It's a badass machine! A milling machine is great for cutting slots, like if you're fabricating a bracket for something or need to modify an existing part. I use it for hole saw cutting like when I was making those custom dip bars. Affinity uses a benchtop mill similar to this to notch all their chromoly tubing. There's so much you can do with it.
Matt, Thanks for this and your earlier 727 vs. 728 comparison. I like your mods; smart and well executed. You got looking hard at the 727, though M or V models are still up in the air. Your thoughts on that particular dilemma? Also, speaking of mods, have you checked out "Mick's Workshop" and the mods he made to his PM 727? Worth a look.
Thanks, I'd go with the V for variable speed. Sometimes I'm experimenting with different speeds to see what works best for different operations so I really need the adjustable speed. I have seen Mick's channel! He's got some great videos.
awesome info. i have a pm30mv that i just picked up to start learning with. hoping to do some of these mods as well. thanks for the video. those handles that fold away are first. i've clipped my arm on the front one so many times now it's not even funny (although its usually my "funny bone" that catches it)... do you mind sharing the part numbers of stuff you ordered. i'll have to make sure they're the same parts to fit mine. thanks :)
Hey I'm glad you enjoyed the video, the folding handles are an absolute must for a home shop. If you look at one of the comments below you'll find my reply to another comment with the part number.
Thanks for video - could you show more machine vides with sound of different operations using your PM - started looking few days ago at PM mills - PM 30MV one been mostly looking at so far - any thoughts ? - Nice shop you have - equipment on wheels is good move -I did similar 40yrs ago - several others things I did like mounting bench grinder so folds up against wall out of way /easy move around if UR interested - Jay
4" is a good size. Some people cut off the front lip of the base of the vise where it would hit the column to get more Y Axis travel. I haven't needed the extra travel yet but I'll do that sooner or later.
@@G1951-w1y the PM-30 runs on 220V so I'd go with the PM-27V because it can be used anywhere. It depends on whether you need the higher capacity/increased rigidity of the PM-30 but the 727 has been great for me. I can notch tubing and cut slots in steel no problem.
I liked your video comparing the 728vt to the 727. I bought my 727 before the 728 was available and until I saw your video I had been wishing that I got the 728, now I know I got the better machine for what I do. I also put up a video on the enhancements that I did to my mill.
Hey Mick, glad you can rest assured with your 727V. Looks like you fully pimped it out! You ought to update the title of your mill upgrades video to include "PM-727V" so that more people can find it.
@@grippimatt I added that to the title, thanks for the suggestion! Yeah I've done a few things to it. 😊 I like that Z axis power feed on yours though, I didn't know they made one for the 727. I'll have to look into that.
Do you have column sag? I was looking into getting the precision one or this one, the only issue is I would be cutting mild steel rather than aluminum. I understand this has more power but I’ve seen reviews saying they have sag etc. probably wouldn’t be quite rigid shimming, another thing, have you checked the run out on the spindle?
Hey Jake, I haven't checked the run out on the spindle but I haven't noticed it to be an issue in any of the precision applications that I've done. I'm not quite sure what column sag is but when I got this machine the head had to be trammed by adding a small shim underneath the column. Having done that, I haven't noticed any issues with vibration after I've thoroughly tightened down the column bolts. Hope this helps.
@@grippimatt sounds good!! Do you think this is the better purchase for mild steel? I just was looking for something that’s precise at the same time, did the precision one lack a lot of power compared to the 727
@@jakedrake1054 There's no question that you want the 727V over the 728 if you're gonna be machining mild steel. Go to my channel and check out my video comparing the 2 machines. That will help you out a lot.
Have you ever measured the decibels of the 727V at different rpms? I'm looking to buy it from PM and I wanted to know how loud the gearhead is.
I've never measured it but it's not very loud. Precision Matthews may be able to tell you.
Despite not knowing most of the terms you used for the parts of the machine this is all pretty sick! What are you planning to use it for?
It's a badass machine! A milling machine is great for cutting slots, like if you're fabricating a bracket for something or need to modify an existing part. I use it for hole saw cutting like when I was making those custom dip bars. Affinity uses a benchtop mill similar to this to notch all their chromoly tubing. There's so much you can do with it.
Matt, Thanks for this and your earlier 727 vs. 728 comparison. I like your mods; smart and well executed. You got looking hard at the 727, though M or V models are still up in the air. Your thoughts on that particular dilemma?
Also, speaking of mods, have you checked out "Mick's Workshop" and the mods he made to his PM 727? Worth a look.
Thanks, I'd go with the V for variable speed. Sometimes I'm experimenting with different speeds to see what works best for different operations so I really need the adjustable speed. I have seen Mick's channel! He's got some great videos.
Can you provide a link to the folding handles that you got from McMaster-Carr?
Here is the part number - 62705K46
awesome info. i have a pm30mv that i just picked up to start learning with. hoping to do some of these mods as well. thanks for the video. those handles that fold away are first. i've clipped my arm on the front one so many times now it's not even funny (although its usually my "funny bone" that catches it)... do you mind sharing the part numbers of stuff you ordered. i'll have to make sure they're the same parts to fit mine. thanks :)
Hey I'm glad you enjoyed the video, the folding handles are an absolute must for a home shop. If you look at one of the comments below you'll find my reply to another comment with the part number.
Thanks for video - could you show more machine vides with sound of different operations using your PM - started looking few days ago at PM mills - PM 30MV one been mostly looking at so far - any thoughts ? - Nice shop you have - equipment on wheels is good move -I did similar 40yrs ago - several others things I did like mounting bench grinder so folds up against wall out of way /easy move around if UR interested - Jay
What size vise do you recommend for the 727?
4" is a good size. Some people cut off the front lip of the base of the vise where it would hit the column to get more Y Axis travel. I haven't needed the extra travel yet but I'll do that sooner or later.
@@grippimatt Thank you. I'm torn between the PM-727V & the PM-30MV. Any recommendation there?
@@G1951-w1y the PM-30 runs on 220V so I'd go with the PM-27V because it can be used anywhere. It depends on whether you need the higher capacity/increased rigidity of the PM-30 but the 727 has been great for me. I can notch tubing and cut slots in steel no problem.
I liked your video comparing the 728vt to the 727. I bought my 727 before the 728 was available and until I saw your video I had been wishing that I got the 728, now I know I got the better machine for what I do. I also put up a video on the enhancements that I did to my mill.
Hey Mick, glad you can rest assured with your 727V. Looks like you fully pimped it out! You ought to update the title of your mill upgrades video to include "PM-727V" so that more people can find it.
@@grippimatt I added that to the title, thanks for the suggestion! Yeah I've done a few things to it. 😊 I like that Z axis power feed on yours though, I didn't know they made one for the 727. I'll have to look into that.
well done great mods
Nice!👍👍👍
Do you have column sag? I was looking into getting the precision one or this one, the only issue is I would be cutting mild steel rather than aluminum. I understand this has more power but I’ve seen reviews saying they have sag etc. probably wouldn’t be quite rigid shimming, another thing, have you checked the run out on the spindle?
Hey Jake, I haven't checked the run out on the spindle but I haven't noticed it to be an issue in any of the precision applications that I've done.
I'm not quite sure what column sag is but when I got this machine the head had to be trammed by adding a small shim underneath the column. Having done that, I haven't noticed any issues with vibration after I've thoroughly tightened down the column bolts. Hope this helps.
@@grippimatt sounds good!! Do you think this is the better purchase for mild steel? I just was looking for something that’s precise at the same time, did the precision one lack a lot of power compared to the 727
@@jakedrake1054 There's no question that you want the 727V over the 728 if you're gonna be machining mild steel. Go to my channel and check out my video comparing the 2 machines. That will help you out a lot.
@@grippimatt thank you so much!
Great ideas, what is the part # for those folding handwheel handles?
62705K46
@@grippimatt Thanks