Zimmermann FZ-5

[Brian]

This is definitely a better choice than a bridgeport. The slow speed of a bridgeport is tough on the router bits and makes for very slow feed rates.

I see a motor that looks like it is for raising and lowering the bed? That is good to have. If it has a DRO i'm imagining it has motors to move the bed x and y as well?

It looks like the bed is a giant rotary table....that, will be quite useful. I have a small rotary table, but the scale winds up being pretty small for most WW projects that are furniture related.

[Chris Hall]

Well, I'm not totally sure what table functions are powered. There is definitely a motor down there:

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Whether that motor drives a single function or more than one function is unknown to me.

The DRO has x-y and z output, but the z-travel is not actually connected up. Probably a linear scale could be mounted to the quill somehow.

One nice thing is that the main table is not scarred:

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It also comes with a few accessories:

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There's a drilling chuck in one of the boxes, which means this machine neatly replaces my drill press as well as giving new capabilities. I'm not sure what the green cast angled bracket is for at all.

[Jack_Ervin.]

There's a drilling chuck in one of the boxes, which means this machine neatly replaces my drill press as well as giving new capabilities. I'm not sure what the green cast angled bracket is for at all.

Bridgeport made an accessory horizontal head like that green casting. In the first photo, the scale is such that it will fit onto the quill. There should be a bracket that clamps to the ram underneath and behind the spindle converting it into a horizontal cutting orientation. It could be used alone without an arbor though. By the way that's a nice looking Albrecht Drill Chuck in the box.

[Chris Hall]

Oh that makes good sense - thanks! Cool to know there is an added capacity with the machine, and hopefully no important parts are missing. Still haven't heard back from the company though about my offer...

[Chris Hall]

I'm pretty sure that the marked box is a power feed control for side-to-side movement:

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[Brian]

That looks about right to me. I expect the motor at the bottom only raises and lowers and there are separate motors for the x and y...at least thats how dad's Bridgeport is setup.

The bed and ways look nice from what I can see, having worked in a machine shop it was pointed out to me by the owner that when looking for a machine to purchase one should look for the ways to still have their scraping marks. He kept after his machines very well and even a quite old Bridgeport was accurate on the feed, if there is slop in the ways it will drive you a little crazy.

Assuming you get the machine, is there a vise setup for small work that you plan to use with this?

[Chris Hall]

...having worked in a machine shop it was pointed out to me by the owner that when looking for a machine to purchase one should look for the ways to still have their scraping marks...

There's a clear picture of this machine which shows the scraping marks:

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Looks good to me.

Assuming you get the machine, is there a vise setup for small work that you plan to use with this?

I haven't really thought that far ahead. Do you have any suggestions?

I was thinking that a large 90˚ back fence on the main table would be helpful for a lot of tasks.

[Brian]

Cool, the consistent scraping marks are a good sign.

Heading over to my dad's shop tomorrow, so I'll take a photo of the vise I have. It's a regular machinist vise but really comes in handy for small parts, I forget the brand off hand.

You may need a fence for repeat setup, for one offs you'll probably find the t-nut and stud to be the most often used thing, IMO.

Those parallel blocks your buying or bought, they'll be super handy for this as well. We used to use wrist pins on the regular because they were consistent in height, but I know they have formal setup blocks as well, they're handy.

[Chris Hall]

Heard back from Germany this morning. The seller is waiting on a quote for the crating costs, and it sounds like that information will be available Friday at the latest, so hopefully I will have my answers in another two or three days. I also asked them about swapping all the motors out to 208v. 60hz., and they are going to get back to me with all that info in light of my offer.

I'm curious to know if the taper used on the various tools that fit to the spindle are the same as used on my Martin shaper. They look similar - I believe the Zimmermann is using ISO 40, aka SK40. If the taper and mounting is the same between machines, that would mean I could use the Martin router spindle with collet chuck directly, which I have fitted with a 1/2" collet. That would mean I could readily use all my 1/2" router tooling, and to use the rest I would just need to obtain other collets.

Whenever you buy a machine from overseas there are unknowns, which certainly add to the list of things to be nervous about. Will the machine run? Will it need rebuilding? What stuff am I not seeing in the photos? Are any critical parts missing which are impossible to find?

I'm not even totally clear on the size of this machine frankly. I know it is big but I have the feeling it is going to be bigger than I expect. The shipping quote was on the basis of 8.28 cubic meters, 2 tons...will it fit through the doorway of my building?

[Brian]

There is no visual reference in the photos either, I have a feeling it's a giant.

Just a follow up, the vise my dad's mill has is a 'Kurt'. The company he bought the mill from was closing, so they wanted everything gone in a hurry and the machinist basically gave him a a package deal in that everything bolted to the mill went with it. So, as it would turn out he got some really sweet tools along with the machine. The company was a flash in the pan, but whoever setup the shop had great taste in machinery.

I digress, but anyways for a hand tools mostly woodworker I have a love of milling machines. I've been tempted to clear out my garage and setup the mill while my wife is at work....but she's warned me that such move won't go over well.