My mini VMC

[Starleper1]

Hello, just wanted to share what i've been up to. My plans are to build a mini VMC. I will be using a X2 spindle for now and a modified X1 extended table. It will have a full enclosure, flood coolant, ATC etc...

Anyway here it is on paper.



And how where I'm at so far.

Next to the X2




and just a shot of the head clamped in place (roughly)


Thanks

[Guldberg]

Looking good. Out of curiosity, did you consider mounting rails to the x axis plane and the carriages to the y axis. This way you would save quite a bit of weight and some width.

[BobWarfield]

Kewl!

These built from scratch machines are always interesting.

Cheers,

BW

[Jason3]

Hey, that's looking good! Kind of similar to Arie Kabaalstra's little mill. What are the travels going to be? What steel stock are you using? This ought to be an interesting thread.

Funnily enough, I just ordered some steel for my next project about an hour ago - a mini VMC...

Best regards,

Jason

[Starleper1]

Looking good. Out of curiosity, did you consider mounting rails to the x axis plane and the carriages to the y axis. This way you would save quite a bit of weight and some width.

I did, I was torn between which way to do it. I decided to do it this way because I like the idea of just the table moving instead of the table/motor/ball-screw all moving as one. Plus i believe it will much more rigid this way. Also saving weight isn't always a good thing in machinery.

Hey, that's looking good! Kind of similar to Arie Kabaalstra's little mill. What are the travels going to be? What steel stock are you using? This ought to be an interesting thread.

Funnily enough, I just ordered some steel for my next project about an hour ago - a mini VMC...

Best regards,

Jason

It's very similar to Arie's. Travels are somewhere in the ball park of X-15" Y-10" Z-10". I'm just using 1018 CRS. It's strong, easy to machine, and reasonably cheap.

[Guldberg]

No, weight isnt a bad thing. I usually over dimensions my machine for the same reason and for the reason that im to lazy to calculate anything:-) Also you got a point there with the "stationary" motor. Just remember to think up some cover.

How do you cut your pieces?

[Starleper1]

No, weight isnt a bad thing. I usually over dimensions my machine for the same reason and for the reason that im to lazy to calculate anything:-) Also you got a point there with the "stationary" motor. Just remember to think up some cover.

How do you cut your pieces?

Everything in the picture was done on a bridgeport manual mill with a Grizzly DRO. Covers are in the back of my mind. When the time comes i will fab some up. Probably going to be out of sheet metal. Im not 100% sure how i want to do it yet.

Thanks

[SpeedsCustom]

I really like your design, nice mill.


-Jason

[vlmarshall]

Great design, I've been thinking of building something like that...mostly because I spend all day staring at a bunch of Haas VMC's.

[Starleper1]

Great design, I've been thinking of building something like that...mostly because I spend all day staring at a bunch of Haas VMC's.

Yeah me too.

[vlmarshall]

Yeah me too.

Haha, I thought so. Keep us updated, this is really looking good!

[asiaschain]

this is design by myself,how about you think than can work good,