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Modifying a Proxxon milling machine Y axis

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e100:
Many years ago, prior to the advent of affordable 3D printing, I bought a tiny Proxxon milling machine.
I also bought a generic stepper motor kit to make the axes controllable via a computer. I added a custom frame to attach the motors and got as far as doing some test runs to see how well it worked.

Unfortunately at this point I discovered that the relatively small 70mm front to back Y axis movement was a problem in real life, which pretty well scuppered my plans to mill PCBs etc. The X axis travel at 150mm was fine. I spent a considerable amount of time trying to figure out a way of increasing the motion but finally gave up and put it to one side.

Did anyone else make the same mistake as me, but actually find a way of converting their milling machine to use an XY table with a more sensible movement range? Effectively it would need the vertical pillar to be magically disappeared so there would be nothing in the way of a longer replacement Y axis.

beanflying:
Even on the larger Home mills throat travel is really limited. A lot of those are 130 to under 200mm for the 1.1-1.5kW ones and even less when you fit DRO slides depending on the setup.

The only real option is to build a really solid square gantry to mount the column to it (over part of the table) or leave the ability to tram a larger XY table under it. The downside to this obviously then becomes the reach and stiffness of the spindle down to that table.

If all you wanted to do was larger PCB's then you might still be ok depending on that travel as you don't need a lot of Z? With my small Bosch Drill to get over the throat depth as it reached down low to the table I was able to make an on workpiece base for it but I could I guess make a gantry to go over a Table too. And it just so happens I have one in the projects list  :palm:

I went over this one on the Granite and it measured up well and the travel was solid outside the claimed figures (125x160). $0.50C review here https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/test-equipment-anonymous-(tea)-group-therapy-thread/msg3625712/#msg3625712



Bosch in Over the Table mode

coppercone2:
you can put the PCB on mounting pins so you can shift it once its done with a sector but thats really bootleg. Stick index pins in there and drill holes in the PCB.. semi automatic, fully ghetto.. I think that might double the work area

e100:

--- Quote from: beanflying on May 22, 2022, 07:41:15 am ---The only real option is to build a really solid square gantry to mount the column to it (over part of the table) or leave the ability to tram a larger XY table under it. The downside to this obviously then becomes the reach and stiffness of the spindle down to that table.

--- End quote ---

My first thought was to disconnect the column from the base then float it over the table on a platform so the cross table goes underneath.

Kjelt:
Your milling accuracy is directly depending on the fixed C connection (base and column and milling head)
Making the milling head movable instead of the base requires a complete redesign in which case it is easier to build from scratch with those requirements.

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