Jet JMD-18PFN Mill Drill Review, Test Cuts, & Bolt Circle with Newall DP700 DRO

I have had this Jet JMD-18PFN Mill Drill for over a year and I give a full overview and demo of this machine. Including discussing Round column milling machines vs. Square column. Why you might want one over the other.

If you are looking to purchase a small milling machine, mill drill or bench top milling machine you should check out this video. I go through test cuts in steel and aluminum. Cut a slot and program a Newall DP700 DRO to drill a bolt circle.

Demo the Align X Axis Power Feed for Jet Mill Drill. Cover changing belts and speeds on a Jet Mill Drill, would be the same for changing speeds on any belt driven milling machine.

In this video I test the tram on the head of this Jet mill drill. I tram a Glacern Machine tools (GMT) vise on the table. Use a 3" GMT face mill to cut steel and aluminum. And use a GMT keyless drill chuck to drill some 1/2" holes in steel using the Power Down Feed on this Jet Mill Drill. Also discuss my hack to keep the feed levers from disengaging on my Jet Mill Drill.

This video is great for beginners using a milling machine for the first time, I cover basic milling operations.

Other Mill Tooling:
Mitutoyo 513-406-10T DIAL - Test Indicator - Comes with 3/8" post to go in collet
R-8 collet set

Glacern Machine Tool Tooling:
GSV-550 5” Standard Vise
SB-550 Swivel Base For 5” GSV-550 Vise
R8-DC500 Drill Chuck, R8 Taper
R8-FM45-300 Integral Shank Facemill 3”
SECA43-PC3500 Korloy Inserts - General Purpose
SEHW43–SCREW Extra Facemill Screws
EM90-625A 5/8” Indexible Endmill also purchased their inserts to go with it. Gen purpose and Aluminum.

Thanks for watching!

[richardperry]

Just bought one (no DRO or power table). Thank you for making this video, very insightful and heavily influenced my purchase. Would love a video on more tips for this machine if you have any more! Thank you again

[DENedbalek]

Loved the video. I've got an old Rong Fu 30 that appears to be almost identical (no power down feed). I also would probably not buy a round column mill again, but a little as mine get used it will do everything I've asked of it. The manual machining videos are my favorites. Keep 'em coming!

[mikeulakovic]

I wanted to comment on the tram of the mill/drill, I have an RF30 which is basically the same as the Jet. There are 4 bolts that hold the round column casting onto the base, I shimmed that casting and was able to get mine to tram within about .0005. Having said that it did take some fiddling but once done it has held the tram. I hope this helps those that want to take that project on. Mike

[wheelisforge]

Thanks for the video! Not looking at the Jet particularly but a medium sized mill in general. Would be my first mill and this video really helped me understand a lot of the terminology and uses . Really appreciate that!

[appalachianbushcraft]

Excellent, this video helped me out a lot. Great job on the video and thanks for taking the time to review it.

[Lesfac]

I have a similar machine without the bells and whistles. I have been very happy with it's capabilities. Within reason it will take healthy cuts in it's stride. I did see a suggestio to address the loss of location when moving the head height. Someone suggested fixing a laser to the head beaming across the workshop and located on a vertical line on the wall. When the head rotates around the column as you adjust the height, you just ensure the spot is on the vertical line before tightening the head. I haven't done that so I don't know how accurate it would be.

[appalachianbushcraft]

Just ordered this machine the non pfn version. I had 2 square column mills prior the 727m version. The square column mills suffer from the same alignment issues in Z the round column ones do. When the head of the mill is unclamped often the head will swivel slightly left or right, it will also shift the spindle towards the column. Point is ANY machine with a non stationary head NEEDS to be checked for alignment when the head is moved. As far as slop in spindle when fine down feed is used just lightly snug the quill clamp instead of completely loosing it. This will keep the play taken up in the pinion. Anyone that has a square column mill can set up 1-2-3 blocks and DTI indicators while clamping and un clamping the head on a square column mill and you will see what I mean. Square or round make no difference they BOTH move when the head is unclamped. Even with the gib adjusted properly it will do this, adjust it too tight and if the dovetails were not perfectly ground from the factory you will start loosing Z height adjustment. Try it for those of you that have a square column mill.

[toddf]

Great video. I ordered the exact same mill (with X-axis power feed installed) over two months ago and it just arrived yesterday. To bad you posted this video after I ordered it. It may have influenced my decision. But I think I am going to like it. So far, I’ve only squared up a block of aluminum and drilled some holes in some steel. The first thing I did to the machine was attach a magnet to the top cover so it sticks to the column and holds the lid open for belt changes. The second thing I did was order a brighter bulb to replace the wimpy 20watt piece of junk that it comes with. I haven’t gotten around to checking tram yet. Too bad there is no way to correct any errors. Do you think it’s possible to add shims between the base and the column? One advantage this machine has over a square column model is power. Most square column machines have variable speed, DC motors. They have very little torque at low speeds. This machine, because of pulleys and physics and stuff, has mega torque at low speed and could eat a square column for lunch. Please make more videos featuring the JMD-18PFN.

[justinstockton]

Great video. Thank you for all the information

[mindfulrifleman]

Can you get close up pictures or video on how the dro scales are mounted to your jet mill drill, i am in the process of adding scales to mine but trying to figure out how they are mounted .

[shadeholder]

Thanks for the great video. I was wondering. I just bought the exact Jet drill/mill machine and was wanting the loadout that you got from GMT if you wouldn't mind giving a run down on the parts list, please. Thank you again

[mindfulrifleman]

Which glacern vise is yours ?, i have the same drill mill and looking at getting a vise for it . Your video is very informative thank you

[tinaliebe]

Hi thanks for your video I have one similar to yours it needs new bearings so my question is how does it perform cutting slots in steel can you please do a video on slots in steel it’s my first mill and I need as much information on the round Column mill thanks

[Blou]

Very helpfull for the beginner i'm. Thanks.

[Blou]

Just ordered a dro, my next buy will be x power feeder.

[npalen]

Would suggest, when using the handwheel downfeed or power downfeed, to always snug the spindle lock enough to keep backlash out and then down feed to tough off or take additional cut. Touching off and then letting the spindle "float" down to the desired depth is not good practice.

[Dima-qgrl]

hi! how mach did you pay for the machine?

[jerrypeal]

Imagine you can Tram the head to table with shims if needed .

[MrMattydavee]

You adjust the tram of the round column with shims. Where the column bolts to the base. It’s a bitch but can be trammed

[shooterus]

These mills can be trammed using shim stock under the column.