Can a drill press be used to mill?

Khledar · 03-16-2002, 11:32 PM

Well the topic pretty much asks it. I have a drill press, and its table moves in one axis, and the press moves in one axis, making this a 2 axis piece of equipment, the real question, I suppose, is can I use milling bits in this drill? And what kind of bits would I need?

Brad · 03-17-2002, 02:02 AM

you can use them, but it will be harder to use, you will have to spend a lot of time to keep it all inline and looking good

UnaClocker · 03-17-2002, 05:20 AM

There is a slight possibility the bearing in the drill press will not be happy about it being used as a mill. They normally only deal with downward force, not side to side force like a mill would experience.. But hey, it's worth a shot, yeah, grab some endmill drill bits, and knock yourself out. You'll have to do alot of repositioning of the material since your bed only moves in 1 axis, but still beats most drill presses. I assume you have a vice of some sort on your drill press, to hold the material in place. If not, guess you'll be using C-clamps or something.. I knew a guy that used to use LOTS of epoxy on his mill.. heh, but he was only cutting lexan..

Fixittt · 03-17-2002, 01:25 PM

you will drasticly shorten the bearing life in your drill press. Plus DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT try and hold the materials with your hands and move it. Endmills are very sharp and very grabby!!!!!!

Try finding a small machinist vise. it has the crank handles for x and y axis. But the back lash in them is horrable. Do not expect high quality results. Also make sure you use some sort of coolant.

Good luck and get a big box of band aids!

Khledar · 03-17-2002, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Plus DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT try and hold the materials with your hands

Guess that's a golden tip for soldering too

BladeRunner · 03-17-2002, 05:29 PM

I've always been one to believe you can make stuff with limited equipment, it's just you have to persevere with what you have to find the best way.

I made this:-

with this:-

I then wanted to prove a simple hand drill, hand saw, files and plumbing solder tools can be enough if you haven't got access to a pillar drill etc.

All detailed here:-

www.zerofanzone.co.uk

Miss_Man · 03-18-2002, 12:34 AM

Heheh, Fixittt you mean like this?

mkosem · 03-18-2002, 12:43 AM

it should work, but it's not something to do more than once or twice

--MAtt

UnaClocker · 03-18-2002, 09:10 AM

[This post deleted cuz I was an idiot. ;>]

Brad · 03-18-2002, 12:34 PM

una, that is miss man in the pic making his block, he's done a couple of articles at oc'ers

Fixittt · 03-18-2002, 02:21 PM

I looks like that copper block is in a vise of some sort, but maybe its showdows.

BUT YES LIKE THAT!

03-16-2002, 11:32 PM	#1
Khledar Cooling Savant Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: North Vancouver BC Posts: 234	Can a drill press be used to mill? Well the topic pretty much asks it. I have a drill press, and its table moves in one axis, and the press moves in one axis, making this a 2 axis piece of equipment, the real question, I suppose, is can I use milling bits in this drill? And what kind of bits would I need? __________________ "mooooo" said the cow. ERTW - UBC P4 2.4B @3.01Ghz 167FSB :: Abit IC7 :: 2x256MB HyperX PC3700 :: ASUS 9600XT :: WD Raptor 2x36GB RAID0

03-17-2002, 02:02 AM	#2
Brad Thermophile Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Nuu Zeeelin Posts: 3,175	you can use them, but it will be harder to use, you will have to spend a lot of time to keep it all inline and looking good __________________ 2x P3 1100's at 1400, Abit VP6, 2x Corsair 256mb PC150 sticks, 20gb 'cuda ATA-III, 2x 40gb 'cuda ATA-IV in raid 0. 20" Trinitron. No fans 2x 2400+ at 2288mhz (16.0 x 143), Iwill MPX2, 2x Kingmax PC-3200 256mb sticks, 4x 20gb 60gxp in Raid 5 on a Promise SX6000. Asus Ti4200 320/630. Cooled by Water

03-17-2002, 05:20 AM	#3
UnaClocker Cooling Savant Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Bremerton, WA Posts: 514	There is a slight possibility the bearing in the drill press will not be happy about it being used as a mill. They normally only deal with downward force, not side to side force like a mill would experience.. But hey, it's worth a shot, yeah, grab some endmill drill bits, and knock yourself out. You'll have to do alot of repositioning of the material since your bed only moves in 1 axis, but still beats most drill presses. I assume you have a vice of some sort on your drill press, to hold the material in place. If not, guess you'll be using C-clamps or something.. I knew a guy that used to use LOTS of epoxy on his mill.. heh, but he was only cutting lexan.. __________________ The UnaClocker Watercooler Extraordinaire! Overclock till it goes BOOM!

03-17-2002, 01:25 PM	#4
Fixittt CNC Beyatch Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Tulsa Spell it backwards Posts: 721	you will drasticly shorten the bearing life in your drill press. Plus DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT try and hold the materials with your hands and move it. Endmills are very sharp and very grabby!!!!!! Try finding a small machinist vise. it has the crank handles for x and y axis. But the back lash in them is horrable. Do not expect high quality results. Also make sure you use some sort of coolant. Good luck and get a big box of band aids! __________________ Creator of the Spir@l Block Longest post ever http://forums.procooling.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&postid=43808#post43808

03-18-2002, 12:43 AM	#8
mkosem Cooling Savant Join Date: May 2001 Location: here Posts: 494	it should work, but it's not something to do more than once or twice --MAtt __________________ If you can't cool it, blow it up!! http://www.mattkosem.com

03-17-2002, 05:29 PM	#6
BladeRunner Cooling Savant Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Chesterfield Uk Posts: 459	I've always been one to believe you can make stuff with limited equipment, it's just you have to persevere with what you have to find the best way. I made this:- with this:- I then wanted to prove a simple hand drill, hand saw, files and plumbing solder tools can be enough if you haven't got access to a pillar drill etc. All detailed here:- www.zerofanzone.co.uk

03-18-2002, 12:34 AM	#7
Miss_Man Cooling Savant Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 151	Heheh, Fixittt you mean like this?

03-18-2002, 09:10 AM	#9
UnaClocker Cooling Savant Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Bremerton, WA Posts: 514	[This post deleted cuz I was an idiot. ;>] __________________ The UnaClocker Watercooler Extraordinaire! Overclock till it goes BOOM! Last edited by UnaClocker; 03-19-2002 at 11:05 AM.

03-18-2002, 12:34 PM	#10
Brad Thermophile Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Nuu Zeeelin Posts: 3,175	una, that is miss man in the pic making his block, he's done a couple of articles at oc'ers __________________ 2x P3 1100's at 1400, Abit VP6, 2x Corsair 256mb PC150 sticks, 20gb 'cuda ATA-III, 2x 40gb 'cuda ATA-IV in raid 0. 20" Trinitron. No fans 2x 2400+ at 2288mhz (16.0 x 143), Iwill MPX2, 2x Kingmax PC-3200 256mb sticks, 4x 20gb 60gxp in Raid 5 on a Promise SX6000. Asus Ti4200 320/630. Cooled by Water

03-18-2002, 02:21 PM	#11
Fixittt CNC Beyatch Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Tulsa Spell it backwards Posts: 721	I looks like that copper block is in a vise of some sort, but maybe its showdows. BUT YES LIKE THAT! __________________ Creator of the Spir@l Block Longest post ever http://forums.procooling.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&postid=43808#post43808

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