Elliott OMNIMIL 00

[omnimill00novice]

Hi All,
As my forum name suggests, I have recently downsized my workshop due to age (mine not the workshop’s) and replaced my Bridgeport with a smaller Omnimill 00.
The joy of a new machine is, for me, the opportunity to spend some or the winter rebuilding it and of course I need help.
Does anybody have exploded diagrams of this machine. It is the later one with the switches on the front and any drawings or specs would be gratefully received. I have already bought a limited manual but more detailed info is needed.

Best Regards Pete

[uuu]

If you've not found this resource yet, you should find some info here: www.lathes.co.uk/elliott-omnimil-00/

They sell manuals too - but you may yet find a free source.

Wilf

[tony9f]

Hello Pete,

It sounds like you have one similar to mine. You have made a good choice in my opinion as for it's size it is a capable machine with plenty of room under the spindle.

What manual have you got for starters? I have an Elliott manual for my machine but have to say that the exploded views are not particularly good inasmuch that they can be a bit vague, likewise with the parts lists. I can help with bearing numbers and stuff like that as I have taken mine apart a few times to carry out mods and repairs.

Like Wilf says, the Lathes website has about the most information you are likely to find on these machines. There doesn't seem to be a lot of archive material for Elliott machines yet they were so common in industry once.
Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

Tony

[omnimill00novice]

Hi gentlemen,
I have not taken delivery yet however this machine looks to be in great shape, but with zero tooling. I kept a lot of tooling when I sold my Bridgeport but things specific to the Elliott will be needed like the arbour support (I can make one but better to find one) and a long arbour. The manual I bought from "machinemanuals" looks to be pretty good and clear and time will tell if i need more comprehensive drawings. Downloading it was difficult to say the least but now sorted.
Thanks for the Lathes.co.uk tip, although I have heard of them I have not visited the site yet. Half the fun for me is the initial machine restoration so roll on next thursday - the delivery day.
Primarily I will convert to single phase as I did with my Bridgeport. I suppose I just need to keep an eye on ebay, gumtree etc for spares.

Regards
Pete

[uuu]

Yes, you can convert to single phase - but I like inverter driven three phase, for the soft start, and the speed control. But if your motor is not a dual voltage one, then I understand that the single phase conversion may be the easiest.

Wilf

[tony9f]

Hi Pete,

My machine had already been converted to single phase when I got it but it wasn't long before I decided to change the vertical spindle to inverter drive as I'd had enough of belt changing on my old bench mill/drill. You invariably seemed to have to unship both belts whenever you wanted to change speeds which is often in model engineering mode. The other benefit was that the equivalent 3 phase motor was smaller and fitted under the guard unlike the single phase one which was quite hefty. I modified the drive to a toothed belt from the motor to the idler, then a two step vee belt from the idler to the spindle which gives a good range of speeds while maintaining the motor speed for cooling. As the pullies are the same sizes reversed, no adjustment is required when changing ratios. A cheap ebay tacho was butchered and used to give the spindle speed.

Great if you can find an overarm and arbor as the ability to use the horizontal milling facility is very useful, I really can't understand why these bits go missing. The drawbar for this spindle is different to the vertical. Presumably your machine has the INT 30 taper.

Tony

[omnimill00novice]

Hi Guys,

Machine arrived and I duly strained both my back and neck, so I am limited to investigatigations and research pro tem !
Machine is in excellent condition with very little play in any of the slides, and most of the paint intact. Two damaged handwheels in transit and a couple of levers missing but easily repairable.
For some reason it is MT3 on both horizontal & vertical and looks original but the manual says INT30 on horizontal. Makes tooling a little simpler. I will put a DC motor on the table feed which makes it very easly infinitely variable speed, and a bigger AC 1ph motor on the vertical spindle with a bored out and bushed drive pulley so the original motor can go back on. I am not a purist but it is sometmes nice to preserve as much originality as possible in case the next owner wants it "as originally intended".

Anybody know where to source Elliott Green enamel ?

Pete

[tony9f]

Hi Pete,

Sounds like you have got a older model. The horizontal taper was originally an 3MT which was later changed to INT30.

If you are interested, I have a spare original handwheel off of mine plus a couple of unknown make ones with fold up handles. I found them a bit flexible and replaced them with handwheels from Elesa who were the original suppliers to Elliott.
Does your machine have its' full set of feed changewheels?

As for the green paint, I don't know of anyone who does that colour but I would try Paragon Paints who do a good range of machine tool colours which may match, or alternatively you could try finding a close match in RAL or British Standard colours of which Paragons do a good selection, plus it paints nicely.

Tony

[omnimill00novice]

Hi Tony,

No, there are only two feed change-gears however these are simple gears readily available and cheap. All that is needed is a drive slot in the boss. If only I had a mill ! Luckily my DC motor approach gives infinite feeds, reverse and rapid feed at the touch of a switch.

I would have taken you up on your offer but I found a handwheel on ebay that is a reasonable match, just needs a bush.

I have come across Paragon and they can colour match but not for 1/2 litre. I will have a stab at colour matching it myself.

Regards
Pete

[milky]

tony9f as you say 3MT is the earlier version. the later version has 30INT on the horizontal.
Finding a 30INT arbor for the horizontal is a mission.

Pete did it come with the figure of 8 arbor support and the table stops, these are the main items that seem to go walkies along with the horizontal arbor as discussed.

You'll notice from the manual that some points are grease but in the main oil ...this in practice leads to grease everywhere!
I agree the change wheels are not really an issue of your going down the DC route

Fiting a knee cover (Rubber sheet or oven liner sheet) to the back of the table helps a lot.

I have a slotting head that fits the 3MT but they go for serious money and I am holding out for a swop (every the optimist)

Philip