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.
