DPRG mailing list archives: [DPRG] re: micro

Sat Dec 15 15:18:51 CST 2007

I agree with David - the larger model is preferable. A few years ago, I set up a small shop in a bedroom. I have the Sieg made mini-mill you are considering.

http://golem5.org/machine_shop/experiences.html

The mill really is a lot smaller in person than it seems on the web page. It is even smaller once you try to use it! A toolmaker's vice on the milling table is very handy and convenient. But it takes up a good one to two inches of clearance. With a chuck for drilling, you lose several more inches. The standard R8 tooling is really intended for bigger machines.

It is possible to lift the entire machine from the floor up to waist height. I was able to do it with a lot of effort and concentration. If you are naturally strong or lift weights, then you should be able to handle it yourself. I am not trying to be funny. At the time, that machine was about the maximum I could handle myself at peak exertion (I was not getting any exercise and am not large). So your fitness and strength are real factors.

Beware - it is very ungainly and top heavy. The actual weight is more like 110 to 120 pounds. Most of the weight, perhaps 75 pounds, is in the head and column. So it is very tippy and must be bolted down. When you lift it, you have to be careful. Two people would make it a lot easier.

When it comes in the Yellow Freight truck, have leather work gloves ready. The driver may be kind and help carry it with you into your workspace. A pry bar or claw hammer is needed to disassemble the crate. The reddish grease is rust preventative. There may be casting sand on some parts. So it will take a little work to clean and grease.

The milling column will probably not stand precisely vertical. You will have to shim and indicate against the milling table to make it perpendicular. It's not off by a huge amount. And the column also has a lot of flex in it so it may not matter anyway.

It has enough power to cut 6061 aluminum ok. It can also do soft steel. Anything harder is very problematic. It is possible but you must go slow and take light cuts. I was able to very slowly drill through tempered steel with a cobalt drill.

steve at txtulip.com wrote:   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

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