Think this will work?

[jhart]

Just wondering, do you guys think this machine would work for light to moderate duty milling? Any suggestions other than this? Thanks

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=99686-32764-DP300L&lpage=none

[luke]

Just wondering, do you guys think this machine would work for light to moderate duty milling? Any suggestions other than this? Thanks

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...00L&lpage=none

No.

You can't mill/cut on that, drilling only.

You will have to spend a few more dollars in order to do machining.

Here's a few examples>>

http://www.grizzly.com/products/cate...spx?key=480000

Just remember the cheapest part of setting up a machine shop is the mill, plan on spending 3-4 times the price of your mill on tooling. (That's just to get started.)

On a side note you will ALWAYS wish you bought a bigger mill and wish you had spent more on upgrade options.

[jhart]

thanks luke. Was just curious because I was going to have you do the work, but then I said well if I can get a setup that does not break the bank, I could do the work myself and have a new tool to boot. Think I'm going to hit you up soon.

[evil]

you can use a drill press and http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=94276
to do some light milling. i personally wouldn't do anything other than aluminum or anything that needs to be real precise.

[p8ntbal4me]

I have a compound milling table mounted to my 3/4 drill press.

It works okay for simple SLOW milling to get ideas off paper and into concept.

I bought the press for $300, the table was $159, the bits were $100

So looking at Lukes advice (which you really should take for "the word"), your better off spending a bit more coin and getting what you really need.

~ P8nt

[TakenOutTheTrash]

Here's the best "Drill to Mill" I have seen. Problem being that you need a lathe or access to one to make the spindle. I'm planing on trying this sometime, I have the drill, table, and one day I'll finish putting the lathe back together .

http://www.pathcom.com/~vhchan/cnc/cnc.html

It seems like the perfect size for most paintball things, I agree with Luke though, you'll always want a bigger machine.

Thanks,
David

[Papa_Smurf]

Here's the best "Drill to Mill" I have seen. Problem being that you need a lathe or access to one to make the spindle. I'm planing on trying this sometime, I have the drill, table, and one day I'll finish putting the lathe back together .

http://www.pathcom.com/~vhchan/cnc/cnc.html

It seems like the perfect size for most paintball things, I agree with Luke though, you'll always want a bigger machine.

Thanks,
David

Drill press+table, does not = Mill.
Chuck isn't made for side load.

[luke]

Yes, people have rebuilt drills for light milling. But, by the time it's all done you're not that far ahead. You will never have the rigidity a milling machine. You'll spend time, money and effort trying to cut corners to save money, only to find yourself buying a mill down the road anyway.

I've been down this same EXACT road. Every machinist advised me just to buy a mill, the bigger the better, so I did. I have never regretted it. I have however regretted not purchasing more options up front, because I have ended up installing them anyway at a bigger expense. The biggest regret was not buying a mill with a variable speed motor, now I'm stuck changing belts, which sucks. I would have rather spent the $1000 for the upgrade.

If money is a issue, look for a used mini mill instead, that would be a step above the drill press.

I would do something like this before I would take the drill press route>

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-MINI-MULTIPU...QQcmdZViewItem

But even these machines have their problems and are very limited on what you can do. Personally I wouldn't ever purchase one because of the reasons I already mentioned. Just wanted to show there are other options instead of wasting money on a drill press. If you look I'm sure you can find a small mill within your price range.

But as I said before, you will always wish you had a bigger machine. My mill weighs 2000 lbs (to give you an idea of it size) and I often find it's too small to do some of the stuff I attempt.

[redlaser666]

I would have to agree with luke, once you get in to machining you will want something bigger. I started off with a 3 in 1 lathe-mill-drill and later ended up buying a standalone milling machine which was still not big enough for some of my most radical proyects (dealing with car engines)

If you just want to do a few paintball things and are not planning on doing that much machining you would in the end be better off (and cheaper in the long run) sending the work to a good shop.