tight

Electric motor, noisy bastard! But the plan was to fit a 3- phase quality motor anyway.
The mods I will do on the mill are, DRO for the 3 axis. A readout on the quill. The z- axis nut will be new as I have to make a longer shaft since I will make a riser block.
All in all I am happy with purchase, I have some experience with chinese machines and expected to find crud and bad workmanship on the parts. But if you take your time and tune and deburr and maybe change bearings, bolts and nuts you will get a nice miller

I guess you cant demand any better for the price.

[doubleboost]

Sounds like you have it well sorted
The riser block makes a big difference
John

[kayz1]

Sounds abit like my Chester machine, i have just SKF'ed mine and i have to look to see if it's running now ( well! almost ) the motor is the noisy bit now but i can live with that.
Lyn.

[Arbalist]

Perhaps I should do the bearings on my Warco, can you remember what size they are?

[svk]

On my lead screws the bearings are 6004 2rs, 20X42X12 mm. But some dont match the numbers in the manual so take your handles off and you will see a number on them, they might be different as the far eastern guys just put in what they have in house

[kayz1]

On my lead screws the bearings are 6004 2rs, 20X42X12 mm. But some dont match the numbers in the manual so take your handles off and you will see a number on them, they might be different as the far eastern guys just put in what they have in house

I will check in the morning for you, i did order my bearings from the chester service book ( joke ) that came with the machine, all apart from the jockey wheel pivot which i remade as the pivot had been bored off centre and off kilter also. I just rebored the next bearing size up and made a new shaft while i was in the mood. Just looked in the service ( joke ) book.. 7207= 35x72x17.  6007zz= 35x62x14. 6206z=30x62x16. 6009z= 45x75x16  two of. all for the quill.  handles..6004z. 20x42x12  8 of if doing all handle bearings. sizes from Simply bearings.co.uk.
Lyn.

[svk]

I used your description on reboring the jockey and fitted new bigger bearings. Now its straight! Maybe turn a new bolt for the jockey one day as it is not quite straight, the threads in the casing line up but the threads on the bottom part of the bolt is not, well its an easy fix..

Now, back to the riser block work

[Seaco]

Fitted my DRO a couple of weeks ago it's a Sinpo very pleased with it!...

Scale Sizes:
X= 600mm
Y= 250mm
Z= 400mm

Lee

[Jonny]

Respectable job that Lee far better than some pros have done for fair demos.

Is the stop/start switch staying there?