Re: how to build a mini mill???

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "simonho714"
<simonho2002@s...> wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I am very interest to build a mini mill, but i don't know how to
> start. would anyone guide me thru to start build a mill.
>
> all information greatly appreciate.

If I read you correctly, you want to have a mini-mill with CNC ?

Call Harbor Freight and order it.
and a 4" rotary table
and a dial indicator
and a 6" digital caliper (good deal)
I assume you have a micrometer ?


Call ENCO and get some 1/4 inch 2 flute end mills,
taps for 4-40, #6, #10-32 and 1/4-20
Collets for the R8 taper of the mill for 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2"
a boring head and either a kit of boring cutters or just one.
Drill chuck with R8 taper, 3/8 is OK, 1/2 is fine too.
Clamping kit
milling vice - 4 inch is pretty good.



While waiting, join the CCED archives group and tell them you will do
the 'mini-mill' stuff.

then search these archives for mini-mill
Use your word processor and save the text AND heading of each page
and PASTE SPECIAL - > TEXT into your document. Check to see that you
got the post number (VERY important)

Trust me on this, SAVE THE TEXT ! once you spend a few hours, you
will never remember all the stuff you will come across.

Make another file. This one to be a copy of all the links to peoples
sites that have pictures of mini-mills that they converted.

Call/E-mail Devitt Machine and ask for their book on Machine Way
rebuilding. The stuff they call is called MOGLICE and there may be
someone else on the CCED archives list doing that ? IF not, you can
offer to do that too.

Once the HF Mini-Mill arrives.....

Get it home and start cleaning. tear it apart and clean every part
of it. this is critical as some of the castings will still have sand
in them.

Measure everything for your conversion.

Order materials for the conversion, specifically stepper motors, end
switches, Stepper drivers, and power supply.


re-assemble the unit and cut out the mounting plates for your
steppers and brackets for your end switches.

do some other manual stuff to get a feel for the machine and once you
are satisfied you have the CNC brackets, tear down the machine and
inspect for wear. consider lapping the ways.

Remember, absolutely no more than 40% surface and 60% machine marks.
the oil has to go somewhere and normal wear will take out the rest
over time. CLEAN the lapping grit off as thorough as possible.

put all the stuff on and then join the TurboCNC group - and pay for
the software - to get the simple beginners software to test and run
your machine. you can move up in prettier software as you like. but
the low price makes it worth the expense.

Dave