bishbosh Posted July 4, 2010 Share Posted July 4, 2010 Having spent months getting fed up watching any milling machine that appeared on ebay go for £100's or even £1,000's I decided I needed to set my sights a bit lower. I already owned a 240V die grinder so I decided to make a frame for it to turn it into a milling head. I also had an X-Y table that I was going to use with my drill press to convert that into a mill but decided I didn't want to wreck a very handy piece of kit that I will use far more frequently than a mill. Anyhow, last weekend, SWMBO was away so I go to spend some quality time in the garage. After a few false starts and cock ups, this is what I ended up with: I know it looks a bit rough around the edges, but the aim was a functional machine, not a pretty one! Seems to work OK too, although I think I was a bit out on the height of the head - it has about 60mm of vertical movement so small pieces need to be packed up, but other than that, for less than £100 for everything, I am pretty pleased. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted July 4, 2010 Share Posted July 4, 2010 It looks very good to me, Bish Les. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted July 4, 2010 Share Posted July 4, 2010 Looks great Bish! This going to be used to make bits for the buggy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bishbosh Posted July 5, 2010 Author Share Posted July 5, 2010 That's the plan - I have to pluck up courage to mill the diff housings that I have already turned on the lathe. Don't want to mess that up!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Train Posted July 5, 2010 Share Posted July 5, 2010 That looks really neat and simple. Any chance of shooting some video of it in action? It'll be good to see how well it works, I might even make one myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bishbosh Posted July 6, 2010 Author Share Posted July 6, 2010 Can't promise a video, but I'll post progress pics as I butcher mill my diff housings!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bishbosh Posted July 8, 2010 Author Share Posted July 8, 2010 Progress pics as promised: I am really pleased how it has worked out - I can mill about 4mm in a single pass using about 1/2 of the width of a 6mm cutter. The table traverses smoothly on both axes and leaves a very smooth surface under the cutter. I do have a slight chip problem though!! They get everywhere so a budget vacuum is on the way to be built into the machine. Oh, and milling is very addictive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Train Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 Excellent! I should start looking for the bits to make one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hybrid_From_Hell Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 Ingenious Well done, and yes it is infectious Nice little bit of kit Nige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted July 9, 2010 Share Posted July 9, 2010 Very nice Bish! Lidl often have a good garage vacuum on offer, cheap, and also switches on/off automatically when you connect the power tool you are using through it -just a thought? How long till the buggy is done then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted July 9, 2010 Share Posted July 9, 2010 Looks good! . Milling is very addictive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bishbosh Posted July 9, 2010 Author Share Posted July 9, 2010 Very nice Bish! Lidl often have a good garage vacuum on offer, cheap, and also switches on/off automatically when you connect the power tool you are using through it -just a thought? How long till the buggy is done then? I bave a 2200W Vax coming from ebay - was a bargain so why not The buggy? Well, er, the frame hasn't chaged since you last saw it. I have one complete wheel, one complete steering knuckle, two diff pans, two diff noses (incomplete) er, and that is about it. The great thing about this project is I am under no time constraints and can come and go as I please Could do with a source of UJ's though - I can only find them for silly money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted July 9, 2010 Share Posted July 9, 2010 How big are you looking at Bish? http://rc4wdstore.com/2/index.php?cPath=26&osCsid=5f549284c4bf5e099d644c672f0755c4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted July 9, 2010 Share Posted July 9, 2010 would 1/4" or 3/8" socket set UJs do? Not sure what loading/speed you are after Farnell do them as well, (knew I had seem them in the past somewhere...): http://uk.farnell.com/huco/134p13-0000-far/universal-joint-unbored/dp/3467685 http://uk.farnell.com/huco/134p23-3535-far/universal-joint-12mm/dp/3467612 http://uk.farnell.com/huco/103p16-3232-f/universal-joint-10x10/dp/7077191 http://uk.farnell.com/huco/103p13-2222-f/universal-joint-6x6/dp/7077142 http://uk.farnell.com/huco/103p09-2020-f/universal-joint-5x5-pk2/dp/7077130 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted July 9, 2010 Share Posted July 9, 2010 http://www.ondrives.com/couplings-universal-joints.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete3000 Posted July 9, 2010 Share Posted July 9, 2010 I do have a slight chip problem though!! They get everywhere so a budget vacuum is on the way to be built into the machine. Oh, and milling is very addictive! Why not rig up a suds pump to wash away the chips, use a cheapo pump (pond pump etc) and a bucket for brewing/filter/pipework. This will cool your cutter as well as wash the chips away for collection and prevent a fire It will also stop you setting a cheap vac on fire with hot swarf and shavings RDG tools (google) and a homebrew/aquatics shop should carry all the bits you need. p.s homebrew/aquatics for those who like to drink like a fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 Well done Charles - that's very impressive. Nice cut quality too. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bishbosh Posted July 11, 2010 Author Share Posted July 11, 2010 How big are you looking at Bish? http://rc4wdstore.co...d644c672f0755c4 would 1/4" or 3/8" socket set UJs do? Not sure what loading/speed you are after Farnell do them as well, (knew I had seem them in the past somewhere...): http://uk.farnell.co...ored/dp/3467685 http://uk.farnell.co...12mm/dp/3467612 http://uk.farnell.co...0x10/dp/7077191 http://uk.farnell.co...-6x6/dp/7077142 http://uk.farnell.co...-pk2/dp/7077130 http://www.ondrives....sal-joints.html Thanks guys, but they all qualify as "silly money"!! I need two per axle and two per prop - so 8 total at nearly £30 a pop = silly money!! :blink: I think I will have to try and machine some on my new mill! Watch this space!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 Depending how much precision/misalignment/power transmission/cheapness you need, a bit of hydraulic hose jubilee clipped between the two hafts will make a fairly sturdy flexible coupling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 The steering wheel shafts on Toyota cars have beautiful little UJ's - probably about 3cm across. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bishbosh Posted July 12, 2010 Author Share Posted July 12, 2010 I am looking at a UJ suitable for an 8mm shaft, so about 15mm diameter.... I shall see how the milling goes.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbocharger Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 Mill your own? Set up a production line - two yokes, a cross spider, tiny grease nipples - you know you want to... Very tidy piece of fabrication, very impressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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