Free 186 More Best Homemade Tools eBook:  
Get 2,000+ tool plans, full site access, and more.

User Tag List

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 12

Thread: Milling Machine

  1. #1
    Supporting Member markfitz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    Phoenix, AZ
    Posts
    19
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 58 Times in 13 Posts

    markfitz's Tools

    Milling Machine

    Milling machine: Made using a trim router with a 1/4" chuck. Uses router bits for working with wood. Milling tools with 1/4" shanks can be used for metals. Horizontal range of motion is 200mm in X and Y. Vertical range motion is 80mm. Vertical range can be re-centered up to six inches higher in 2-inch increments to accommodate larger work pieces. There is a work light built into the cross arm. Tool speed is made variable by use of a homemade speed controller made out of a dimmer switch.

    Milling Machine-image.jpg

    186 More Best Homemade Tools eBook

  2. The Following 17 Users Say Thank You to markfitz For This Useful Post:

    baja (Sep 19, 2020), bruce.desertrat (Dec 8, 2017), gunsgt1863 (May 2, 2018), high-side (Dec 26, 2018), Jon (Apr 22, 2016), JRock (May 1, 2018), lazarus (Jun 3, 2016), Mika (Apr 27, 2016), old_toolmaker (Sep 19, 2020), Paul Jones (Apr 28, 2016), PJs (Apr 23, 2016), ranald (Jan 10, 2019), rlm98253 (Dec 25, 2018), rossbotics (Apr 26, 2016), Saltfever (Oct 5, 2020), Toolmaker51 (Aug 30, 2018), volodar (Aug 31, 2018)

  3. #2
    Content Editor
    Supporting Member
    DIYer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    3,056
    Thanks
    772
    Thanked 1,850 Times in 1,652 Posts


    Thanks markfitz! We've added your Tabletop Milling Machine to our Milling category,
    as well as to your builder page: markfitz's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:




    2000 Tool Plans

  4. #3

    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Posts
    1
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    Nice idea. what did you use for your table. Thanks fjl340

  5. #4
    Supporting Member markfitz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    Phoenix, AZ
    Posts
    19
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 58 Times in 13 Posts

    markfitz's Tools
    I used a cross-slide vise for the mechanism. I was half-way through making this piece when I saw the vise at Harbor Freight. I made the table out of melamine coated 3/4" particle board with another 3/4" piece of birch plywood to give it added rigidity and a block to clamp it in the vise. The table is 11" square with four 1/4" holes along each side with T-nuts to allow me to mount clamps, rails, pivots, etc. I like that I can quickly remove the table. I am about to start on a rotary/tilt table. I have found that I can already route near-perfect circles and arcs with the existing table by using any of the twelve 1/4" holes as a pivot for the workpiece. My first test was a 5.0" wheel 3/4" thick. It turned out .005" oversize with less than .001" out-of-round.

  6. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to markfitz For This Useful Post:

    Paul Jones (May 1, 2016), Toolmaker51 (Aug 30, 2018)

  7. #5

    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Posts
    1
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    I really love this site. Can't wait to build this milling machine.

  8. #6
    Supporting Member Make Everything's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2017
    Location
    CN
    Posts
    18
    Thanks
    7
    Thanked 62 Times in 17 Posts

    Make Everything's Tools
    wow,Only need a little upgrade,Can become CNC
    Welcome to my YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UCEoFlPTBSPpRAH05kPiSx_Q

  9. #7
    Supporting Member markfitz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    Phoenix, AZ
    Posts
    19
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 58 Times in 13 Posts

    markfitz's Tools
    This machine would not be suitable for CNC upgrade. The cross-slide vice I used for the X-Y movement has a lot of play and very course threads, making it more difficult to do precision work. This one is good for making small parts that would be tough to make using other methods. If you are looking for something for CNC, there are many better designs on this site. - Mark

  10. The Following User Says Thank You to markfitz For This Useful Post:

    Paul Jones (Dec 13, 2017)

  11. #8
    Supporting Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Polson MT summer Seattle WA winter
    Posts
    32
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked 13 Times in 7 Posts

    X-Y Vises

    Nice work

    Search: Upgrade of Harbor Freight milling vise

    I'd seen something like this way back - - - give these a try out of the resulting list.





    Need a good cross slide vise. Help.

    read down to where X-Y tables begin

    https://benchtopmachineshop.blogspot...ill-vises.html

    many more to choose from
    JohnMTO

  12. The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to JohnMTO For This Useful Post:

    PJs (May 3, 2018), rlm98253 (Dec 25, 2018), Seedtick (May 3, 2018), that_other_guy (Dec 26, 2018), Workshopshed (May 4, 2018)

  13. #9
    Supporting Member Workshopshed's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Ayrshire, UK
    Posts
    210
    Thanks
    129
    Thanked 147 Times in 90 Posts

    Workshopshed's Tools
    I found the same issue with the cross vice I bought. I'll see if I can do the same mods. On top of that it needs a way of clamping to the table.
    Andy from Workshopshed
    "Making and repairing things in a shed at the bottom of the garden"
    workshopshed.com

  14. #10
    Supporting Member Toolmaker51's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Midwest USA
    Posts
    5,330
    Thanks
    7,041
    Thanked 2,977 Times in 1,892 Posts

    Toolmaker51's Tools
    Hack warning! After all, it's not my first...But intentions are good!
    The back-lash corrections offered work on bench vises too. It's all in properly sizing thickness of thrust washer to the vise slide and screw. Loading with a compression spring works too.
    The reason may not be clear until you appreciate a vise that clamps initially one handed.
    Sincerely,
    Toolmaker51
    ...we'll learn more by wandering than searching...

  15. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Toolmaker51 For This Useful Post:

    baja (Sep 19, 2020), PJs (Aug 31, 2018)

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •