Re: Very small miller/engraver

Hello,

MaxNC used to sell plans for a mill made from two import xy vises,
and a 1/2 thick piece of aluminum. They were sold for $65, and
included maxnc phase s/w! I don't know the price nowadays, but I'm
pretty sure they're still offered. (Tell 'em Ballendo sent ya)

The resulting machine is simple to build (using hand tools even),
slow, but VERY sturdy (I added stiffness to the vertical support).
Easily capable of machining steel.

One neat part is that the "upper" xy vise, which provides the z axis
motion, IS a VISE. Making it very easy to mount and adjust/change
spindles. Another interesting result from using the xy vises, is that
there is an "extra" axis. It can move the spindle left/right! This
can be used to extend the travel of this little mill, OR could be
used to make a tool changer! I've got the details worked out, but
have not yet built it.

(I made a second model using larger vises from HF, and better drives
later, after "proofing" the idea as presented by MaxNC. Which uses
the 3 and 4 inch xy vises, with radio shack parts for the drives.)

Worth looking into, IMO. Hope this helps.

Ballendo

P.S. Another choice would be the compucutter mill pkg., by R Bartlett
in the UK.

P.P.S. I will be offering plans for this bigger small mill w/
toolchanger, which is derivative, but not a copy of, the maxnc plans.
(hint: I've been playing with the IDEAS used in dental handpieces for
use in small machine spindles). But my first 2 books are ahead of
these plans in the pipeline.

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., "Graham Stabler" <eexgs@n...> wrote:
> Has anyone out there built anything in the way of really small
mills/engravers. I only want to make small parts out of perspex,
balsa, pcb and ocasionally aluminium. I've seen "The Brute" on the
web and might buy the plans but just wanted to see if there were
other alternatives.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Graham Stabler
>
> p.s. First post