Hobby milling

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Introduction

According to Roland milling machines manufacturer, retrieved 14:55, 15 February 2012 (CET), “Subtractive Rapid Prototyping (SRP) - starting with a solid object and removing unwanted material - has several advantages over traditional rapid prototyping. Significantly less expensive than rapid prototyping machines with the same resolution, SRP machines mill a wider range of materials that cost less and have no need for chemicals or post finishing work. Plus, they produce a superior finish.”


Hardware

Entry level mills

Lumenlab micRo

CNC Robots

  • Price: This model is either available as kit ($700) or assembled ($1300). Plus a price for
  • This model also can engrave, pint on fabric, draw/plot and 3D printing (with a seringue ?)
  • Materials: Wood, metal (which one ?), PCBs
  • Work area: 32.3cm X 29.8cm X 8.5cm
  • Resolution: +/-.001 inches


Lumenlab m3

This is a larger model of the micRo (above)

  • Price: $1800 assembled or $1000 in a kit.

Roland iModula

Roland iModela iM-01 Hobby Mill.

  • Price: About $1000, 600 Euros
  • Cutting area: 4 x 3 inches (1.5 in vertical). This is rather small.
  • Includes the iModela Creator design software
  • Materials: Wax, plastic, light wood, etc.
  • Support site: http://icreate.rolanddg.com
  • As of feb 2012, the EU support site doesn't include a usable list of national redistributors ...

This model has a reputation of milling very slowly, e.g. days for a smaller model.

Links:

Desktop mills

Roland MDX series

Roland MDX-15/20 Scanning and Milling Machines

  • accepts IGES, DXF and STL files, i.e. typical CAD/CNC formats
  • include a 3D scanner
  • Materials: Wood, Plaster, Resin (modeling wax, styrenform), Chemical wood, Aluminum (A5052 according to JIS), Brass

MDX-15:

  • 9.6 kg
  • 152.4 mm x 101.6 mm x 60.5 mm
  • Price: About $3500

MDX-20

  • 13.7 kg
  • 203.2mm x 152.4mm x 60.5mm
  • Price: About $5000

Links