Mini CNC-mill/router

mwolfman · 11-26-2009, 03:27 PM

I want a CNC-mill that is able to handle steel parts up to 400*600*150mm (so that it can be used for my bike/car).
I dont care about time, I can leave it on during weekdays while I at work and then pause it when coming home. If I could use a good software then I could let it manufacture parts for me while I'm on business trips, but then I need an magazine for drill bits and parts.

So requirements:
An fairly large surface area.
3-axis CNC (preferably with a spinning table as an option)
Small (has to fit my kitchen bench or bathroom)
Water cooling (its in the apartment so I cant use any smelling coolant agent, just clean new cool water from the tap)
USB connection
Max 8A@230V (have a10A fuse)
Quiet
Lift able <50 kg.
It should be a "plug-and-play" system, not one that requires buying 50 other components.

Just to be clear about it, I dont care if it takes hours for it to make a block. But I want accuracy...
It could actually be very nice if its a 5-axis mill (especially since I have to use one tool for all of the time, or is there one with a magazine?)

jaydee · 11-27-2009, 09:56 PM

I think you are out of luck.. I have made many a water block with my little Sherline CNC mill but it couldn't handle steel. Anything small like that will not make very large parts either. I could barely make a water block with mine. Not enough travel.

Also you will get kicked out of your apartment running a mill in it (I tried running it in my Apt and didn't get far, pissed off neighbors). They make seriously loud noise when milling. Also you should never leave something like this unattended for more than a few minutes. Any number of disasters could happen.

You can checkout http://www.cnczone.com/ and ask there.

mwolfman · 11-28-2009, 02:49 AM

I've been doing some serious investigating regarding whats avalible on the market; as you said nada.

but if I decrees my demands to alumina (7075), then I could do 95% of the stuff that I want to (cant do new sprockets for the bike).
What type of problems do you get with your machine when you leave it that you cant detect on the motorloads?

The available kits on the market cant fulfill my demands, so I think Ill make my own.

jaydee · 11-28-2009, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwolfman

I've been doing some serious investigating regarding whats avalible on the market; as you said nada.

but if I decrees my demands to alumina (7075), then I could do 95% of the stuff that I want to (cant do new sprockets for the bike).
What type of problems do you get with your machine when you leave it that you cant detect on the motorloads?

The available kits on the market cant fulfill my demands, so I think Ill make my own.

Well the smaller one's are not ment to run continuously. I can't run mine for more then 15mins at a time or the motor overheats. Also bits break often, they wear out quickly. The smller cheaper one's don't detect anything, I am not sure the more expensive one do either. We have some Million $ machines at work that don't do that. That would take a hell of a sensor array and a lot of $$$. If the bit breaks they keep on going. Not good. If the program messes up and your machine runs out of travel it will destroy the drive screws and the motors. Thats why most machines have a quick OFF button. Also the mess it makes is not optimal. I run a shop vac with mine to suck up the shavings. There is all kinds of other things that could go wrong.

The noise would be your biggest concern. There is no way your neighbors will put up with it. Also it makes a HUGE mess. Even a small water block makes a large mess. Those shavings get into everything.

If you try it make a large box out of soundproof material. Figure out a way to suck up the shavings as it goes and figure out a reliable bit cooling system. Get a drive motor that can run continuously and make sure the box is well ventalated.. Maybe fireproof also.

Check out the CNCZONE forums link I posted above. All kinds of stuff in there... I plan on modifying my Sherline with a much larger table to do bigger things in time...

mwolfman · 11-29-2009, 02:35 AM

Darn
I've have to buy the time until I move or get an warehouse for a full grown machine. Thanx anyway.

11-26-2009, 03:27 PM	#1
mwolfman Cooling Savant Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 152	Mini CNC-mill/router I want a CNC-mill that is able to handle steel parts up to 400600150mm (so that it can be used for my bike/car). I dont care about time, I can leave it on during weekdays while I at work and then pause it when coming home. If I could use a good software then I could let it manufacture parts for me while I'm on business trips, but then I need an magazine for drill bits and parts. So requirements: An fairly large surface area. 3-axis CNC (preferably with a spinning table as an option) Small (has to fit my kitchen bench or bathroom) Water cooling (its in the apartment so I cant use any smelling coolant agent, just clean new cool water from the tap) USB connection Max 8A@230V (have a10A fuse) Quiet Lift able <50 kg. It should be a "plug-and-play" system, not one that requires buying 50 other components. Just to be clear about it, I dont care if it takes hours for it to make a block. But I want accuracy... It could actually be very nice if its a 5-axis mill (especially since I have to use one tool for all of the time, or is there one with a magazine?) __________________ Very old specs below, but I keep it for sentimental values :-/ Gigabyte GA-7N400 Pro2, Barton 2500@3200 -11201MHz, X800 XL , 1 GB Cosair 3200 (6-2-2-2) @400MHz in dual channel TurboBlock Rev. 1.0~0,15452756±0,004125251°C/W , HL120.3* with 3 Papst 4412@7volt , Hydor L30II

11-27-2009, 09:56 PM	#2
jaydee Put up or Shut Up Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 6,506	Re: Mini CNC-mill/router I think you are out of luck.. I have made many a water block with my little Sherline CNC mill but it couldn't handle steel. Anything small like that will not make very large parts either. I could barely make a water block with mine. Not enough travel. Also you will get kicked out of your apartment running a mill in it (I tried running it in my Apt and didn't get far, pissed off neighbors). They make seriously loud noise when milling. Also you should never leave something like this unattended for more than a few minutes. Any number of disasters could happen. You can checkout http://www.cnczone.com/ and ask there.

11-28-2009, 02:49 AM	#3
mwolfman Cooling Savant Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 152	Re: Mini CNC-mill/router I've been doing some serious investigating regarding whats avalible on the market; as you said nada. but if I decrees my demands to alumina (7075), then I could do 95% of the stuff that I want to (cant do new sprockets for the bike). What type of problems do you get with your machine when you leave it that you cant detect on the motorloads? The available kits on the market cant fulfill my demands, so I think Ill make my own. __________________ Very old specs below, but I keep it for sentimental values :-/ Gigabyte GA-7N400 Pro2, Barton 2500@3200 -11201MHz, X800 XL , 1 GB Cosair 3200 (6-2-2-2) @400MHz in dual channel TurboBlock Rev. 1.0~0,15452756±0,004125251°C/W , HL120.3* with 3 Papst 4412@7volt , Hydor L30II

11-29-2009, 02:35 AM	#5
mwolfman Cooling Savant Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 152	Re: Mini CNC-mill/router Darn I've have to buy the time until I move or get an warehouse for a full grown machine. Thanx anyway. __________________ Very old specs below, but I keep it for sentimental values :-/ Gigabyte GA-7N400 Pro2, Barton 2500@3200 -11201MHz, X800 XL , 1 GB Cosair 3200 (6-2-2-2) @400MHz in dual channel TurboBlock Rev. 1.0~0,15452756±0,004125251°C/W , HL120.3* with 3 Papst 4412@7volt , Hydor L30II

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