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.
8 thoughts on “Micro mill from scrap aluminum”
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“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?
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.
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
Major props for creativity and skills in making this.