Microlux mini mill

[BigBronco]

Looking at a microlux mini mill. I came in to a huge amount of unfinished firearm parts and looking at a pre owned clean Microlux mini mill to get at them. Your thoughts and how much not to pay over for the mill.

https://www.micromark.com/Milling-Machine-R8-500W

Thanks.

[USPSA GM]

If you are going to do any real machining you will be very disappointed with this, or any, mini mill.

[DGoodale]

Is it just the mill or does it come with accessories, vise, tooling, etc? How well used? What's the backlash like? Contrary to what their ad says, it's not "Heavy Duty"...

[DGoodale]

If you are going to do any real machining you will be very disappointed with this, or any, mini mill.

This too. You'll be there a long, long time trying to get to 1.249", even with drilling first.

[DueceMcGurk]

For not that much more, you can buy a used full sized.

[sonofeugene]

If you are going to do any real machining you will be very disappointed with this, or any, mini mill.

Unless it's from Levin.

[BigBronco]

If you are going to do any real machining you will be very disappointed with this, or any, mini mill.

My current need is to finish milling some 1911 grip safety's, Mag catches, main spring housings and possibly some A1 & A2 flip peeps. Nothing is over 3" in length. I have thousands of unfinished parts. My intent is to finish and sell on fleabay in my retirement years as a source of extra $$. Will post photo of parts later today.

I do not have the room for a full size mill.

edit. It is at an upcoming estate sale I have only seen a picture of it yet and no indication on price or what it includes. It does have a power feed motor on it.

This is it on the left.

https://picturescdn.estatesales.net/2560629/85863711/1.jpg

[USPSA GM]

Its not the length of the part although the length and depth of the table travel can be an issue. The size of the table also prevents or limits your ability to bolt down fixtures. Your biggest problem is going to be the ability to limit the tolerance stacking in the table raceways and toolhead flex. These wil prevent you from repeating the same cut on multiple parts. If bad enough you wont be able to machine a straight line, at least not one going in the direction you wanted it to go. Motor size and rpm, and the ability to change the toolhead speed will all effect what you can try to cut and the quaility of the cut. There is a reason you dont see these in machine shops.

[shafferds]

nope pass and get something of higher quality.

[woolybugger]

Get something bigger like a used Bridgeport.

[BigBronco]

These are what I will be using the mill to finish. I have tons of them.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[Dirtlaw]

It is true that a "tool room" sized machine is far more desirable. On the other hand it is equally true that you can't fit a submarine into a mouse hole. It is what it is. You actually can do some useful machining with something that small. True, it takes more time. And also true, you need to be very careful. Check out Little Machine Shop in Pasadena. Good people. Similar machine (likely made by the same Chinese company who makes most of them).

[BigBronco]

As I have minor lathe and less mill experience I feel a bench top mill may be a better tool to learn on then a full size Bridgeport. Not to mention the electrical needs of a full size mill.

[smird]

I would prefer a square column in this size but here's some options

https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/hvo/d/chino-central-machinery-drilling/7140085292.html

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/bfs/d/north-hills-mill-bench-mill-milling/7163585653.html

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/tls/d/long-beach-grizzly-milling-drilling/7163022956.html

[xfer42]

Thats a rebranded Sieg X2. HF sells them as well. Its bigger brother is the Sieg X3. I have the Grizzly G0463/Sieg X3 with CNC retrofit (servos & ballscrews) in an enclosure.

Both are very difficult to do any precision with out of the box due to the mile of backlash and slop. They can be tightened down and improved with aftermarket stuff. You can cut straight lines all day, but the issue comes when you try to go to specific coordinates and trying to keep track of the backlash. The cheapest option/fix for that is a DRO.

I run a 1HP 3 phase induction motor off a 110V outlet -> step up transformer -> VFD -> Motor. I originally had everything wired for 220 then moved. I didnt feel like running new wiring for it since I was only pushing 1HP. A cheap 3000W step up transformer resolves that.

Compare the price of the other X2 mills before determining if its a good deal. That one seems to be way overpriced new.

The HF one:

https://www.harborfreight.com/two-speed-variable-bench-mill-drill-machine-44991.html

If you want it, get it. If you need more, sell it and upgrade. If I didnt have one, Id consider it for small stuff.