Hello David and welcome,

I have been using an R8 spindle mill (Naerok) for a number of years with just 4 * R8 collets (imperial in my case); no need for an ER chuck + collets to start with, link ArcEuro – 4 piece collet set – 6,10,12 & 16 @ £16.33, they grip end-mills very well, and take up less headroom.

An R8 adapter for slitting saws would extend your capability, not sure if the machine is delivered with a drill chuck,

Phil

Edited By CotswoldsPhil on 31/03/2015 19:57:06

I second getting a few R8 collets first. Apart from gripping like mad they will give you another couple of inches daylight above the table.

Hi David,

Good luck with the new Mill

One of the few extras that I bought when I first got my mill was a set of parallels. They are not strictly an essential but they have proven to be a good investment.

They have many uses in the setting up of jobs on the mill. I wouldn't be without them now.

John

I'd actually go for a standard vice over the tilting one unless you can forsee a lot of angular work, remember you can tilt the work one way in a standard vice.

Lever type DTI an a small magnetic base so you can set the vice jaws true to the mills x- axis.

Although you have a drill press you may well find the mill better for drilling as you can use it to place holes by co-ordinates which is likely more accurate than marking out and drilling so a drill chuck would be useful.

Some form of edge & centre finder so you can locate the part in the vice or on the table and then know how much to take off.

As Neil has said one of the hold down sets if you don't want to make your own tee nuts, etc. The ER holders can usually be bought with a basic set of 6 collets in teh popular sizes. Avoid sets of unbranded cutters that can look like a good buy as they are often not good quality. A few branded cutters would be better, the FC-3 ones are quite reasonable but also talk to Ketan about cutters he may be able to supply something suitable.

J

I couldn't afford a clamping kit for my first mill so just bought some of the basic elements for £1 each at one of the shows. £10 bought all the bits I needed once added to some threaded rod I already had. I made my own Tee nuts as the ones in the kit didn't fit my mill anyway. If you can get step blocks and straps at a good price just buy what you need.

I have centre and edge finders but still tend to use the old cigarette paper and sticky pin more. The cig. paper for edge finding is quicker than setting up the edge finder and takes account of the diameter of the cutter.

And yes, if on a budget, don't buy clamps. Make them. It's a good first project for learning how to use the mill and will give you exactly what you need.

Russell

I have a laser edge finder an opticle centre finder and a mechanical edge finder and like Russell I still use a stickt pin and fag paper,for both edge finding and feeling the cutter onto the work.

Frank