My Plans

[c0rpse]

I want to build a fairly inexpensive cnc mill, what types of things will I be able to do with it? Will it be able to cut acrylic? Do you think I could use it to build a lathe? If anyone could point me in the right direction to get me started I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks

[spalm]

Let me turn this around. What do you want to do with it? Define "fairly inexpensive". They all would cut acrylic. "Build a lathe" is a pretty open type requirement.

Not trying to be snooty, just trying to help you figure this out.
Steve

[c0rpse]

For cost I would say not exceeding $100 (not counting motors, controllers, and software) and I dont understand what you are saying about building a lathe. I want to use it to machine lathe parts. (my ultimate goal is to end up with a lathe and mill)

[randyf1965]

A JGRO router built to the drawings shoudl be able to machine all the Gingery patterns for the lathe, mill, shaper, etc.

Don't know if you could build it for under without motors, drivers, etc unless you have a good 'parts' collection (my wife would call it a junk collection....). But it is just MDF, bearings, threaded rod, bolts, etc so it might be doable under $100

[ShayArnett]

You have to really decide what you want to accomplish with the machine. Arcylic, mdf, balsa, is definately possible for $100 hardware only, not going to guarantee any kinda of accuracy on that budget though. Cutting metal to build a lathe on the other hand is not going to be possible. Routers in this area are capable of light milling in aluminum, but I doubt anyone in here would put their wood router up to the task of building a lathe.

[randyf1965]

But I would say they are up to the task of cutting patterns to be cast in aluminum. Then possibly smoothing and squaring them up instead of filing them by hand since you would only be taking a very small amount off