Hi everyone,
I've been using my Mini-Mill 4 (from Minitech Machinery) for a little over a year now. This machine is one of their largest offerings, and is serving me very well. It is almost like a swiss army knife of cnc machines... I have used it as a standard CNC mill for various prototyping/moldmaking operations. I have used it as a knife plotter (by inserting a swivel knife in a collet), for cutting out lettering on self-adhesive sheets. I have used this machine for producing life-like miniature rivets in thin sheet brass, by inserting a .035" punch in the spindle collet, and having the machine simply "kiss" the material set on a board. The depth leaves a tiny impression, and it's so much easier doing it this way than by hand.
I have even used this machine for something it really wasn't intended to do; a "chucker" lathe. You see, minitech has something similar to a modular headstock system for this machine, and besides being able to offer various spindles (ranging from the Sherline system, up to automatic tool-changing spindles using the ER style collets), all I had to do was rotate the headstock 90 degrees and figure out the CNC axis layout... instant make-shift chucker lathe.
You couldn't ask for a better machine, BUILT IN THE USA. It basically amazes me every time I have a job for it...
Usual disclaimer is inserted here: I don't work for Minitech, nor do I have any affiliation with their company... BUT I WILL PROBABLY START SELLING THESE MACHINES ONCE MY SHOP GETS GEARED UP FOR SUCH BUSINESS. That is how impressed I am with this craftsmanship and customer support from Minitech Machinery Corp. I guess that is how any shop owner should feel about the tools they use. When you buy quality, you buy it once. This machine uses linear slides and ball-screws, equating to nearly zero backlash.
If anyone is thinking about an industrial benchtop milling solution for their shop or small factory, please drop me a message, and I will be glad to give you more details about how happy I am with this purchase.
Minitech's web site is here:
www.minitech.com
Thanks for reading my post,
Jason Spangle
Old Foundry Toy Works