Portable Engraver/Micro Mill?

[NEATman]

Is this a crazy idea or what?
I have been experimenting with all of the parts that I find in the dumpster at work, and this is what I have come up with so far: It might be the smallest 3 axis CNC here. It has 4"X x 4"Y x 2"Z travel, with a dremel spindle. The XY portion is a stepper driven automated microscope stage. I have inverted it, and I'm mounting the Z axis to the part that was the base. I also snagged stepper drivers, motors, linear bearings,an 800mhz pentium, and a monitor to boot. This of course took many dumpster dives. It also helps when the service department calls me when they are about to scrap these stages. :-)The Z axis I am in the process of machining.

The XY stage is what is called an "open frame microscope stage" and has a clearance hole through the center, where the tool pokes down through. My plan is that this machine is small enough to place on top of (and clamp in place) just about anything (the body is 6" x 6") and machine in some small details, inlays, accents, or whatever.

I've already loaded up Mach2 on the PC, and I've gotten the XY moving properly. I can't wait to have the machine fully functional.

The real reason I'm trying this is to get a 3 axis CNC working before I update the controls on my CNC bridgeport. I must admit, Mach2 is waaaaayyyyy beyond the old 286 and bridgeport code. The DXF import and engraving portions alone are worth upgrading for. Plus, I keep smoking motherboards in the old machine.

Has anyone ever seen anything like this? If so, who makes it?

NEATman

[chuckknigh]

I had something similar in mind a while back...someone on the DIYCNC list called it a nanomill. But, rather than just building it, I decided to use an off the shelf 4x6" cross slide vise.

Same idea...different approach. I love the ability of yours to be clamped to a surface, and do its work that way. My take on it is slightly different.

In fact, I just got some lapping compound, and will start by lapping the ways when I get a few hours to myself.

-- Chuck Knight

[NEATman]

Well, I have finally had the time to complete my little engraver / micro mill.
Here is picture fo the micromill, and it's drive box. The system has 4" of X and 4" of Y travel, and 2.5" of Z travel. Currently, I have only been doing light engraving, and the dremel is working out well. It's not great for fine detail though, as the bearings are not real accurate.

I'm designing a small high speed spindle to mount in it's place, or I'm going to try to adapt an 30,000 RPM air bearing spindle to it. My only problem with the air bearing spindle is the toolholder. I would have to make one that is extremely accurately balanced to reach that speed! I'll probbably have to have it sent out for balancing.

Other projects that are sloooowly taking shape are two Minimills. The one on the left will have 4" of X, 4" of Y and 4" of Z travel, with and additional 4" manual height adjustment on the Z. The one on the right will have 4" of X, 8" of Y and 4" of Z, and the same additional 4" of height adjustment on the Z. Both of these systems will have 23frame stepper motors. I am thinking of buying a taig spindle for these systems. I'm also working on an anti-backlash 4" rotary table for the larger travel machine. All of the power supplies, drives and spindle drives are concealed inside the welded and machined steel channel bases. I'll have to document these builds with another thread.

One more project that I need some more money for is the additional XY table that is in the same picture as the air bearing spindle. It's an air bearing XY table with BLDC motors already attached. It's stunning what my company throws away! This thing is probbably accurate to about .000020" or so. I don't currently have an application, but an all air bearing lathe is certainly a thought that has crossed my mind...

Keith

[SPEEDRE]

Want to share lol . It's amazing what some companies consider junk, isn't
it. It's great to hear from a successful dumpster diver. Rock on!!!!

[NEATman]

Speedre-
I have piles of stuff. I have never gotten around to e-baying it, and I really need to! It could fund other projects. What are you looking for? I've got several brush servo's, ballscrews, and linear rails etc.

Keith

[SPEEDRE]

Keith, thank you for the offer but I was only joking. I'm just starting out in this stuff and would'nt know what to ask for even if I needed it.lol lol. I like your concept, small, portable, and cnc. Oh ya, and clampable, is that a word? Thank you friend.