I recently upgraded my PM-949TV milling machine to the Precision Matthews PM-949T-6EVS with power drawbar and I absolutely love it! In this video, I’ll walk through the arrival and setup of the mill, give a comprehensive overview, perform some machine demos, and share some special customizations I made to take it to the next level. 

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About the PM-949T-6EVS

The PM-949T-6EVS has all of the features I have dreamed of in a mill – plus some extras and a five-year warranty.

It has the same table size (9” x 49”) and Turcuite-coated ways as my previous variable-speed PM-949TV, but also has an enhanced head supported by a six-bolt knuckle.

This patented setup provides greater rigidity over the three-bolt knuckle system common in most Bridgeport-style milling machines.

The electronic, variable-speed head is incredibly versatile, particularly when pairing its power downfeed with the optional power drawbar for swift and consistent tooling installation.

This is an add-on I highly recommend. I also added a DRO and power feeds on the X, Y, and Z axes. 

This mill is a Bridgeport clone, so it shares much of the features, functionality, and user-interface Bridgeport users are already accustomed to. Turcite along the ways combined with high-quality Meehanite castings make them super slick. 

It also has adjustable gibs, a moveable knee, and one shot lubrication.

This feature provides lubrication to all essential areas with just one pump! There are also adjustable locks for each axis.

Included with the mill is a small toolbox containing an assortment of hand tools and the lifting eye needed for installation. 

From Precision Matthews:

Main High Quality Features:

• • High Grade Meehanite Castings
  • 6 T Bolt lock design on knuckle compared to the traditional 3 through bolt design. (This 6 bolt design is patented. This design provides slightly better clamping at the knuckle. Particularly useful for those who tilt the head forward and back often)
  • UL/CSA (NRTL) Listed Electrical Components (Main motor, wiring, switches, VFD on EVS Model)
  • PM-949T-6EVS is a Single or Three Phase (Same machine uses either power source) Variable Speed, EVS (Electronic Variable Speed) via Hitachi Variable Frequency Drive Machine
  • Head Swivels Left and Right, AND Tilts Front To Back
  • Turcite B way material for smoother table movements
  • Hardened and Ground table and way surfaces greatly reduces wear, which maintains accuracy, and greatly extends machine life
  • One Shot Lubrication system is standard equipment, which also extends machine life, and reduces oiling times of all way surfaces and lead screws to seconds, it is accomplished by simply pumping a lever
  • High precision Inch Pitch lead screws, for ease of use and greater accuracy (5TPI Screws)
  • High Precision Spindle with +/- .0001” or less runout for greater tool life and accuracy
  • Balanced pulleys in head for smooth and quiet operation
  • Full featured head with automatic quill feeds in 3 steps for boring operations
  • Precision Honed Quill Bore for tighter tolerance fit, which leads to improved accuracy when drilling and precision boring
  • The Quill is Precision Ground, then Hard Chrome Plated for longer life
  • Available with either step pulley speed changes, or variable speeds to suit the user’s preferences
  • Built in coolant sump in machine base
  • Tolerance Test Certificate included, each machine is checked for accuracy through a careful inspection process before shipment, the customer can always be sure they will receive a top quality machine that exceeds their expectations
  • Longest in class 5 YEAR WARRANTY against defective parts, including electrical (excludes normal wear items such as belts, bushings, etc.)

Additional Specifications:

• • Thread Pitch of holes in machine base (For leveling pads): 3/4″-10 (Leveling bolts and pads do come standard with this model)
  • Milling Machine Type: Knee Mills
  • Accessory Type: DRO Kits
  • Headstock Tilt, Left to Right: ±90°, with Worm Gear Movement for easier tram adjustments
  • Leadscrew Type: Precision Ground ACME Leadscrew W/ Backlash Adjustments on X and Y Axis
  • Max Table Load: 600 lbs
  • Drawbar Thread: 7/16-20
  • Spindle Height: 52.5 in
  • Spindle Taper: R8
  • Spindle to Table Maximum: 18.5 in
  • Spindle to Table Minimum: 2 in
  • Runout +/- : 0.0001
  • Spindle Bearing Class: C7
  • Spindle Bearing Type: High Precision Angular Contact Bearings, Fully Adjustable
  • Table Dial Graduations: 0.001″
  • Table Leadscrew Pitch: 5 TPI (0.200″ per turn)

Travels: 

• • Mill X-Axis Travel: 34 in
  • Mill X-Axis Travel, with X-Axis Power Feed Installed: 32 in
  • Mill Y-Axis Travel: 13 in
  • Mill Z-Axis Travel: 16 in
  • Quill Travel: 5 in

Table: 

• • X-Axis Table Length: 49 in
  • Y-Axis Table Width: 9 in
  • T-slot size: 5/8″, 16mm
  • Spacing between T Slots: 2.5″
  • Number of T Slots: 3
  • Table Height Minimum: 32 in
  • Table Height Maximum: 50.5 in

Power Requirements: 

• • Amperage: 20
  • Voltage: 220V
  • Phase: 3PH, 1PH, Dual 1Φ or 3Φ
  • Power Frequency: 60Hz
  • Horsepower: 3
  • Plug supplied: ~5′ Cord for direct wire or user supplied plug

Motor and Drive:

Motor Type: AC , AC with Variable Frequency Drive

Drive Type: Belt Drive 

Speed Adjustment: Stepped, Dual Stepped and Variable, Infinitely Variable

Spindle Minimum Speed: 80 , 60

Spindle Maximum Speed: 2,720, 4,200

Machine Footprint: 

Footprint Depth: 50 in

Footprint Width X-Axis: 60 in

Footprint Height: 89 in

This mill is ideal for rifle gunsmithing, particularly for stock work. Its generous table allows a machinist to secure and reach all areas of a stock or make one from scratch! 

Set-Up

The mill arrived in a crate from FedEx and required a forklift to get it to the ground.

I uncrated the machine, installed the lifting eye on the ram, and used pipes to roll it into position.

This machine came with leveling screws and cast iron feet for greater stability. This machine has a three-horsepower motor and utilizes dual single-phase or three-phase power.

I connected L1 and L2 to single-phase 240. To keep the electrical box clean, I bought a generator cord and cut it to come in through the bottom with a twist lock. 

One of the first orders of business with a new milling machine is to check the trimming of the head and adjust if needed. The goal is perfect perpendicularity between the spindle axis and the table. There are a variety of ways to check this, but I like to chuck a NOGA simple holder and rotate an indicator to ensure the table and tilt are zero.

If any of these four measurements were not zero, I would have had to nod and tilt the head until all were. Precision Matthews did an exceptional job at setting up the machine—everything was perfect! 

Machining Demos

To make my first chips, I installed a three-inch face mill, put the mill in high speed, and brought the work up to the tool using the power axes.

From here I zeroed the axes on the DRO, increased the speed to 2500 RPM, and proceeded to uniform a metal block.

I had to make several adjustments as I went along, but was very impressed with the quality of cut and how the power feeds responded on all three axes. 

I also demonstrated the power downfeed at 0.003” per revolution on low range, ensuring everything was working before adding some oil, turning up the speed, and drilling into a test piece.

This is a great feature I used all of the time with my previous mill. I followed this by deactivating the power down feed and power tapping ⅜-16. 

Customizations

Precision Matthews offers a number of optional add-ons to allow you to customize your machine before it even arrives. Precision Matthews can also pre-install these additions, a service I believe is well worth it. Setting up some of the equipment can be extremely difficult and time-consuming.

I had Precision Matthews install a power draw bar, three-axis DRO, and power feeds on the X, Y, and Z axes. There are always certain things I do to make a machine my own.

I mounted an indicator in a NOGA holder alongside the quill clamp to tram my vise and get it parallel with the bed.

Though the machine has an integrated quill stop, I prefer to use quick quill stops for extremely fast adjustments within one screw thread of height.

I also added a magnetic power strip near the base of the machine for better cord organization. This accommodates all power feeds, DRO, and a shop-vac. 

Having my tools within hands-reach is incredibly important to my process, so I installed the tooling rack I had previously made for my PM-949TV.

It bolts in place where the lifting eye tapped hole is and has a rudimentary cushion along the side to protect my head while vacuuming the machine. 

One other innovation I have come to rely on is my DRO display hood. I designed this in Solidworks, 3-D printed it, and secured it with Velcro. Our shop’s intense overhead lighting is great for working but washes out the DRO display. This hood eliminates the issue! 

Another DIY project I suggest everyone with a mill do is create bed covers. These wooden bed covers fit neatly along the mill table, providing a solid surface to set tools on without dinging up the table.

They also make it easier to vacuum or sweep chips and debris after a milling operation. Finally, I also use wood to make vise jaw covers. These provide a soft grip when working with delicate materials, like a hardwood stock I don’t want to mar. 

Conclusion

I am looking forward to learning more about this mill and highly-recommend it to any high-level gunsmith looking for a mill. The PM-949TV provided me years of dependable service, but I love the electronic, variable speed of the PM-949T-6EVS head and the extra options.

I previously had power X and Z, but having power Y is already nicer than I expected! As I’ve mentioned several times already, the power draw bar is a gamechanger for me, greatly expediting tool changes. You won’t regret getting it! 

Get the Gear

Precision Matthews PM-949T-6EVS Ultra Precision Milling Machine

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Thanks,
Gavin Gear