Subject: GORTON O-16A Mill

From: John Bryant <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 03 May 1996 21:19:27 -0400

Does anybody out there have an experience with the Gorton O-16A mill?  I
looked at one today as part of my continuing quest to find a quality
replacement for my current Taiwanese mill/drill, and basically it would
seem to be what I'm looking for.

One catch is that getting it into my basement could be a major problem.
Though it's not a large machine, it's VERY solidly built, and roughly
estimating the weight of the major casting gave a result of about 1000
pounds.  Another is that both the X and Y leadscrews are 8TPI, giving 
an awkward 0.125 per revolution (I can see this making co-ordinate 
drilling a real nightmare).  My biggest misgiving, however, is probably
the spindle, which is not R8 but instead takes what I understand to be a
proprietary type of collet.  These are generally similar in shape to R8
collets but rather smaller, with the straight portion having an outside
diameter of about 5/8 inch.  Also, in place of the usual groove, there
are three large flats on this portion of the collet, making it more
triangular than round.  Can anybody identify these collets and let me
know whether they can still be obtained?  Unfortunately the vendor only
has two collets and more would certainly be desirable.  Also one wonders
whether drill chuck and Morse taper adapters might be obtainable.  At
present it is impossible to use a taper shank drill on the machine, and
using a drill chuck is only possible by mounting one on a shaft which
can then be gripped using one of the two collets.

Some dimensions:  table 24" x 9"
                  travel 18.5" x 9"
                  quill travel 3"
                  footprint (excluding overhangs) 21" x 31"
                  floor to base of ram 48"

                    - John Bryant ([email-masked])

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From: Fabo <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 04 May 1996 09:56:25 -0700

John Bryant wrote:
>                     - John Bryant ([email-masked])AHHHHHHH

Gorton !
My Fist And trusty Mill !!!
Collets are Brown & SHarp, either #9 or #7 taper
They came in both sizes
I did my best work on that mill ( paid $300) for int back in 1990
Lots of shops were folding back then ( the piece dividend did not favor job shops)

Keep in mind:
you have autofeeds in BOTH the X and Y axii 
And no slouch of a drive unit either!
The friggen transmition box was the size of a friggen Volkswagon Tranny
( ok Im overdoing it a bit)

A curios thing to observe:
Sit, yes sit at the machine....
Comfortable huh?
This machine was designed for the MASTER Machinist.
and was desighned to use SITTING, yes SITTING at the machine
Notice that it is a sort of SHORT machine?
Look at the mechanism to tighten the pully....
Pretty friggin impresive huh?
Id like to see Bridgeport top THAT !!!
And take a look at the quill, it too has a great boring mechanism
Good Luck 
Take care of it !
Its a great machine, and over all, it is solid !
Fabo
[email-masked]

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From: Fabo <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 04 May 1996 09:58:54 -0700

> Its a great machine, and over all, it is solid !

The collet you have is probably  the optional 
Warner Swazey # 3 collets