I didn't want to hijack taem's thread on mill drills.
There have probably been twenty different Asian knock-offs of a Bridgeport knee mill sold in my area. I cut my teeth on Bridgeport and Elliot milling machines- they are my standard for quality.
All the copies look alike, but you will note differences in the fit and "feel" of them. Bottom end of the scale, mild steel shafts, cast or mild steel gearing, questionable motors, and a roughness in the sliding surfaces. These will do the job if carefully used, but will give grief if used hard in a busy shop. There is some middle ground, with better fit, finish, and components. I find the best machines are sold by the major machine tool suppliers. You will pay more, but tool suppliers like happy customers, and parts and service are available. Shop owners get very narrow-minded when new machines crater!
I spent some time in a brand new shop building oil field machinery. They bought a large lathe and a knee mill from the major tool supplier. Both machines were made in Taiwan by the same manufacturer, were accurate, and a pleasure to use. As much as I tried to be an equipment snob, I really got to like the vertical mill, and would buy the same machine again. Another shop bought a similar mill from a discount house. It looked almost the same, but less accurate, and the variable speed drive sounded like it was full of rocks. Not a happy experience.
There are some bargains out there at reasonable prices. Evaluate your needs and expectations, and inspect a used machine very carefully. Electrical issues can usually be solved with off the rack parts, but gearbox and spindle issues cancel any savings, especially if parts are not readily available for that machine.
A final thought, machines built for heavy daily use will generally take #40 tooling. R8 is very versatile, but not the best choice for heavy use.
There have probably been twenty different Asian knock-offs of a Bridgeport knee mill sold in my area. I cut my teeth on Bridgeport and Elliot milling machines- they are my standard for quality.
All the copies look alike, but you will note differences in the fit and "feel" of them. Bottom end of the scale, mild steel shafts, cast or mild steel gearing, questionable motors, and a roughness in the sliding surfaces. These will do the job if carefully used, but will give grief if used hard in a busy shop. There is some middle ground, with better fit, finish, and components. I find the best machines are sold by the major machine tool suppliers. You will pay more, but tool suppliers like happy customers, and parts and service are available. Shop owners get very narrow-minded when new machines crater!
I spent some time in a brand new shop building oil field machinery. They bought a large lathe and a knee mill from the major tool supplier. Both machines were made in Taiwan by the same manufacturer, were accurate, and a pleasure to use. As much as I tried to be an equipment snob, I really got to like the vertical mill, and would buy the same machine again. Another shop bought a similar mill from a discount house. It looked almost the same, but less accurate, and the variable speed drive sounded like it was full of rocks. Not a happy experience.
There are some bargains out there at reasonable prices. Evaluate your needs and expectations, and inspect a used machine very carefully. Electrical issues can usually be solved with off the rack parts, but gearbox and spindle issues cancel any savings, especially if parts are not readily available for that machine.
A final thought, machines built for heavy daily use will generally take #40 tooling. R8 is very versatile, but not the best choice for heavy use.