CNC Mill

milling a piece of styrofoam

A CNC mill is similar to a CNC router, but usually more precise and designed for smaller workpieces.

EleksMill

MachineInfoBox EleksMill
Synonyms:	DE: CNC-Fräse
Material:	just foam for now
Used with:	1/8" endmills
Access Requirements:	CNC Mill Introduction<ul><li>The part "cutting" of the query was not understood.Results might not be as expected.</li> <!--br--><li>The part "]]" of the query was not understood.Results might not be as expected.</li></ul>
Software:	CAD/CAM software (e.g. Fusion 360); G-code sender
Tutors:	Sebastian<ul><li>The part "cutting" of the query was not understood.Results might not be as expected.</li> <!--br--><li>The part "]]" of the query was not understood.Results might not be as expected.</li></ul>
Similar (More or Less):	CNC router

[[Has caption::CNC cutting| ]]

Mitja brought his "EleksMill" into our common room - it's small, but great for learning the basics of CNC milling!

Important Facts

• 130 × 90 × 40 mm working range (less Z freedom depending on the length of your endmill!)
• there are no endstops
  • manually home the mill before a job
  • you should use the (X/Y center, Z surface) as your origin
  • make sure the size of your part does not exceed the working range!
• motor speed: ???
• compatible shaft diameter: 1/8" (3.175 mm)
• controlled like the CNC router (Fusion 360 or similar CAD/CAM software; G-code sender)
  • connection via USB - bring your own laptop!

Workholding

The mill has a 150 × 98 mm bed containing of 4 T-slots. clamping claws or similar workholders can be attached to it using M5 screws.

The current solution is not ideal, but many the workholding options for our larger CNC router should also be suitable if scaled down.

TO DO

• figure out motor speed to calculate proper feedrates
• what else?

Past Issues

• screws/nuts used to come loose due to vibrations
  • fixed with loctite or counternuts (where possible)
• Z axis used to be too hard to turn => mill drifted deeper and deeper into the workpiece as upwards movements failed but downward movements were still possible
  • was caused by a faulty spring