WM18 or VMC

[petro1headParticipant @petro1head]

Not for me, honest guv, but a pal of mine whoi is looking to buy a mill

He will mainly use it for making parts for a kit car he is bulding

[petro1headParticipant @petro1head]

[bill ellisParticipant @billellis45274]

I would think it is dependent on what size of part he is planning to make. I built a kit car (Spartan) utilising Ford running gear before owning any machine tools. Thinking back I do not know what I would have used either a mill or lathe for during that build as most parts came from either a donor car or with the kit itself. If you can give more detail on what he actually wants to do with a mill I'm sure that will elicit appropriate advice as to the best choice.

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

The WM18 wins slightly on absolute axis travels. The mills are probably equally capable in what you can handle so it may be down to the style of machine you prefer. I have a VMC because I like a knee style mill and I preferred the simple belt drive system but I am fitting a VFD to mine. The VFD version is now available as a standard machine. I was not convinced that a geared head machine would survive an accident as well as a belt drive. I am not overly prone to breaking things but it only takes a moment of inattention and you can be in trouble. I am happy with my choice although I have decided a VFD drive will be nicer, it was not an option when I bought mine.

Mike

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Does the VMC have an intermediate pulley Mike? If so you could consider eliminating it when you fit a VFD. When I fitted a 3 phase motor and VFD to my VMB I actually used the intermediate pulley on the motor as it was the same size as the spindle pulley.

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

Yes it does John I had considered it as the commercial version is just two speed pulleys

Mike

[VicParticipant @vic]

Having used three other knee mills before the purchase of my VMC I’m very pleased with my choice. I much prefer the idea of a fixed head. I generally only use three of the nine available speeds so it only requires slipping one belt to change speeds and this only takes a few seconds.
I’ve got a wood lathe with variable (inverter) speed drive and it’s very useful for minimising vibrations on out of balance work but I can’t see I’d ever need something like this on a mill. The lathe has three pulleys on the belt drive so you still need to slip belts if you want the full range of speeds.

[petro1headParticipant @petro1head]

Sizes of part not massive. I think he more interested in strength, studyness and ability to cut reasonable size cuts

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Just an impression from the photos, but the VMC looks a lot more rigid than the WM18. Of course I could be wrong, but that big motorised head supported on the relatively slender back column just doesn't look right

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

petro1head	01/03/2020 11:43:17
731 forum posts 143 photos	Sizes of part not massive. I think he more interested in strength, studyness and ability to cut reasonable size cuts

Sounds more and more like you, than any ‘friend’.

Would you actually recmmend the same model as you have (currently)?🙂

Edited By not done it yet on 01/03/2020 14:16:01

[petro1headParticipant @petro1head]

Interesting comment, I suppose I could use 2 mills

i have recommended mine but he likes the look of the VMC so I said I would ask on here for unbiased oppinions.

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

Went through a very similar exercise comparing square column bench mills with VMC style before I got my Chester Lux style "factory fit VFD" bench mill, essentially WM18 size, getting on for 20 years ago.

Dimension and capacity wise its pretty much too close to call as neither type appeared to have stand-out strengths and weaknesses. I ended up getting the Lux style primarily as I had a bench to put it on, complete with lots of essential stuff underneath, but would have needed to move something out to accommodate the VMC base. Hafta say the European made VFD fitment on that particular square column mill coupled to a very good price due to Chester deciding that the price performance ratio at "full" price didn't work leaving that machine an orphan kept it in the hunt. I considered the usual gear driven Lux slightly inferior to the VMC and would not have bought one.

In use I found the big head casting on the square column mill tended to obstruct visibility when setting up work or when doing small jobs with small cutters. I also found winding the head up and down the column was hard work. It really needs motorising as the provided handles are always, to my eye at least, on the small size and something of a reach to get at. Especially when bench mounted so you can't stand at the side. My particular one proved limited on Y-axis travel so a cutter could not cover the full width of the table. Not in practice a major issue but if I'd known in advance it would have changed my mind. Not all square column bench mills suffer from this travel restriction but its worth checking. Not an unmixed curse as it made the beast a couple of inches slimmer front to back. Objectively I didn't really have enough room.

Given a do-over I'd probably buy the VMC as the big, front mounted crank makes the knee quite easy to wind up and down and the slimmer head gives better visibility. Of course then I'd probably be writing a similar spiel about the things I didn't like when using the VMC and deciding that given a do-over I'd get the square column one!

I solved all the issues by building a bigger workshop and going Bridgeport!

Frankly, unless there are space issues, its time for some serious handle twiddling and setting up trials to decide which one he'd rather drive.

Clive

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