A Chinese mill worth looking at

[precisionworks]

Please don't throw rocks at me, but I ran across a mill while posting on another board. Yes it's Chinese, but a cut above most of the offerings from Asia. From all the specs, these mills are equal to the Turn-Pro (Enco) brand. Nice features like Turcite coated ways, ABEC-7 spindle bearings (same as a Bridgeport), 3hp 3ph motor, one-shot lube, etc. - pretty much all the good things most people want in a mill. And roughly $2000 less than the "sale price" of a Turn Pro from Enco.

Being a skeptic, I phoned and spoke with the manager of Can-Do machinery. They ordered a large number of these mills a year ago & are still selling them at the old price. Once that supply is gone, prices will go up at least 10%.

http://candomachinery.com/Mills.html#jinpu

The best value for the money (IMO) is the CDM4 series. 10x52 table travels, square way construction on both Y & W (knee). Over 3000#.

http://candomachinery.com/cdm4.pdf

I'd still buy a Bpt if all else was equal, but this looks like a decent machine. I specifically questioned the manager about the ABEC-7 spindle bearings - he said that as soon as the machines are uncrated, his mechanics pull the standard ABEC-2 bearings and replace them with ABEC-7 units from NSK or Nachi.

Sounds quite a lot like what Matt does at Precision Matthews

NOTE: I have not seen one of these in person. I don't know anybody who has one. They may be total junk or they may be a Cadillac in disguise :nana:

 

[alexmin]

I specifically questioned the manager about the ABEC-7 spindle bearings - he said that as soon as the machines are uncrated, his mechanics pull the standard ABEC-2 bearings and replace them with ABEC-7 units from NSK or Nachi.

Sounds quite a lot like what Matt does at Precision Matthews

I did not know that Matt replaces bearing. Do you know which bearings he replaces on his lathes?

 

[precisionworks]

Actually, I don't believe that Matt replaces any bearings. He does go through each machine as it is uncrated, makes sure it's within specs, fills the gearbox with fluid, adds any options the buyer wants (DRO, etc.). Probably the reason that his machines are so trouble free compared to Enco, Jet, Grizzly, Shop Fox, et al.

His mills show ABEC-7 spindle bearings, which could either be installed at the factory in China or on arrival in the USA. When you consider that a highly skilled worker in China is paid about $1 per hour, versus $20 (or more) per hour in the USA, there is some economy to having as much as possible done at the factory.

Matt's site doesn't specify the spindle bearings on the lathe, which would be good to know. Lathe spindle bearings are huge compared to the spindle bearings on a mill. If you figure that a pair of matched ABEC-7 bearings cost about $250 for a Bridgeport (or similar) mill, the bearings for a lathe might easily run over $1000 per pair. Not unusual for a $100k machine, but uncommon for anything machine that costs less than a new car. But, most newer lathes use a pair of tapered roller bearings (Timken style) that allow both preload & easy adjustment as the bearings mate with their seats & start to wear. The Jet lathes I've worked on use pretty inexpensive tapered rollers (about $200 per pair), but provide a nice finish as long as the preload is correctly set & maintained.