Someo of you might remember I built a manual milling machine several years ago using the x2 mini mill head with r8 taper.



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Now the machine has served me well but has some issues

(1) slop in the x and y axis

(2) no drill press ability

The slop in the x and y axis I have had for years and I am embarrased to say that I just discovered that the table had an adjustment for back lash, so the y axis I got most of the backlash out but the x axis is down to .010 from .025. So some anti back lash nuts might be in order. I haven't got to use the mill yet since I adjusted it so we will see on that one.

Now this leaves us with drilling and this is where I could use some ideas. I currently have to crank the head up and down to drill and its a pain in the pita.

I had one idea to add kinda of second axis to the z axis and basically mimic the x2 drilling abilty. But I realized that the position of the drill press handle was not possible. It would hit my mount for the motor controller and I am not moving the mount, I like it where it is.

So then I thought I could convert the quill of an x3 into the head of the x2. But this brings the cost in around $350 not counting the labor involved.

So either I can leave it the way it ism buy an x2 for drilling and be done with it. Or anybody else have an idea?