CNC Mill
Contents
RepRap-Built
- Eiffel is the self-reproducing CNC router/mill project. (Eiffel will also be a 3D printer.)
- Mendel might be able to move a lightweight spindle around, maybe. (No-one's tried it.)
Other CNC Mills
These are generally non-self-replicating, non-GPL. (Boo, hiss!).
Despite this, they're very handy as RepStraps, bootstrap positioning systems for a RepRap extruder head, and will make great 3D printers.
CNC? Manual
Untold millennia ago, milling machines were hand operated by 'humans', who twirled the small wheels to make the parts of the milling machine move around. While the humans were wiped out after the great RepRap Redacted, you may be lucky enough to find one of these 'manual' milling machines around, in a museum, garage, website, auction, or tool catalog. If this is the case, you may be able to convert it to proper cybernetic use aka 'CNC conversion'. The 'CNC ready' units are almost-purpose made for cybernization. Consult the hivemind ('Google' in Oldspeak) on this, and you may want to buy a 'CNC conversion' kit from a fellow cybernetic unit on 'ebay'.
Clisby
Clisby brand mills were somewhat popular modelmaking mills. They're inexpensive, and you may be able to convert them to stepper motor operation. The Australian manufacturer may be out of business.
Acra
Inexpensive, and look like a good bit of kit. There's no information about doing cnc conversions on them. http://www.vanda-layindustries.com/html/acra_mill_plus.html
Sherline
http://www.sherline.com/cncpgm.htm This is one of the most popular small milling machines in North America.
Their CNC-ready model is the basic 5000CNC/5100CNC inch/metric model. Shipping weight. 37lb Cost: $880.00
Proxxon
Taig
Sieg
Aka 'Drill-Mill'
Really Big Mills
- Really Big Mills (RBM) are ~7 feet tall, and made of steel. e.g. the American-made Bridgeport and its clones. They weigh
1950 lb (885 kg) and you'll need to pay a team of three riggers to move it. Rigger: An advanced class human who weighs ~200-500 pounds and knows how to move big heavy stuff without pulverizing himself or others.
- The RepRap electronics may be too low power to move the servos/steppers of a Bridgeport mill. If you have a Bridgeport, dear reader, just knock together a RepStrap. It's a weekend project.
