This page covers the current configuration of my milling machine. Later I'll be adding pages to cover different parts of the mill in more detail.
This milling machine has three linear axes (X,Y,Z) and one rotary axis (A). X,Y and Z -axes have linear bearings and ball screws. In the current configuration all axes are moved with stepper motors, but I'm in the process of converting the drive system to a AC-servo based.
This is a CAD representation of the mill. Design/ construction work has taken quite long time (2-years), because I've been on limited budget and I tried to save in expenses by finding good deals from eBay. Not the quickest approach but surely the cheapest.
And here is the mill as build, the picture shows also the box containing all the electronics needed for controlling the mill. The spindle has a 1.12kW motor and the spindle speed can be controlled from 0-8000 RPM. X,Y,Z travel is 300x400x275mm. Overall weight of the machine is approximately 150kg (CAD-estimation).
Z-axis is quite heavy, so I decided that it needs a counter balance system. The Z-axis is fully balanced when a tool holder is attached to the spindle. The counter balance weights for the Z-axis can be seen quite well from this angle.
