"jim rozen" wrote in message
...
In article , Harold & Susan Vordos says...

snip----
Other than that, a horizontal will do nearly everything
a b'port or clone can do, and better. In most cases
it's simply a matter of having the correct tooling,
or being able to turn the job sideways in the mind.


Wish I would have had presence of mind enough to comment on this statement,
too. I've done end mill work with a horizontal machine, and it's likely
one of the toughest of all things to do. I can't speak for anyone but
myself, but when I run machines, a very big part of what's happening is
closely observed by eye. I do not trust that I am where I think I am, I
am constantly looking, with my face close in. I can't think of anything
less convenient than watching a pocket being generated on the far side of a
mill table, where I can't see what's going on. It's also a lot harder to
use your acid brush that way. That's not to say it can't be done, but doing
the same job on a vertical, even without a drop spindle, is far easier and
faster. If you find yourself cutting the same old chips over and over on a
vertical machine, don't you think you're doing something wrong? Spray
mist is great at keeping chips out of pockets, and keeps the cutter well
lubed and cooler.

And "better"? All depends on the job at hand. Again, cut pockets (or
windows) and then lets talk about it. I think you'll find that the only
people that prefer a horizontal for that kind of work are those that don't
have the vertical and they've deluded themselves into thinking they don't
really need a vertical. They're right, they don't, but if they intend to
compete with one, it wouldn't be long until they would.

Keep in mind I'm speaking from the perspective of someone that did a
majority of tooling, with some production as well. My needs may have been
far different from someone that makes a given part time and again, a part
that lends itself well to a horizontal. Making jigs and fixtures that
require hole locations and dowels works very best on a drop spindle mill.
:-)

Harold