Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Mini Mill Conversion or CNC Kit

johann_ohnesorg wrote:

> http://lumenlab.com/d/micro
>
>> Pricing would be in the same bullpark.
>>
>
> Stay away from that kind of machine. This is apiece of junk that will flex and bend under loads to whereever it wants.

I have no experience with this machine, but I have to second Johann's
opinion! Those thin rods are quite flexible.
This sort of machine can carve wax, foam or soft woods with a
Dremel-type motor, and that is about it.
I know a number of people have tried to make machines like this, and
invariably the results were not good.

I have a 150 Lb minimill (I think this is commonly called an X2) that I
converted to CNC. I have a Bridgeport
here for my main machining use, and did this to have a portable machine
to take to shows to demo my
CNC hardware. You can see the results at
http://pico-systems.com/minimill.html
You could make these conversion pieces on the X2 before the conversion.
You would also need a lathe
to modify the pulleys. One limitation of this machine is the 4" Y
travel. There are kits to extend the Y travel,
that is the one real drawback to this model. The dovetail vertical
column is a great improvement over the
round-column machines.

But, I find the 7+" Y travel of my Bridgeport conversion to be an
occasional impediment, so many jobs just
wouldn't work at all on the minimill. I have the parts, but just
haven't had the time to tear down my Bridgeport
and redo the Y axis part to get more travel. If you have the space,
going for a bit larger machine than you ever thought you'd need is a
real good plan.

Jon