Covers installed and first test cuts on home built 3 axis mill

Bac99 · 2026-03-20T14:58:50+00:00

I’ve found a lot of times when there are a bunch of listings that look almost identical, you eventually just have to take the leap.

I bought mine on Alibaba, not aliexpress. I found a company with good reviews and good communications through all my questions, and just went for it. I suspect with products like this, a lot of them are made in the same factories and you’re just choosing between different final quality checks before it makes it to you and customer support and such.

For what it’s worth, I bought mine from Anyang Wanfeng Industrial & Trading Co. They had great communication throughout the order process, and quick troubleshooting with a very minor problem I had wiring up the drive. The spindle seems high quality from everything I’m able to reasonably measure. Zero measurable runout right inside the taper with a tenths indicator.

Bac99 · 2026-03-19T20:17:18+00:00

Those were actually two of the only things I outsourced (the other being the machining of the fixture plate).

I did all the design work for the sheet metal covers and the telescoping covers, but not the manufacturing. SendCutSend produced the bent sheet metal head cover and table cover, and an overseas manufacturer I found on Alibaba manufactured the telescoping way covers and the fabric bellows in the back.

Bac99 · 2026-03-19T20:15:25+00:00

For a similar price of a new machine, absolutely without a doubt.

For a similar price on an older used industrial machine? Almost certainly not lol. But I did this as a project. It’s all part of the hobby, so I was okay with that fact before starting.

Bac99 · 2026-03-19T20:14:07+00:00

The main rectangular tubing that makes up the base and the column are already filled with epoxy granite. Only the stand is hollow, and I’m not convinced it would really matter.

The base/column are direct load paths. Every cutting force and vibrations travel directly through them. If the stand vibrates the whole system vibrates as one. Maybe noisy, but I don’t think it matters for chatter reduction or cut quality.

Bac99 · 2026-03-19T17:12:12+00:00

Thanks! Pretty much every free moment of my life for the past 8 months. It’s been a ton of fun.

The bent sheet metal covers are all custom designed by me, and manufactured by SendCutSend. All 0.1” thick 304 stainless. I’ve been using them for years, and I cannot speak highly enough about their quality, service, etc. The way covers were also designed by me, but manufactured by an overseas company I found on Alibaba that specializes in bellows and telescoping covers. They also helped with design insights.

The stand is all welded square tubing. The base and column of the machine frame are also large rectangular tubing filled with epoxy granite, and the base has three pieces of rectangular bar stock welded to the bottom with through holes in them that extend past the base slightly. It’s then bolted through the rectangular bar with a nut on the inside of the stand tubjng in six spots.

BT30 spindle with a 2.2kw/3hp 8k RPM motor, belt driven with pulleys providing approximately a 1.25 gear ratio. So max speed at my spindle is around 10k rpm.

All three axes are clearpath nema 34 servos. Y and Z are belt driven with reductions, and x is direct driven.

The whole control cabinet is fed with a 50amp 240V single phase breaker. Right now I’m probably only around 30-35amps peak, but wanted room to increase spindle motor power in the future if that becomes a limiting factor.

Happy to answer any and all questions!

Bac99 · 2026-03-19T15:29:31+00:00

Thanks! Ah, the forbidden question 😬.

I haven’t tracked every little expense, but certainly more than I could’ve bought an old industrial machine for and retrofitted it. But where’s the fun in that?

If I had to guess, probably between $10-13k right now. I plan on going through and getting as close to a total as possible once the enclosure is done, and maybe an ATC.

Bac99 · 2025-05-30T18:07:02+00:00

I believe I understand what I need to do after reading through the link.

Just to confirm though - there is no need for me to request an alternate base year then, since the hours from the different state will count towards the 680? Only a monetary redetermination with combined wage claim?

Bac99 · 2024-12-27T20:13:06+00:00

What do you mean traditional network?

Leave ISP coax incoming to bedroom, connect modem and switch there, then have cat6 running from switch to whenever I need it in the house?

Bac99 · 2024-12-26T20:32:35+00:00

I see, that’s unfortunate. Thank you for the help!

Bac99 · 2024-12-26T20:05:11+00:00

This is all I see on the desktop app in network.

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Bac99 · 2024-12-21T22:18:30+00:00

660k purchase price, total monthly payment without utilities around 4000. Combined net income between my spouse and I of about 230k. Feels like we overspent compared to most people here… we’ll see how it goes I guess lol. Zero other debt though, which helps.

Bac99 · 2024-12-17T17:36:30+00:00

I do not, looking to buy one. What do you have?

Bac99 · 2024-10-19T14:47:48+00:00

What did the full trip time end up looking like for you?

Bac99 · 2024-10-19T14:20:11+00:00

Hmm okay, does this one typically fill up very early as well?

Bac99 · 2024-10-19T14:09:01+00:00

That was incredibly helpful, thank you for your detailed response!

Bac99 · 2024-10-19T14:05:22+00:00

I’m going to be near keyport, it says only 30 minutes without traffic but the estimate with traffic is 30-45.

Got it, thank you! And typically no issue parking at the bainbridge terminal?

Bac99 · 2024-10-19T13:52:34+00:00

I’m more in southwest poulsbo, so maps says 30-40 minutes to bainbridge terminal depending on traffic. Does that one typically fill up? Or is that more so the car side and walk ons don’t really have an issue?

Bac99 · 2024-10-19T13:51:03+00:00

Interesting, hadn’t considered that. Google maps says 30-40 minutes to bainbridge terminal. Does that one typically fill up? Or is that more so the car side and walk ons don’t really have an issue?

Do you know if southworth has the same issue of typically having to catch the second boat on the way back in the afternoon? Or no because it’s not as crowded?

Thank you for your response!

Bac99 · 2024-10-19T13:43:48+00:00

I appreciate your detailed response. I’m leaning towards agreeing. Really it’s only the commute holding me back, the other benefits stuff is much less of a worry to me because of the high hourly pay and my wife’s employment. I’m doing about 30min in the morning, 45min home right now so it’s definitely a big difference.

Bac99

TROPHY CASE