First Thread? Making a Mini CNC Milling Machine

Steef66 said:
Looking to this machine yes it's great to make this, the time you put in it, is a great time, like building a ship. But the price of the parts will be to my guess over the 200 euro. Was a Proxxon MF70 not cheaper? Just a question. What is the advance of this machine?
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Perhaps John can provide a better answer, but I think this has the advantage of the 4th axis controlled by CNC too. Also the xy table bed is larger. Finally I think the main advantage was the challenge and joy associated with doing the project.

I am not sure what the final cost will be, but in Australia an MF70 costs $720 AUD and the dividing head $200, CNC kits will cost around another $750+, so over 1.5k.

I have been interested in converting my MF70 to CNC. Can anyone who has done this successfully share the details of the components and soft and hardware used and where to buy?

Thanks
 
Chestcutter said:
Perhaps John can provide a better answer, but I think this has the advantage of the 4th axis controlled by CNC too. Also the xy table bed is larger. Finally I think the main advantage was the challenge and joy associated with doing the project.

I am not sure what the final cost will be, but in Australia an MF70 costs $720 AUD and the dividing head $200, CNC kits will cost around another $750+, so over 1.5k.

I have been interested in converting my MF70 to CNC. Can anyone who has done this successfully share the details of the components and soft and hardware used and where to buy?

Thanks
Click to expand...
I got my MF70 CNC conversion kit from ebay Canada. The kit came with a controller that has ESTLCAM firmware installed on it. I don't know if Ebay AUstralia has this kit or not. There is also the following, which I find expensive, but it looks good:

Robotpark MF-70 CNC Kit for Proxxon

Robotpark MF-70 CNC Kit is a kit produced by Robotpark to convert manual micro milling machine Proxxon MF-70 to a computer controlled 3-axis CNC milling machine. The kit includes stainless steel motor mounts to connect the stepper motors to the hand wheel, one NEMA 23 stepper motor for each axi
www.robotpark.com www.robotpark.com

Here is another one that I found:

Proxxon MF 70 CNC Custom Kit

With this conversion kit, you can upgrade your Proxxon MF70 Micro milling machine with a CNC control.
amth.de amth.de
 
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Jack Sparrow said:
I got my MF70 CNC conversion kit from ebay Canada. The kit came with a controller that has ESTLCAM firmware installed on it. I don't know if Ebay AUstralia has this kit or not. There is also the following, which I find expensive, but it looks good:

Robotpark MF-70 CNC Kit for Proxxon

Robotpark MF-70 CNC Kit is a kit produced by Robotpark to convert manual micro milling machine Proxxon MF-70 to a computer controlled 3-axis CNC milling machine. The kit includes stainless steel motor mounts to connect the stepper motors to the hand wheel, one NEMA 23 stepper motor for each axi
www.robotpark.com www.robotpark.com

Here is another one that I found:

Proxxon MF 70 CNC Custom Kit

With this conversion kit, you can upgrade your Proxxon MF70 Micro milling machine with a CNC control.
amth.de amth.de
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Thanks Jack.

I will follow up on these leads. I appreciate you taking the time to respond.

Michael
 
Chestcutter said:
Perhaps John can provide a better answer, but I think this has the advantage of the 4th axis controlled by CNC too. Also the xy table bed is larger. Finally I think the main advantage was the challenge and joy associated with doing the project.

I am not sure what the final cost will be, but in Australia an MF70 costs $720 AUD and the dividing head $200, CNC kits will cost around another $750+, so over 1.5k.

I have been interested in converting my MF70 to CNC. Can anyone who has done this successfully share the details of the components and soft and hardware used and where to buy?

Thanks
Click to expand...
Spot on Chestcutter! I couldn't have expressed it better.
 
Chestcutter said:
I have been interested in converting my MF70 to CNC. Can anyone who has done this successfully share the details of the components and soft and hardware used and where to buy?
Click to expand...
nl.aliexpress.com

Nema 17 stepper motor grbl schild uno r3 board drv8825 a4988 grbl stepper motor driver voor arduino 3d printer cnc kit - AliExpress 13

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
nl.aliexpress.com nl.aliexpress.com

nl.aliexpress.com

1Set Proxxon MF70 Convoronersion Kit Nema23/ Nema 17 Stappenmotor Proxxon MF70 Controle Cnc Convoronersion Kit 3d Printer onderdelen - AliExpress 7

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
nl.aliexpress.com nl.aliexpress.com
 
I am not 100% sure how ebay works, but I saw a couple on ebay Canada as well. I don't know if you are allowed to buy from ebay Canada, seeing that you are in Australia.
 
what's with the price of Proxxon tools? I purchased my MF70 mill a few years ago and I paid 400$. Now they are charging over 800$ on Amazon.
 
Chestcutter said:
MF70 is selling for $720 AUD is best price in Australia. The accessories like dividing head etc are extra.
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that's insane. It's a good mill, but there are a lot of plastic parts in its construction which I wish were aluminum or something like that. Anyways, I only use mine for wood. I have a few of the accessories, including the dividing head. I will be needing this tool when I get to the masts, but for now I am mainly using the 3D printer.
 
Jack Sparrow said:
that's insane. It's a good mill, but there are a lot of plastic parts in its construction which I wish were aluminum or something like that. Anyways, I only use mine for wood. I have a few of the accessories, including the dividing head. I will be needing this tool when I get to the masts, but for now I am mainly using the 3D printer.
Click to expand...
Agreed. This little mill is not the most well-made benchtop tool in my shop. And it's loud. But the more I model the more often I find it to be really useful.

Sorry for the diversion @johnv. I couldn't do what you are doing - but I wish I could...
 
Apologies for diverting from the topic at hand. I just found the discussions interesting and I got carried away.
Your project seems to be coming around nicely.
 
Jack Sparrow said:
that's insane. It's a good mill, but there are a lot of plastic parts in its construction which I wish were aluminum or something like that. Anyways, I only use mine for wood. I have a few of the accessories, including the dividing head. I will be needing this tool when I get to the masts, but for now I am mainly using the 3D printer.
Click to expand...
Re plastic parts, I share the preference for aluminium or steel, but 3D printers and filaments have improved dramatically in recent years. This is the first time that I have used PLA for the structural parts of a tool, and I am very impressed by the accuracy and toughness of the parts. None of them have cracked or distorted despite very firm tightening of steel fasteners. And some of the parts are quite complex, and would have been incredibly difficult, even on my big CNC mill and CNC lathes. The proof will come when the mini mill is put to use. I will report in due course. My guess it that it will be fine for the small parts in model ship building.
 
johnv said:
Re plastic parts, I share the preference for aluminium or steel, but 3D printers and filaments have improved dramatically in recent years. This is the first time that I have used PLA for the structural parts of a tool, and I am very impressed by the accuracy and toughness of the parts. None of them have cracked or distorted despite very firm tightening of steel fasteners. And some of the parts are quite complex, and would have been incredibly difficult, even on my big CNC mill and CNC lathes. The proof will come when the mini mill is put to use. I will report in due course. My guess it that it will be fine for the small parts in model ship building.
Click to expand...
Agreed.
 
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