Condensed MechMate

Redneck · #1 Sat 12 January 2013, 12:29

What I have been pondering the last year is how to go about building a compact CNC mill for milling steel & aluminum. It seems to me that a condensed, rather then miniaturized MechMate might be the solution. For example it would be used for making making metal guitar parts or prototyping, small runs of stuff. I would need no bigger then a 2' x 2' bed. Has anyone done this? I haven't ran across anything like that yet here.

I am a middle aged carpenter going to school changing careers into things of a mechanical nature, maybe mechanical engineer if the math doesn't kill me. I have truly enjoyed reading around on this forum. Some really good stuff going on.

danilom · #2 Sat 12 January 2013, 13:07

You can mill aluminium and even steel, you will need a milling spindle not a hf spindle or router. If time is no issue or hassle with cooling than it would be ok.
I've seen some Datron routers made specially for sheet metal milling.

After all being said, I strongly recommend using a BF20 or RF45 milling machine and conversion to cnc, as they could fit perfectly for guitar parts and all metal milling.

Redneck · #3 Sat 12 January 2013, 14:19

I have considered going that configuration but the ex-mechanic in me wants something that can be worked on and modified, upgraded. The MechMate system seems to be all that. Also because I do want a full size one down the road it's seem logical to build a small one, something I could make parts on for the larger one. I would want to design this small one with cooling down the road capability. This looks like insane amounts of fun.