Several months ago, there was an article in MR that featured a milling/cutting machine (not a laser cutter). Does anyone have any information on this type of machine? Manufacturer links?
Thanks!
I don’t recall the article you’re referring to, but Micro-Mark sells a MicroLux Miniature Milling Machine, priced at $483.95. Catalog Number 82573.
A milling machine, in machine shop terminology, is the metal cutting equivalent of a wood workers pin router. It’s head looks similar to a drill press, but is designed to handle sideways stress on the cutting bit because that’s the way it usually cuts. The head only adjusts the depth of cut and spins the cutting tool. It holds the piece in a clamp that can be moved on two axis, usually called an X-Y table. This machine can do cuts in metal like cutting axle slots or coupler pocket openings in a loco frame.
What were you planning on using this for?
Yeah, the microlux machine with the X-Y table addition is really nice.
I don’t remember the article but there is a mill/drill somewhere in my future. Milling machines tend to be very specific pieces of machinery. You can do almost the same thing with a 12 or 16 speed drill press and either an XY cross table or a compound slide table - the former has more bells and whistles and is a little more accurate - maybe precise is a better word. I’m sure that there are others who market these things but get yourself a Grizzly Industrial catalog and check’em out.(www.grizzly.com) - they’re free.
And as for micro-mills and micro[b]-lathes they generally lack precision, and when you tally up the “standard” as opposed to the “add-on” features, they are really not much cheaper than what are usually referred to as mini-mills and mini-lathes; you can put all of them where the [b]micro-sun doesn’t shine.
Videotrains,
Try Harbor Freight Tools. They have several milling machines and are fairly
inexpensive… as far as milling machines go. Thsy have one for $259. Dave
http://da.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=milling&Submit=Go
You might want to check out the experiences that buyers of these bargain imported machine tools have had in setting them up. From what I have read in discussion groups, they are not as ready to use as American and British machine tools. There are a large number of discussion groups out there which have useful information on the pros and cons of various brands. A little work with a search engine will turn up a wealth of buyers’ experiences.
-Ed