Hobby milling
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Introduction
According to Roland milling machines manufacturer, retrieved 14:56, 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.”
See also:
- fab lab
- 3D printing
- Vinyl cutting Silhouette Cameo
Hardware
Entry level mills
Lumenlab micRo
- 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:
- Mini 3D mill is like a mini 3D printer, except the exact opposite (Dvice.com, retrieved 14:56, 15 February 2012 (CET))
- Roland's New CNC Hobby Mill, Make Magazine, retrieved 14:56, 15 February 2012 (CET)
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