Bench for a Benchtop Mill

[Novah]

Hi all - I am about to get a Jet mill drill to convert to CNC. I just searched through this sites forums as well as the web in hopes to find information on a stand or a bench for a mill drill. I was surprise my searches on CNC Zone came up empty. I use mill bench, mill stand, mill drill stand, mill drill bench and they all came up empty.

Does anyone know a website that gives design ideas for building a bench or stand for a mill drill? I want something that is more rugged than the sheetmetal ones sold by most distributors.

Thanks, Dave

[JOE65]

Check out "bench basics" here http://www.industrialhobbies.com/

[ViperTX]

Well if you have a welder then get yourself some 1/8 inch wall 1 inch square steel tubing and build it....

[Novah]

Joe65 - that is the type of article I am looking for but I wasn't planning on it being that big. I was thinking maybe 30 x 30. My Pc will be in a verticle enclosed cart, not on the stand. I wasn't planning on flooded coolant but I just started thinking about a stand yesterday. I need to keep searched the net.

ViperTx - will 1 inch tubing be enough mass? I keep reading about vibration being an issue with mill drill due to their low mass compaired to the bigger milling machines. I read somewhere a couple of months ago about putting cement bags inside the stand to dampen vibration.

Everyone else - what are you guys putting your machines on? Do the sheetmetal stands that are available for these machines do the job? Am I over analyzing?

Joe65 - ViperTx - thanks for taking the time to reply. Dave

[KDN Tool]

Novah,
Have a look at www.grizzly.com
Search for items: H5741 and H2612 (28"x28" and 56"x28" respectively)
The later is rated at 5000 lbs and the sooner appears to be of the same construction just smaller footprint. You would have to supply a top for it. Grizzly sells maple tops.

A friend of mine has a round column mill that came with one of the sheet metal stands. He welded one up out of square tube as a replacement. Stay away from the sheet metal ones. www.lathemaster.com had some as well but I do not know if they will support the big bench mills.

Ken
KDN Tool

[ViperTX]

Novah, cross brace the top and the legs. To minimize the transmission of any vibration you will need to add isolators to the bottom of each leg. Remember this is a mill drill so you need to make some tradeoffs....sure a 2000 lb base would be nice...but it would probably cost more then the mill drill.

[Novah]

Thanks for the replies - the Industrial Hobbies bench design is the one that is most appealing to me. I will down size it a bit because my PC is in a verticle enclosure, not on the bench. I am still hung up on the mass and vibration issues/questions so it may turn out to be strong enough to put my car on. I have scrap wood from other projects so lets wait and see what comes out of the woodworking shop.

Thanks again - If I can borrow a digital camera, I will post pictures. Dave

[Norsksea]

I am working on my Light Machine TMC 1000 and I just finished my table for it. The table is measures 26L x 36W x 38H. I made it out of 2-1/2 square tubing 1/8th inch wall. It is 38 inches tall so when I have the mill finished and working I will be able to stand comfortably. I found the metal tubing and a 1/16th thick stainless steel top with bend side at a metal scrap yard. The table legs have 2-1/4 round pipe welded into the legs with solid aluminum machined feet. With just the top on it is extremely rigid and solid when I try to shake it by hand. With the mill on it I don't think there will be any vibration problem.
Frank

[phantomcow2]

I went with MDF from home depot, and 2x4's. Also a lot of cross braces on the legs to kill the flex. All together i dont think it even cost 15 dollars, it is supporting roughly 250-300 pounds i suspect.

[Novah]

Wow - that is nice. I would love to make a welded bench but I don't have welding capabilities. There are a number of scrap yards around here that could supply the material - some day I will get a welder and learn how but it is wood for me on this bench. What kind of mill are you putting on the bench?

I have sketched up a plan and will probably start building it Saturday. Dave

[Novah]

Light Machine TMC 1000 - I am new to this hobby and the first part of the sentance didn't register. Dave

[Norsksea]

I posted my project in Light Madhine 1000 retrofit

Light Madhine 1000 retrofit