TCracingCA

SupremeDeluxe

I know you want a new machine, but as a few others stated, nothing is going to come close (in terms of accuracy, precision) to having an old mill and lathe. If it was my money and time, I would seek out a Hardinge lathe and a Bridgeport vertical mill. Get a phase converter to run them in your home shop. Find machines that are still under power at the seller's location, and call in the last favor(s) from your buddy, have him come with and run them to confirm they are in good working order.

AZDoug

Only problem with used machines, is some can be plain worn out, and it isn't obvious unless you know what to look for. Worn bedways, worn lead screws are a couple most common. The problem shows up most on longer objects where you can get variable pitch threads and variable diameters along a length. In most cases it doesn't matter for what i do, but the issue does exist.
My 28 year old 13 x40 lathe has about 30,000 hours on it and I consider it worn out, and have to compensate, which is a pain, It can't do real precision work anymore on other than short items. I am trying to get another 4 years use out of it, as by then I will have reached retirement time..

Doug

Drothgeb

I also have one of the RF45 style square column mills. Certainly not as good as a larger mill, but still does a pretty good job. I bought it more to be a precision drill press with the intent of buying a larger used mill later on. That was more than 10 years ago. It’s worked well enough as a mill that I never felt the need for something bigger. Not problem at all keeping things within .001”. With motor drives and digital readout, I have a few thousand invested. Works great for odds and ends, brackets, adapter plates and misc. If you buy something similar, definitely get a square column and as big as you can handle.