Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

Good upgrade Dennis, lots more room to setup and get larger things done.

It looks and has specs that are almost identical to my Grizzly G0704, which I consider to be at the transition point between a very large hobby machine and a minimum level shop machine.

Is yours gear driven or belt?

Yes, adding a DRO to mine has made life much easier, and the machining work I do is hopefully now a bit more precise as well.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MILL-MILLING-LATHE-MACHINE-LINEAR-SCALE-ENCOLDE-AND-3-AXIS-DIGITAL-READOUT-DRO/252023511263?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

I put something like this one on it, and although the install was a bit of a PITA it was well worth it. Been on almost three years now with not a glitch. One thing to pay strict attention to, is be sure you get the correct length for each of the linear scales, and also do realize that spindle movement is not included on the DRO readout. But the mill itself has a digital readout for the spindle already, so that isn't too much of an issue.

My only real complaint against my G0704 mill is the short spindle range of only 2 inches or 50mm. I would have much preferred at least 3 inches, and 4 would have been even better. Other than that little whine ... I love my little mill !!!

Gear drive  2 speed gear box and vari speed motor
I did look at the next size up which is belt drive But the top speed is a lot slower .
When I get the DRO i will order them from Machinery house and the order will be for all parts needed for my mill so hopefully fitting will be straight forward .
2 inch quill travel is not a lot but I can live with it as there is 280 mm vertical travel In the head .

Cheers
Dennis