Advice needed on everything

**mekanik** · 21-10-2015

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EMCO-three...EAAOSwT5tWHhF2

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Boxford-CN...IAAOSwwbdWGrDD

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Denford-No...3D231724768943

Not sure if these will handle Stainless perhaps Dean could advise ?

**chrisjames** · 21-10-2015

Hi jazzcnc,

thabks for the reply. I had figures as much. I was hoping that as its a small area I want to mill it may be easier. I had looked into some mini mills (manual) to convert to CNC. What's your thoughts on doing that. Do people get good results generally with converted machines? I just don't want to have to spend the next month converting a machine. I have seen some of the mini mills (x1 and x2) have conversion kits or quite a bit of information on conversions. Are these any good in your opinion?

Im otherwise going to have to wait as you say.

Hi mekanik,

I saw saw these machines. I looked at their specs and don't think they'd be capable but again I may be wrong. I've seen people (youtubers) milling steel on these types of machines with low speeds, high feeds. In all honesty if not be putting much through it. It's for some prototyping and concept testing really.

thanks again,

chris

**JAZZCNC** · 21-10-2015

Originally Posted by chrisjames

I had figures as much. I was hoping that as its a small area I want to mill it may be easier.

5mm or 5000mm in size cutting is the same. The grade of material determines how easy or hard to machine and the cutting machine needs to be up to the task. Stainless is hard and fussy regards heat making it very intolerant of being cut wrong. Like wise the hardness really taxes the machine so if it's weak then surface finish and tool life will suffer.
Weak machine and cutting wrong will soon have you pulling your air out has the cutters ping and snap like carrots has the Stainless work hardens.!!! . . . . In which case you'll then need explosives to shift material.!!

Any of those little mills will handle Stainless to some degree but you have to realise they are limited in there abiltys so need to be run accordingly. Feed rates and DOC will be painfully slow milling stainless so if these matter then not really the right tool.
If your wanting high accurecy and high quality finish with any kind of decent feed rate then they will struggle.

Re- converting then again same applies regards limitations. It also depends to what degree the conversion is done.? Some kits just provide motor mounts etc and use the existing Lead screws which to me is doing half the job.
Proper CNC conversion really needs Ballscrews but this does bump up the price and time/work involved but really is the only way to do it IMO.
This is why you will struggle with only 1K to do a good conversion by the time you have bought the mill. The base machine is key.? No point buying a flimsy machine just because it's cheap. Can't make a silk purse out of sows ear.!!
You need the right base machine then go from there with converting to high standard and you stand half a chance. Personaly I don't think you can do it with 1K unless you drop on a really cheap machine that is upto the task in strength terms.

MHO is if converting then to forget these Mini mills like x1 x2 if at all possible and look for something robust and convert that. Like these RF45 clone square coloumn type mills often see converted. They are much more upto the job and won't cost much more if you look around and buy wisely.

**Robin Hewitt** · 21-10-2015

I'm agreeing with Jazz again, another huge disruption in the force

If it is prototypes I would suggest you cut them in compo brass and electro-nickel plate them.

Looks like stainless cuts like a dream

**JAZZCNC** · 21-10-2015

Originally Posted by Robin Hewitt

I'm agreeing with Jazz again, another huge disruption in the force

Ah that explains the strange tingling sensation in my light saber pouch.!! . . . . . Twice in 3yrs.!! Careful we'll be getting talked about.!. .

**chrisjames** · 21-10-2015

Nice to see a bromance blossoming! :)

you're right of course, to be honest I could just machine the parts out of aluminium and then once I'm set on the design I could have it machined properly. It's really only to figure out proof of concepts and prototypes.

just out of interest has anyone used the Proxxon ff500 CNC? They retail at 4k+ but I found a German website where they're selling it at about £1900 with delivery. It would need a CNC controller but it has been fully converted according to the website. But it seems too good to be true!

http://www.satberlin.de/en/PROXXON-m...r-CNC-NO-24344

the manufacturers say it can manage steel and there are some videos on YouTube with people milling steel on one. I'm probably going to go with a smaller mill and stick to aluminium if not as a larger mill won't fit in my tiny shed.

thanks guys

chris

**uli12us** · 11-11-2015

Oh no, this part is a childrens toy, not more,as long as you want to machine stainless steel.
For not much more, you can get a really CNC-machine at Ebay but with destroyed control.