DPRG mailing list archives: [DPRG] re: micro

Sat Dec 15 13:50:32 CST 2007

 Hi Thanks for the reply,
?? These are the two I am considering. I ACTUALLY wanted a CNC but as was mentioned, the additional tools needed, (dividing head and such..) will add substantially to the final price of having an actual useful tool. So CNC will be a pipe dream until I can work through adding the stepper motors and electronics. 

 http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=47158
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44991

?Weight wise, 105 vs 150 lbs could be a challenge but I intend to take the head off whenever I move it and that should be a rare occurrence once I get it set up. Your comments about your grizzly are very useful. I'm leaning to the bigger model?  now, which, as it happens, is very similar to grizzly.

-----Original Message-----
From: dpa <dpa at io.isem.smu.edu>
To: dprglist at dprg.org
Sent: Sat, 15 Dec 2007 12:36 pm
Subject: [DPRG] re: micro - mini mill advice

steve wrote:

> Hi all,
> ?? I've been given the go ahead to buy a small milling machine and I'm 
wondering
> if I should go with a Micro or Mini? version. (This took a LOT of whining by 
the
> way) I guess the big difference I'm seeing is the power of the motor 1/5 hp VS 
4/5 hp)
> and slightly bigger dimensions with a Mini. Either will do what I intend for 
the
> moment. (Gear Cutting mostly) but does anyone have any thoughts one way or the 
other?
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Steve

How much do you want to spend?  How heavy a machine are you willing to deal with 
(i.e.,
50lbs, 100lbs, 500lbs, 1500lbs ? )

I have a Grizzly G8689 <http://www.grizzly.com/products/item.cfm?itemnumber=G8689&site=grizzly>
that I'm pretty happy with but I had to do a number of mods.  Also for building 
the jBot
robot it was not quite big enough to mill the 5x20 inch chassis plates and we 
had to use a
big Bridgeport.  But for all the small parts it was fine.  Dandy, infact.   
Mostly aluminum
<http://www.geology.smu.edu/~dpa-www/robo/jbot/aut_2510x.jpg> and some nylon
<http://www.geology.smu.edu/~dpa-www/robo/jbot/aut_2546x.jpg> and some steel 
fiddley bits.

Generally bigger is better if you have the $$ and the space and can handle the 
weight.

Do you have any particular machines in mind?

my $.02

dpa

_______________________________________________
DPRGlist mailing list
DPRGlist at dprg.org
http://list.dprg.org/mailman/listinfo/dprglist

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://list.dprg.org/pipermail/dprglist/attachments/20071215/1f4b6ed5/attachment.html