mini mill DOC and column question

greetings everyone.
I am looking at the mini mill for a CNC conversion, but I am not sold on the mini as I have read a lot about the rigidity issue. I have asked about depth of cut on one of the yahoo groups but did not get a good response from the group ( only 2 people ) I do some projects in 303 SS and 316 SS and was wondering what DOC I can expect from a stock mill. I was assuming you could use a roughing end mill , but I seem to remember reading it was not a good ideal on a mini lathe. also it seems the grizzly 2" face cutter with carbide inserts work well.

I have also read the mill is pretty much useless for steel or stainless until you do the column support is that accurate ?

thanks

charlie

A G0704 has no problem cutting stainless steel.
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0nCthmPzKs&feature=channel_video_title"]YouTube - ‪G0704 Stainless Steel Milling‬‏[/nomedia]
Hoss

hoss yes trust me I have seen your machines, and k=like your videos and website . I plan to purchase either a X3 variant or the 0704 from grizzly in the next year or so. right now I am doing some small projects in stainless to earn some extra cash. until I am up and running I can not afford the extra cash just yet for the larger machine

I want to get the mini mill and CNC it. the project I have is drilling a .060" hole in the center of a 5/16 x 3/8" set screw , and then adding a 0.100" wide x .050" deep slot in the bottom of the same screw.

I would like to make a jig to hold a few hundred of these set screw, and run a CNC program that would first cut the slot with a 0.059" OD end mill , and then use the same end mill to bore the hole. The hole will only be about .060" deep , but like I stated I have read that the mill is pretty useless without modifications from the start. and would like others opinions on how true this is ??

after I start making a few batches of these I will have enough to buy a X3 or the 0704 as stated

thanks
charlie

Well the point of the video was to show you what it can do out of the box.
It doesn't need any mods to the column or braces added or bolted to concrete walls like the X2's and X3's need.
But if what you are making is all you need to do then a braced X2 or X3 could handle that.
Hoss

for now yes I have a 5000 - 6000 pieces a year to make, so even after I get the extra cash if the x2 proves to be cale of this task I would leave it and just buy a second machine

sorry I have not read anything about the X3 needing a column brace is that correct ??

I like the G0704 but from looking at the spec the X3 seems to be a heavier and potentially more rigid machine than the G0704


charlie'

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cstrickland

I like the G0704 but from looking at the spec the X3 seems to be a heavier and potentially more rigid machine than the G0704


charlie'

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You would think a heavier machine would be more rigid but it's not the case.
Just look at videos of the machines in action, the g0704 can handle 3 times
what an X3 can.
Not trying to make anyone mad just pointing out the facts.
I've read X3 owners on here complaining about chatter and vibration taking 1/8 inch DOC in aluminum.
The machines are just built differently so it's not a slam against anyone that owns one.
They all have their place for the tasks at hand.
Hoss

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cstrickland

hoss yes trust me I have seen your machines, and k=like your videos and website . I plan to purchase either a X3 variant or the 0704 from grizzly in the next year or so. right now I am doing some small projects in stainless to earn some extra cash. until I am up and running I can not afford the extra cash just yet for the larger machine

I want to get the mini mill and CNC it. the project I have is drilling a .060" hole in the center of a 5/16 x 3/8" set screw , and then adding a 0.100" wide x .050" deep slot in the bottom of the same screw.

I would like to make a jig to hold a few hundred of these set screw, and run a CNC program that would first cut the slot with a 0.059" OD end mill , and then use the same end mill to bore the hole. The hole will only be about .060" deep , but like I stated I have read that the mill is pretty useless without modifications from the start. and would like others opinions on how true this is ??

after I start making a few batches of these I will have enough to buy a X3 or the 0704 as stated

thanks
charlie

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For a 0.059" endmill, you don't need to stiffen anything - the forces involved in using such a tiny tool are truly miniscule. You'll break the tool long before the machine flexes enough to matter.

Regards,
Ray L.

wow that is news to me. like I said I thought the x3 would suffice. hmm I guess I might be back to looking at the g0704

did the 0704 need any bracing or tweaking out of the crate ??

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cstrickland

wow that is news to me. like I said I thought the x3 would suffice. hmm I guess I might be back to looking at the g0704

did the 0704 need any bracing or tweaking out of the crate ??

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No bracing at all, all of my videos of my machine are with the stand not even bolted to the floor.
Half the time the mill wasn't even bolted to the stand yet.
Sometimes I only had 2 of the 4 column bolts installed.
The Germans made a column brace for it that increased it's rigidity and cutting ability
that approaches an RF-45.
It's very capable for it's size and price.
Hoss

Hy there, I see another problem: The 0,059" mill asks for high RPM, maybe you must tweak the mini mill drivetrain via belt to achieve higher SFM counts for your tool.


Cheers,
Johann