Hi I'd like to DIY a CNC vertical mill, I need some advice. I've read the FAQ section, and done some searches on the forums, but there is so much information spread out, it's hard to form a strong idea.

I have looked at used CNC vertical mills, unfortunately Australia doesn't really have a manufacturing industry anymore, so the used market has pretty slim pickings. Of the few I have found they're all about 30 years old worn to crap and I'm not confident I'll be able to get them running properly, they start about $7k+, then you need to spend more to fix them.

My goals to build are;

  • I have a 240V 15A plug I'd like to use in my shed (I could potentially get an electrician in to install a larger one, but I'd prefer not to if possible).
  • Hard mill carbon steel.
  • High probability to made from epoxy granite.
  • Build price between $5-10K AUD.
  • Accuracy is more important than speed.


So, what would you build for ~$7-8K?

Does someone have a parts list from a different thread they liked?

The head, are they belt driven servos or just a normal 3 phase motors?

I wish there was a store in Australia I could call up and order parts from and pester with questions, but everything I've found is just completed routers for hobbyists.

I would like to consolidate all the knowledge I collect to make it easier for new people to digest, maybe make some plans that are open source.

Thanks for any help.

Regards,

Pat.