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Micro mill from scrap aluminum

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Micro mill from scrap aluminum
handmadeMill.jpg

Our bud Kent Barnes turned us on to this maker’s blog: Sir Richard’s Tool Kit. There are a number of nice projects here, including this sweet little micro mill made from scrap aluminum:

It was a long time in the making, but I have finally finished putting together the micro mill that I started about five years ago. It was one of those projects I started, got 95% complete, then moved on without doing the finishing touches. I made it out of scrap aluminum, some 4-40 and 1/4-20 threaded rod, 1/8″ drill rod, some pieces of Teflon and Delrin, and various screws and bolts. It was all machined on a Bridgeport mill and a lathe. The motor and chuck I salvaged from a 12 volt carving tool. It’s an import with non-standard collets, but it works fine. I made a new housing for it out of aluminum to make it easier to mount on the mill.

Micro Mill from Scratch

8 thoughts on “Micro mill from scrap aluminum

  1. http://david.rysdam.org/blog/ says:

    “It was all machined on a Bridgeport mill and a lathe.”

    So if I had both a mill and a lathe then I could have a mill?

    1. Satiagraha says:

      Or if you know someone or somewhere else that has a mill and lathe.

      Also, this is a micro mill, it’s small. And so if you already have a large mill, you may want a smaller one that’s easier to work with small pieces on.

  2. Simon says:

    That’s pretty nice and seems well made. I need something like that to go with my mini-lathe.

    Not to take away from that at all but here is someone who makes totally accurate, working, micro mills. The 1/14 working Bridgeport is amazing.

    http://www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com/Jordan.htm

    It look like he first made his own precision milling machine in order to make parts for the 1/14 scale model. Like Satiagraha says you sometimes need to make a smaller machine to then make an even smaller one again.

    Simon

  3. Chrome6 says:

    Major props for creativity and skills in making this.

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Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. And he has a new best-of writing collection and “lazy man’s memoir,” called Borg Like Me.

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