i seek advice on a milling machine
 

Im looking for a cheap millig machine to buy, here in sweden or EU, but do not know wich kind of machine to choose,
I do not have a garage, so someting that fits indoors and are a good value for its money. Want to start making my own blocks.
Any tips on what i should look out for? And what it should perform?

Thanks!

I would really like too know some good tips too! i Live inn Norway so same thing applys for me :)

are you looking for CNC or manual?

There really are no cheap CNC milling machines that can cut copper at any good depth/speed.

I was looking into this one, and it is in GB so it might be easier to ship it to you than something from the US or elsewhere.

Looks sturdy, relatively light (55kg) compared to other mills (you need lots of mass to control vibration anyways), powerful, available in metric, ect. I wish they had metric mills in the US, the stupid imperial system is too tough to use effeciently, especially since half my endmills are in mm :(.

Manual would work but would like one that is programmable.

A good drill press just for doing "rotor" style blocks would be nice too, any advice? or is it just too take a trip too the machine shop and ask?

Thanks ppl!

Drill presses are alright, but I would never have gotten one if I knew about cheap milling machines when I bought the thing. Drill presses are great for fast hole punching in any material, but have very innacurate depth control and cannot handle any kind of sideways load. A standard 3 axis mill will work as a drill press, only more accurate and more useful.

What would the price range on something like that be? Over 700 Dollars? or 600 Euro?

Im looking for a manual to. I found This one today but i expect its expensive as luna tools are no cheap ones.

Killernoodle: That Warco mill looks as a good price to me, have to mail them about shipping costs.

They start at over 15.000 NOK so that is about 2000 dollars! Not cheap!! When all i want too do is make blocks for my self ;) and maybe some friends ;)

Shanghai Sieg Industrial makes this mini-mill for a variety of companies.

Everything I've read about it says it is a good mill for doing small jobs inexpensively. In any part of the world, you should be able to find a company that sells them. Parts and tools will also be readily available just about anywhere.

I'm planning to get this version next weekend, when a travelling sale comes to town.

Thats a kick ass looking mill. 400 bucks for that speedway in nice.

Never heard of the company. Is it solid stuff?

Here's a review. The whole site is damned useful for the soon to be home machinist.

Tools and parts.

My Highschool had a couple ProLight1000 CNC mills. They are designed mainly for education perpouses, but will be more than enough for making waterblocks. I dont know how much they run, but their main market is schools, so it cant be too much.

Also, This Site, has a little article about a cheap manual mill that someone bought for making waterblocks.

Hope that helps.

http://great-lakes-training.com/CNC_Mill_PLM1000.htm


Says the mill is 17,000 USD

ouch.

Interesting computer controlled small mill
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=50924

Okay, I kick ass.

http://www.maxnc.com/

these guys produce smaller desktop CNC machines -- yes they are computer controlled. The basic one runs $900. Next size up is $1300 and then $2500. The much faster closed loop (feedback) systems are $1300 extra.

I'm trying to hunt a used one down.

Fixittt uses a MaxNC 15. he used to make the Spir@ls on it that D-Tek now makes and sells. Problem with those is no hand wheels. :shrug: I use the little Sherline mill from www.acumotion.com it weighs a hefty 45lbs! Works good for me but you need patients with it. It isn't to sturdy so you have go slower with it. But it is CNC. :D The mill itself is about as tall as and long as a Full size ATX case and about as wide as a key board. You have seen the blocks I have made with it so it is capable. Just a little to expensive for what you get though.

Also try http://www.desktopcnc.com/ for some more mills.

Nice! To bad i couldn't find any over here inn scandinavia...

whats the difference between open and closed loop systems?

closed loop basically means that there is a feedback loop between the servo motors and the controller. Its kinda a self-adjusting auto-update thing that also it to go a heck of alot faster AND be more accurate.

Found one on Ebay, here.