Re: HF micro mill (part no. 47158) suitability for CNC

For a lot of the tasks you describe a proxxon would do the job
nicely. The work envelope might put you off as it is only 6"X1.5" in
X and Y but other than that it is a smashing little machine and VERY
cheap. The spindle goes right upto 20K rpm so it is ideal for
engraving and any milling with small cutters. The leadscrews have
little back lash due to delrin nuts and have a 1mm lead meaning the
resolution even on half stepping is very good indeed, ideal for PCBs.

It mills PCB and delrin etc with no problems and can mill Ali and
Brass although I have avoided these as yet because of the need for
suds etc.

Details of my conversion are here:

www.indoor.flyer.co.uk/millingmachine.htm

You can buy them all over the world. In the UK, jean Burhouse is
good in the US there are lots of places but Tim Goldstein did have
some with a good price at one point.

I think there is a yahoo group on the little mill drills BTW.

Cheers,

Graham

> I'm basically just looking for something low-cost to play with CNC
> with the EMC linux software and a homebrew stepper board using the
> allegro micro drivers. I'm going to be doing mostly light-duty work
> (plastic, printed circuit milling, maybe some aluminum).
>
> I'm considering either a cheap X-Y table and then making a Z column
> with feed, or just spending a bit more and getting this $300 micro
> mill from harbor freight. I'm interested in this machine's
> adaptability for this task. The Z-axis looks strange, having a

handle

> at the top of the column, and two quill feeds (coarse and fine).

I'd

> be interested in hearing from anyone who has one.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Dave