Want to make a cnc mill for under 2000.00

[sgman]

Hello

I want to build a cnc mill for under 2000.00

I have looked at all the small benchtop mills like sherline and taige

I am trying see if I could make a robust machine than those yet small enough to still be used as a bench top.

Are their any plans out their to make a unit like this.

[Stepper Monkey]

No matter what mill you decide on, buy one, don't attempt a build. It's not like putting together a router. It will cost you far more and do far less if you even get it to work at all. There is a very good reason there aren't any do-it-yourself mill plans.
I don't say this out of any lack of creativity or adventure. It is just a necessity. I do build special purpose mills from scratch and 1) they just cost more than a manufactured mill in any case - economy of scale is a hard thing to fight, and 2) it requires, at minimum, already having a working mill, rotary stage and lathe in your shop to effectively to start a new build of any of those items in the first place!
If you want to save money, buy a mill. If you explicitly want the experience of building a mill, you have to buy a mill to do it with. Either way, same answer. Buy one!

[LeeWay]

I tend to agree with SM. I had an X2 manual mill before I started building mine. I also had a router that helped with leveling. I did make several good buys from Ebay and got some nice linear rails and ground ball screws. I was shooting for around $2000 to $2500, but if you include a new computer, Mach 3 and Sheetcam, both of which I already had, the cost was about $4500 when said and done. I said done, but it isn't quite done yet. I am adding some icing on this cake with spindle speed control and relays for coolant. I am also adding a timing belt drive for the Z axis. Due to the weight, it is the weak axis. I may have to up the motor size on it before I am done too.
Probably going to put a timing belt drive on the spindle as well.
It was a hell of a lot of work. Most of it enjoyable except all the hand tapping.
I did wind up with a very nice and smooth bench top size machine that is very accurate and strong. More than I actually needed.

If I was to be starting again knowing what I know now, I would likely cnc an X3. I don't think it would be as much machine as I have now, but it might have done what I wanted. Costs were probably equal for both choices.
There are several threads in the build section where guys have built their own mills. I am very pleased with mine. Proud of it too, but got really lucky scoring the parts on Ebay that are the heart of this mill. Without such strong and accurate parts, an X3 would be just as good.

Here is my build log. Check out some of the others too. Just know that it is much easier to buy and retrofit than to build from scratch.

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32609

[sgman]

Thanks for the imput, I will stay away from building my own.

I found a complete mini cnc including software from xendoll (out of china) for 1500.00

Its a sherline knockoff but complete with stepper motors and software.

Now of course I am thinking of "should I buy from china"

Does buying from china make sense (to save money) or am I getting myself into trouble.

Thanks again for all the help.

Steven

[Oldmanandhistoy]

Originally Posted by sgman I found a complete mini cnc including software from xendoll (out of china) for 1500.00 Its a sherline knockoff but complete with stepper motors and software. Now of course I am thinking of "should I buy from china" Does buying from china make sense (to save money) or am I getting myself into trouble.

I think buying from China is a good idea as long as you are happy to do some work and spend some money to sort out the poor finish. This will probably include some scraping as I had to rework all the ways on my Chinese machine. The castings weren’t the best either with a couple of hard spots which made scraping a PITA.

John

[ViperTX]

I would look at X2 and X3 from Grizzly Tools and Harbor Freight.

[sgman]

I think the best Mill for me will be an X3 size Mill

I need to be able to cut steel and have a reasonable "range" of cutting depths, speeds, etc.

Now the question is if I "do" an x3 mill I want to go 4 axis.

Would a budget off aproximately 5000.00 usd cover software, rotary table, all 4 axis stepper motors, a stand (I already have the laptop computer)

Oh and What build kit should I buy and from whom?

Thanks again for all the help, I have learned more here then anywhere else.

I get real information from people that "know"

Steven G

[ataxy]

you cant buy from grizzly tools in canada unless you cross the border and go and buy it there if you want to buy in canada those are the place i know that carry mini mill

busybee tool
garant machinery
house of tool
princess auto

[mcruff]

Here is the nicest homebuilt I have seen.
http://users.wildblue.net/gmduke/index.htm

[thackman]

Have you checked www.syilamerica.com they might be able to ship to canada. They have a Syil SX3 already CNC converted for $3,995.
It's about 5K with software, stand, and 4th axis.

[ataxy]

true, i even think there is a syil canada

[tmarks11]

syilcanada.com