Author Topic: Chester Mini Mill. (Read 22790 times)

Stilldrillin · « **on:** February 26, 2009, 12:39:50 PM »

About a month or so ago, I decided to sort out the exhaust system of my 3 cylinder Mamod steam engine.

My idea was to run all 3 of the 1/8" pipes separately into a spigoted chimney base, with the condensate draining out the other side via a pipe into a trough.

A bit like this.......

The problem was how to drill the holes tidily, with my lightweight Chinese bench drill.......

I was offered a much heavier, English bench drill...... “You could do a bit of milling with that!”.

So..... I asked you lot about cross vices.........

During the drilling demo, some of the smoke leaked out of the motor!

And we all know how hard it is to get it back inside again......

Smoke, plus your disapproval of cross vices seemed to be some kind of omen.........

A Mini Mill arrived a few days later!

This is what was in the box.
Everything as promised, but a 100mm vice instead of 80mm...... No complaints!

My son helped me lift it onto the 18” wide bench, still bolted to the packing crate base. .......

I didn`t wish to drill permanent mounting holes in my bench, but I don`t mind woodscrew holes.
So, I thinned down the heads of some 10mm x 50mm builder`s bolts & assembled to 2 thicknesses of 12mm ply glued & screwed together.

With a woodscrew at each corner this should be ok!

We`re a bit short of light, up this end........

Bought an extra 4` striplight......... That`s better!

Then the new collets arrived....

Well, I`ve now spent over £500...........

And I still haven`t any holes in my chimney base!

One day...... Soon, I hope.....

David.

bogstandard · « **Reply #1 on:** February 26, 2009, 01:20:50 PM »

Rather expensive David, at nearly 170 squid a hole.

But think on the positive side.

A normal charge for hole drilling at an engineering shop is 2 squid per hole (setup charges extra).

So once you have drilled 250 holes, you will start to be in profit.

Bogs

Darren · « **Reply #2 on:** February 26, 2009, 01:29:41 PM »

And you will have assets to dispose of at a later date....should you ever wish/need to..

Well that's how I put it to the boss

Stilldrillin · « **Reply #3 on:** February 27, 2009, 08:14:35 AM »

John,

250 holes? That is a long time off.....
Does that include all the cutters, index head, T nuts, studding, DTI, wobbler, etc. etc I will need for the future?

Going toolbox opening this afternoon.
They`re still as I left em, on retirement day. Wonder what I might find in there.....

Darren,

Funny you should say that.......

Yesterday was a watershed in the Drillin household......

After 40 or so years, at last I didn`t need to be evasive!

"What do you need all this machinery for?"

"So that, now we`re fully settled into retirement, I can continue making things, as I have done since being a schoolboy"

"Also, in our present excellent circumstances, why shouldnt we buy whatever we want, when we want it?"

I held my breath.

But, there was no tut, no sigh, no comment.....

Only..... "Ah, yes". "Shall I put the kettle on?"

Yesterday was a good day........

David.

Darren · « **Reply #4 on:** February 27, 2009, 08:49:03 AM »

New sofa, carpet, bedding, curtains, cooker, heck the whole kitchen inc the flooring it is then......

"WE" can be a very expensive word

Stilldrillin · « **Reply #5 on:** February 27, 2009, 12:02:40 PM »

Quote from: Darren on February 27, 2009, 08:49:03 AM

New sofa, carpet, bedding, curtains, cooker, heck the whole kitchen inc the flooring it is then......

"WE" can be a very expensive word

No problem.......

We can afford it!

Found a few usefull artifacts this afternoon......

Almost brand new finger clock.
Magnetic base.
Wobbler.
10 or so assorted cutters.
6 off 10mm "oversize" (compared to supplied) T nuts.

That will do nicely.....

David.

malcolmt · « **Reply #6 on:** February 27, 2009, 06:53:26 PM »

David

Nice Find

Where did you Find Them

Malc

sbwhart · « **Reply #7 on:** February 28, 2009, 01:51:27 AM »

Nice find David

Those DTI are a real good addition to any ones tool box got a 1000 and 1 uses,

you'r realy cooking on gas now

Have fun

Stew

Stilldrillin · « **Reply #8 on:** February 28, 2009, 02:31:04 AM »

Quote from: malcolmt on February 27, 2009, 06:53:26 PM

Where did you Find Them
Malc

Malc,

It`s just amazing what follows you home, during a whole engineering career.

I`m sure several little surprises are still waiting to be discovered in long forgotten corners & boxes.

The T nuts were a complete, happy surprise!

I only recall using 5/8 Whit, or in later years 20 & 24mm.......

Stew,

Thanks mate....... I am having great fun!

David.

Stilldrillin · « **Reply #9 on:** March 01, 2009, 04:10:18 AM »

Finally got the machine stripped.

Red gloop everywhere, outside...... Dry, no lube anywhere inside......

Now starting to rebuild, with better fitting & adjustment......

All going well, so far....

David.

Stilldrillin · « **Reply #10 on:** March 03, 2009, 04:06:28 AM »

A few more more pics.......

Both X & Y axese adjusting strips had grooves caused by the edge of the dovetail not being deburred properly...... Soon filed away.
Also spun the adjusting screws in the lathe to file to a "drill point " angle for better location in the dimples.

Silky smooth slide.....

All oiled & greased, leadscrew nuts positioned, baggy handwheel handles bushed etc.

Ready for tramming.......

David.

sbwhart · « **Reply #11 on:** March 03, 2009, 04:11:59 AM »

Lovely looking bit of kit,

I see you're putting that DTI to use already.

You'll soon be cutting metal don't forget we'd like to see what your up to

Cheers

Stew

bogstandard · « **Reply #12 on:** March 03, 2009, 04:44:00 AM »

David,

An hour or two spent setting the machine up correctly before you start using it, will be repaid with many years of satisfactory use.

These machines are invariable faily well made nowadays, but slung together by untrained erks, and can be made very accurate by doing just what you are getting up to.

It is when using the machine straight out of the box that problems are encountered. And of course the suppliers get slagged off for selling unstable garbage, when it is usually the buyers fault for not fine tuning it.

Well done.

John

Bernd · « **Reply #13 on:** March 03, 2009, 10:11:24 AM »

David,

Very nice looking machine. Looks very simular to my Grizzly mini mill.

Question? From the pics I see that it uses inches on the scale so I'm assuming that the dials are graduated in thousands of an inch?

Now if this is the same as my mill I'm wondering if the lead screws on the machine are 16TPI or 20TPI. Here's the reason I ask. Go to my website and check out my page on the Mini-Mill. You'll see what I'm talking about.

Regards,
Bernd

Stilldrillin · « **Reply #14 on:** March 03, 2009, 01:03:15 PM »

Thanks for your positive comments Fellas.....

Finished setting up today!!

Bernd,

Thanks for your link, I haven`t seen that one before. Will give it closer inspection!

My screws are 16tpi. With the drive slot....... And it`s a heck of a long way from one end to the other!

Don`t really fancy a finer pitch, just yet......

The Y axis was out by .008" high to the front.

I slipped a 1/4" wide strip of drinks can alloy, under the front of the column & re tightened the capheads.
This gave me one an a half thou...... Don`t remember which way...... That`ll do, for now!

Got the X axis to .001" over it`s full table length, via the column nut.

Time for a bit of bling (my version)......

That gear lever`s blummin `orrible!

Short throw, GT version!

Hmmm....... Hadn`t spotted the remaining red grease!

It all feels silky smooth & ready to go......

Gonna make some chippings tomorrow....... Re machine those T nuts, probably!

David.

Stilldrillin · « **Reply #15 on:** March 05, 2009, 11:54:47 AM »

Final pic.

This afternoon.......

After 3yrs in retirement, "Mick the Miller" is back in business!

Stillmillin

bogstandard · « **Reply #16 on:** March 05, 2009, 12:02:32 PM »

Good to see it all up and running. I just hope that isn't your table you're milling thru.

Bogs

Stilldrillin · « **Reply #17 on:** March 05, 2009, 12:31:51 PM »

Quote from: bogstandard on March 05, 2009, 12:02:32 PM

Good to see it all up and running. I just hope that isn't your table you're milling thru.
Bogs

Doesn`t everyone mill directly on the table?

Actually, I was plunging 1mm or so of material from the inner end of the vice clamp slots, centred over the 12mm wide T slot.

Tale of woe to be posted imminently........

David.

SPiN Racing · « **Reply #18 on:** March 07, 2009, 07:55:15 AM »

AWESOME CONGRATS!!!

shoey51 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 17, 2009, 03:46:28 PM »

wow David so this ins where you have been hiding.
great thread mate and a great bit of kit would love one of those as well.

still learning to use the lathe here myself and I think im progressing fairly well myself

.

say hi to SWMBO mate from Jilly and me

cheers Graham

Stilldrillin · « **Reply #20 on:** March 18, 2009, 03:21:31 AM »

Quote from: shoey51 on March 17, 2009, 03:46:28 PM

wow David so this ins where you have been hiding.
great thread mate and a great bit of kit would love one of those as well.

still learning to use the lathe here myself and I think im progressing fairly well myself .

say hi to SWMBO mate from Jilly and me

cheers Graham

Mornin` Graham!

Welcome to the forum mate. Lovely to see you`ve joined us.

Christine says hello, she`s just behind me at the mo`.

Have a good look around, this is the perfect forum for the likes of us, and the natives are very friendly (mostly)....

Looking forward to seeing how your loco build is going.

Enjoy!

David.

sbwhart · « **Reply #21 on:** March 18, 2009, 04:07:20 AM »

Quote from: Stilldrillin on March 18, 2009, 03:21:31 AM

Quote from: shoey51 on March 17, 2009, 03:46:28 PM
wow David so this ins where you have been hiding.
great thread mate and a great bit of kit would love one of those as well.

still learning to use the lathe here myself and I think im progressing fairly well myself .

say hi to SWMBO mate from Jilly and me

cheers Graham

Mornin` Graham!

Looking forward to seeing how your loco build is going.

Enjoy!

David.

Hi Graham (Bit of a hi jack sorry David) But my ears pricked up with the word loco:- so lets see some photos then as

Bit of a loco buff myselfe, on my first build, only slightly deiverted with the elbow engine

Cheers

Stew

Darren · « **Reply #22 on:** March 18, 2009, 04:20:51 AM »

[/quote]

Bit of a loco buff myselfe, on my first build, only slightly deiverted with the elbow engine

Cheers

Stew
[/quote]

Don't be embarrassed about it Stew..............

shoey51 · « **Reply #23 on:** March 18, 2009, 05:21:40 AM »

thats all coming together really well mate jilly is reading this with me.

had a bit of a problem with my lathe there was two striped lockdown bolt thingys and I picked them up this arvo

now to put the cross slide back together

thanks for shareing this forum with me Ill have to spend hours catching up

cheers Graham

shoey51 · « **Reply #24 on:** March 30, 2009, 10:54:48 PM »

Hi David I have been looking at a mill at my local hoby supply

Looks verry similar to yours

just wondering how happy you are with it
cheers Graham

Stilldrillin · « **Reply #25 on:** March 31, 2009, 02:27:56 AM »

Hi Graham,

That is the same one as mine..... Only small detail differences.

You HAVE to strip & assemble it properly.
Mainly degreasing/ deburring, then lubricating until everything works smoothly.

Mine is running sweetly now.

The main problem is the fumbling operator, who is used to MUCH larger & more sophisticated machinery.

Enjoy......

David.

Bernd · « **Reply #26 on:** March 31, 2009, 09:20:34 AM »

I own the Grizzly equivalant of that mini mill.

It does a pretty fair job of milling and will handle a cutter up to 1/2" dia. Depending on what you get, metric or imperial you may want to read a write I did on my web site about a mod to the mill feed screws if you are getting the inch model.

It has done quite a bit of milling for me. The only draw back on these mills is that they have plastic gears. The gears won't take the beating of an interupted cut or if you have a major crash with a cutter. I know from first hand exsperience. I've replaced gears in both the HI/LO speed and the set from the motor to the spindle. This can be remedied by going to a belt drive.

I'm happy with the mill and plan on someday converting it to a belt drive. You can fully dress one of these mills up to a full blown CNC machine also, but then you miss out on twirling the knobs.

Regards,
Bernd

Stilldrillin · « **Reply #27 on:** March 31, 2009, 12:26:54 PM »

Bernd,

I realise you were directing Graham to your website..... Thank you!

I`d already had visions of trying to instruct him how to align the feedscrew nuts, sometime in the future....

You explain the sequence very well.

That`s a weight off me mind.....

David D.

Brass_Machine · « **Reply #28 on:** March 31, 2009, 12:57:20 PM »

I gotta say, I have one of these mills (X2). I have put it through a lot of abuse. I am very happy with it (for the price and what I could fit in my shop). It does need a few things. Clean up and set up are very important. 1st mod that should be done is change it out to a belt drive. There are kits for that. There are also plans to make your own floating around out there too. 2nd mod is to replace the side spring (head support) for the air springs. You will get more Z range out of it. I also put 'el cheapo' DROs on mine.

Eric

shoey51 · « **Reply #29 on:** March 31, 2009, 03:51:59 PM »

wow thanks every one I guess I will go for this one then.
Jilly is almost convinced that I should buy it also

Stilldrillin · « **Reply #30 on:** April 01, 2009, 01:59:43 AM »

Quote from: shoey51 on March 31, 2009, 03:51:59 PM

wow thanks every one I guess I will go for this one then.
Jilly is almost convinced that I should buy it also

What a lovely lass!

I always said Jilly was a good un.....

David.

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Author Topic: Chester Mini Mill. (Read 22790 times)

bogstandard

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