Replacement Spindle for benchtop milling machine

[magicniner]

That's interesting. Do you know where he got the milling head? Does someone sell them as spares? One of the problems with my list is that most of them are coming from overseas, so if there is a UK supplier of spare parts for a suitable mill then that might be a good option.

I don't think it would work for you, it's small and you'd have no-where to mount a motor, it's not an "off the shelf" solution.

My suggestions were all aimed at getting it up and running as quickly as possible with the least cost and the best overall machining capacity.
Buy a spindle that fits where the old quill went and live with the speeds/torque/tool capacity you get but don't throw away the old bits, they will enhance the resale value,

- Nick

[m_c]

Are the original bearings noisy?
If they're not noisy, I'd try adjusting them up, and then test it again. Even if you just tighten the one ring to remove play, it'll give you a far better idea of what condition the spindle is in.

As for potential replacements, it'll depend on the space available. Do you have any photos of the existing head?
Personally, I'd be looking at something that makes tool changes reasonably easy, like a BT spindle, so you can swap tools without having to worry about setting tool lengths.