Hi, To All
My frist thread on this form.

http://home.earthlink.net/~gmduke/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/benchtopmill.jpg

I have just finiished the project, for 2 years running. Buiiding a benchtop CNC mill from scratch. For anyone that is interested in the machine you need to go to my web site at http://home.earthlink.net/~gmduke/ to see all the details.

Happy Machining

Very nice, looks like ya got plenty of Y axis movement.

Thank's
It has a 12600 RPM spindle, 276 oz-in steppers with X13.0, Y6.5, Z5.0 inches of travel.

I see the pc underneath whats the other thing? A compressor?

Yes the PC is in front the electrical control box is in the back, on the side is an bank of air solinods valves that run an auto lube system and the spindle oreaintation.

Are the base and column a casting?? Btw very nice machine :)

yes VERY nice... I love seeing home built mills that you can tell a lot of thought was put into them. Pendant is nice too..

Some questions-
What are the main components made from? Iron, steel.. aluminum? And how were they constructed?

Is the spindle a Taig ER-16 or a custom made one?

No They are weldments. to see how they are made goto my web site and goto the download page, and download the file Z Column (http://home.earthlink.net/~gmduke/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/zcolumnassembly.dwf). You will need to goto the Autodesk web site and get Autodesk Express Viewer it Free.

Every thing is made from steel welded together then machined and ground. The spindle is home built and balanced. More information is at my web site http://home.earthlink.net/~gmduke/ follow the documents that are on the download page to see how to biuld the machine.

Very nice job, it looks great.

very nice job - was the duke engraved dial one of the first jobs? Just as nice as the workman ship and design is your making the drawings and information available - first class and will be appreciated my many many hobbyist I'm sure. thanks.

very nice job - was the duke engraved dial one of the first jobs? Just as nice as the workman ship and design is your making the drawings and information available - first class and will be appreciated my many many hobbyist I'm sure. thanks.

Actually the frist job was a cribage board, some time after that the MPG wheel was done. Thanks, hopefully the information is useful to many.

your two years of hard labor has paid off well ! very nice !!!!!
:cheers: :cheers:

That is fantastic. Looks like a pro job.

Where did you get that table? Is it a pull-off from another mill?

That is fantastic. Looks like a pro job.

Thanks, I'm going to add some sheilding and a coolant system soon.

:cheers:

Where did you get that table? Is it a pull-off from another mill?

I made it from scratch, from a piece of 2" x 6" x 24" soild 1018CR matl.

I admire your perseverance and determination to tackle a such a project. Too many people want instant gratification. Good job.

From this image, it looks like you have a bridgeport/clone at your disposal:
http://home.earthlink.net/imagelib/sitebuilder/misc/show_image.html?linkedwidth=actual&linkpath=http://home.earthlink.net/~gmduke/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/millweb3.jpg&target=tlx_new

I'm sure it was well used. Making that table must have been a beast of a job. Have you checked for perpendicularity, flatness of the table, the usual stuff?
I like that remote, did you make all the the electronics from scratch? I am tempted to make such a device for myself in the future.

Nice job on the Z axis, it looks like it was inspired by an industrial machine with the chain and pulley drive.

It looks to me like the z axis is conventionally driven with the chains simply supporting the head via a counterweight behind the column..?

It looks to me like the z axis is conventionally driven with the chains simply supporting the head via a counterweight behind the column..?

Yes, you are right, the Z axis is driven with a lead screw the chain you see are for the counterweight thats so the head weight is nothing.

From this image, it looks like you have a bridgeport/clone at your disposal:
http://home.earthlink.net/imagelib/sitebuilder/misc/show_image.html?linkedwidth=actual&linkpath=http://home.earthlink.net/~gmduke/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/millweb3.jpg&target=tlx_new

I'm sure it was well used. Making that table must have been a beast of a job. Have you checked for perpendicularity, flatness of the table, the usual stuff?
I like that remote, did you make all the the electronics from scratch? I am tempted to make such a device for myself in the future.

Nice job on the Z axis, it looks like it was inspired by an industrial machine with the chain and pulley drive.


The handle that you see in the image belongs to a Bridgeport Series 1 with a J1 head. I added a VFD to the spindle motor, "works sweet" don't have to change the belt on the step pulleys as often.

As far as the perpendicularity and flatness go, on the bench top machine its less the 0.001 in 12", resolution is 0.0001 repetability is about 0.001.
Some of the electronics circuit boards are from scratch.