The Cheapest CNC Milling Machine

PCB Milling was on my TODO list. So I thought I'll give the cheapest CNC mill a try that isn't made from card board. You would be surprised how far I got within two days of messing around with that. The fun alone was worth every penny of this purchase. Enjoy!
Links to parts and tools (affiliate links):
Mini CNC Mill $140: aliexpress.bitluni.net/miniMill
ER11 Chuck with all collets $10.50: aliexpress.bitluni.net/er11
Different conical mills $3.80/10: aliexpress.bitluni.net/conica...
Mill Sets $7.70: aliexpress.bitluni.net/millSet
50 Mill Set $10: aliexpress.bitluni.net/50MillSet
Server Cabinet: ebay.bitluni.net/serverRack
Chainsaw 😂: amazon.bitluni.net/chainsaw
My camera and lens (4k 60fps):
amazon.bitluni.net/gh5
plz share :-)
Tindie store: www.tindie.com/stores/bitluni
Github Sponsors: github.com/sponsors/bitluni
Patreon: / bitluni
Channel membership: / @bitluni
Paypal: paypal.me/bitluni
Twitter: @bitluni
reddit: u/bitluni
Discord: / discord
Music:
Jeremy Blake - Powerup!
Wayne Jones - Brain Trust
Gunnar Olsen - West Coast Trip
Silent Partner - Hold On a Minute
Andrew Langdon - Keys
Francis Preve - Komputo
Quincas Moreira - Grasshopper
Dan Henig - Low Life High Life
#electronics #maker

[@bobblaine1437]

FlatCAM to generate gcode from gerber and bCNC to run the machine work for me. Also, flip the spindle mount over. It will stabilize the depth of cut. The machine actually supports probing if you hook the copper of the board up to the A5 pin on the header and ground the spindle (be sure to isolate the copper from the machine). This will allow you to probe and compensate for errors in the height of the copper on the PCB and control the isolation width. I've made a bunch of very high quality boards with this machine - not as good as having them manufactured, but a lot faster.

[@ATLaboratory]

Totally agree with you! I use FlatCAM and bCNC with the level feature it is the best solution:)

[@Garbagejuicewaterfall]

I don’t belong here... *hangs head in shame*

[@ATLaboratory]

@@UnmitigatedLiberty of course the autolevel is a MUST in PCB milling, indeed bCNC has it's autolevel function where you can select the number of points to probe. I have nevere tried the other software, I will for sure give them a chance:)

[@wb5mct]

@Doug Cote Indeed that is the way we used to do it before PC's and CAD/CAM software became available. I still write G-code for simple bolt patterns, circles, etc. I worked for a bus manufacturer in the mid 70's and they had a huge CNC punch press just outside my office. There was a guy in Engineering whose only job was to translate sheet metal part drawings into G-code for the punch. He had a CDC PDP-8M Minicomputer to help with nesting parts, but the majority of the code was written by hand. I can still hear that punch cutting curves in 4 ft. X 8 ft. sheets of steel by "nibbling" using a 3" round punch. Made a HELL of a racket!

[@hb-su2jg]

As others have mentioned, FlatCAM and bCNC are pretty good. For flatcam, the beta version from git is radically enhanced and is fairly stable. Use auto levelling. Always. Never fix PCBs with clamps, as it warps the board and makes it flex under pressure from the mill. You are working on 35 micron copper. So you need precision. I use scotch blue tape (the really flat version) on both the support (some MDF), and on the back of the board. Glue them together with superglue, and you have a very stable and rather flat surface. Auto level will do the rest for the flaws in the flatness. There is no cure for a lack of stability, so you have to have taken care of that. I manage to do TSSOP (0.2mm traces) this way. Test your mills before using them for real. Many chinese mills are off or leave burr that will be a mess to clean up properly later on. Go slow, high RPM. 8k RPM is a minimum. If you do not have high (16k+) RPM, in aluminium 6060 (a regular, rather soft version, but that trends to stick to the tools), go very slow, use 1 or max 2 flutes, and take very shallow plunges: 0.2mm depth at a time. Don't try harder Al (like 2017) or steel if you do not have the RPM nor the stiffness. Roughly speaking, the spindle RPM will mainly determine the speed you can go, the stiffness of the CNC will determine the precision you can obtain. This is a subject in which you can put a lot of time. You will find out the strengths and weaknesses of the different tools that are available, and you will spend a lot of time and money on it (even when you buy from China) Would it be profitable to use professionally? Not unless you need really fast turnaround times. Lately I have seen more and more non-chinese PCB shops that can be pretty cheap and fast. Will it give a lot of fun and will let you mill custom panels and housings? Yes.

[@esamottawa]

One of my first programming jobs was programming a CNC machine ... in 1978. That machine was state of the art and worth over US$100,000. Seeing this video and knowing the price is such a thrill.

[@white.cleric]

I worked on CNC machine for couple of years, so here is some advice to make your experience better: - Use ArtCAM to generate g-code. It not only has a versatile array of options and code encodings, but also takes in consideration material warping due to pressure from the mill, so it will generate path to counter the warp. I don't know about any other software that does it. ArtCAM can have a tool base, takes into consideration angle of a tool tip when generating a path, so it will not damage any unwanted parts, if the tool can't reach in there, so your connectors wouldn't be eaten away by the too wide of a tool. Additionally it can work with reliefs too. Back in the day I modeled and milled pendants, buttons, badges, plaques, etc from brass, copper, plexiglass, graphite (real soft, but very dusty) and aluminum sometimes. - Use Mach3 to run the code. It is very cheap and versatile, supports a lot of machines, and it is highly configurable. If you use ArtCAM in the combination with Mach3 you want g-code type "G-Code Arcs (mm) (.tap)" - When choosing materials you need to take into consideration if they are more brittle or elastic. Brittle materials you can easily mill, like brass ZAMAK 3 and ZAMAK 5 type. Widia tool is the best since it is very hard and can take a lot of pressure. I even managed to mill steel, although you will need a way stronger motor for that, then the one that came with the machine, and at least 4500 RPM and very slow feed rate. - Copper and aluminum on the other hand you don't want Widia or it will break as soon as it touches the material and you will have jagged edges. This is because elastic materials are bending around the tool and heat it up, then pull it back. Widia can take a lot of pressure, but only vertically, even a smallest amount of pressure on the sides and it will break. If you drop it, it will break. For those kind of materials you actually want stiria tools. They are waaay better. They are a bit softer than Widia tools, but for elastic materials, they are perfect. - Other than brass, you also want fluid to help with milling, to keep your tool cool and to assist during movement. For copper you want machine oil, which works for steel too, for aluminum I found that 70% alcohol works best, and plexiglass is milled perfectly with water. Otherwise plexiglass will mill with mate surface and most often you want clear surface where mill is passing thought the material. Listen to my advice, or not, its up to you, just wanted to share a bit of experience and most importantly have fun in your craft :)

[@hatem0]

Lot of info in this comment

[@bazookamoose7224]

This was adorable to watch, being a machinist my self, and brings me back to the days when I was a teen - Making PCB by hand and going to Radio-Shack. Lots of rookie mistakes (not that you were looking to be a "machinist" by any means). So much fun to do this stuff when you have a mill that works for you! Definitely need the right tools for the right jobs though. You'll want something along the linnes of a 2 flute 1/16 straight endmill, maybe even carbide, but if you use HSS (high speed steel) it would be easier to do what you are looking for without adjusting for the taper of that engraving tool. You could do a 1/8th for a majority of the dead space between traces, then when you want closer, you use a smaller tool to get closer to the tolerances you are looking for. Changing tools is key to these kind of works. You can get very very intricate with a 1/32nd tip, but you have to go fast and light around the traces and do multiple outlines on the contour passes. Neat buy for something that cheap! I was surprised actually that it could mill out even that amount of material like that. Build out a small blower fan and a nozzle to help blow out the "swarf" so your cutter doesn't dull out or break, keeps it cool too for the cut.

[@pancake_crab4457]

Some quick recommendations: 1. Bolt it to something heavy. Like a metal plate or block of wood. The added mass will help with any vibration (and keeping the mill from dancing across the table). 2. Check the bed's height with a feeler gauge. This will make setting the tool height easier, and you'll be able to measure for any tilt in its mounting. 3. Add a wasteboard that you can then mill flat relative to the machine head. Even with software correction it will still help with accuracy.

[@davidlanham99]

I respect a guy who sharpens his crowbar.

[@justynuhl8606]

I subbed as soon as I saw his unboxing skills.

[@learningtodrawstudios4773]

Same

[@HawkFest]

I respect a guy who opens small cardboard boxes with a chainsaw

[@M0LMK]

He had me with the chainsaw but lost me when I saw how he cuts cable ties. Cut them flush man!

[@theprojectproject01]

Well Yeah If you use it, it needs to be sharp

[@jnoonan4]

This is very fascinating. I must say, I really appreciate that in all of your findings (mistakes), you kept the chuckle and remained positive. It made the video very pleasant to watch. Keep it up, thanks.

[@Justafa]

Landed here over complete accident and ended up watching all this video feeling joy and happiness. Cheers man! :D

[@lutzderlurch7877]

I like, how the beat of the music matches connecting piecs, clipping or tightening zip ties etc.

[@whatelseison8970]

Indeed. Satisfying. Sick tunes too.

[@web1bastler]

Just as a hint from a machinist/mechanic: Tools usually come with a rated cutting velocity or Vc. Using that and using the diameter of your tool you can calculate the recommended spindle rpm using this formula: (Vc [m/min]*1000)/(PI*diameter). In the case with your tools I would just set the spindle speed to max really since assuming the tool tip from that 60° cutter has a dia of 0.5mm and a rated Vc 0f 50 you'd be looking at 31000 rpm

[@michaeljanzen4964]

Great advice. I am in an apprenticeship to become a cnc machinist and this would be very fun to have in my basement 😂

[@Nirofix]

310000? Seems pretty high

[@web1bastler]

@@Nirofix Indeed, one zero too much!

[@Burnintrees384]

Yea when you get down to the smaller diameter tools it just becomes a matter of crank it up all the way and calculate federate. Every human being should have a copy of the Machinists Handbook. It has all your speeds and feeds for every type of cutting tool you could ever want for any type of material you will cut, from wood to inconel.

[@web1bastler]

German equivalent of the Machinists Handbook: Tabellenbuch Metall

[@Nick-fe7xx]

I really like the editing on this, matching the claps on the track with connecting cables and clipping cable ties was a nice touch.

[@adagioleopard6415]

I'd bet AvE would approve of his package opening skills

[@zarkeh3013]

tryna half-life Freeman approach wasn't enough!

[@rstone286]

I was just thinking that - this may have become my second favourite channel. Only weird bit was the vacuuming, and no swearing...

[@2StrokeMadness.88]

i thought the same

[@Drfine22]

Yeah man with his unique accents.

[@wrhythm]

but will it chooch?

[@BobStraitFTW]

I do this exact thing on that exact machine. Get either a .4mm end mill or a dual flute v bit. Use flat cam for gcode production. It also helps to 3D print a spoil board that has a corner you can slot the PCB into so you don't have to line up the pcb to the machines x and y axis every time.

[@RichardT2112]

8:08 “Oh shit it’s doing something!” Love it!

[@markpinther9296]

As soon as I heard you laughing at your own mistakes, I subbed. If you can’t laugh at your own errors, what fun is life?

[@TheNamelessOne12357]

I bought same CNC over 5 years ago, slightly larger 2418 model. The least rigid parts are X axis rods. 2418 model has 10mm rods, and it's still not enough to mill aluminium. I wanted to swap them to linear rails, but forgot about this project. Your video made me remember about it, and now I'll find it and finish the upgrade. And the reason I forgot about CNC was 3D printer. You should buy it too. :)

[@wulf-3596]

I gotta say, this is the first time I have seen someone open a cardboard box with a chain saw! Made my day!

[@voidmansions]

Great video review by itself, but synchronising the music to the tie wrap snipping was hilarious and clever!!!

[@BusbyBiscuits]

You mean the arm slicers he made..... ALWAYS FLUSH CUT, YOU SAVAGE!

[@muradmalik]

@@BusbyBiscuits we can't really tell from the vid

[@robdaugherty2010]

I've always loved your videos. Then I saw you on one of Dr. Zzs live streams, and now I have a whole new respect for you!

[@TeardownOZ2CPU]

I WAS YELLING IN LAUGHT.. when the cables was cut and fixed in perfect beat with the music !! love that kind of details.. ha ha perfect..

[@pheenix42]

Your background music reminds me of some stuff played in a videogame I once used to play. Also, I like your sense of humor.

[@kylegerz5]

Sanfrancisco rush!!

[@alphasun6121]

It reminds me of porn music back in the day:)

[@antonrickert9427]

Terraria!

[@tstudiofilms]

3:40 ok, reaaaally smooth editing

[@VoidException]

That sarcasm?

[@tstudiofilms]

@@VoidException it was all in sync with the music

[@EnergyWell]

Very satisfying.

[@joashcrawford881]

@@tstudiofilms Video editor here as well, late to the party but it's so satisfying to see it done properly! :)

[@quantummandavid]

This is my first time ever watching one of your videos not only was it incredibly well done but it inspired me. Inspiration is a priceless thing. If you have a patrion I would like to chip in a bit, and if I never get the opportunity I want to at least thank you for posting, I know you put in some work to make this video.

[@christopherdubour6662]

I enjoyed watching your trials and tribulations with this mill. A fun video. “New mill, new luck.” I like that quote!

[@TheWebstaff]

The chatter in that spindle when you milled the aluminum, sent shivers through me while my teeth we're chattering along. I do love these little engravers that get pressed into service as CNC routers.. :) Surprising what you can do with one is you want to spend the time nursing it along. As a lot of other commenters have said you need to get your Z height spot on. Also looks like your blank stock was warped in that first test which will cause you no end of problems. As for the chatter on the sindle.. That what more expensive machines are for or look for slop in all the linear bearings, backlash in the drive system and make sure everything's tight. Then mount the whole unit to something really substantial it will help with the chatter.

[@cil7ea]

"i don't want copper and fiberglass thrown in my lab..." [moments later] *blows on the dust"

[@iTyler888]

And he has a handheld vacuum too. lol

[@OzBeefer]

and opens the box with a mini CHAINSAW!

[@miltos63]

best part is the wing nuts used as clamps... clearly never clamped anything on a mill or any other machine for that matter

[@Burnintrees384]

The first 10 seconds is me every single morning haha.

[@fearsomerabbit]

you decide to buy a mill every morning? :)

[@Burnintrees384]

Patrick LMAO 🤣 I at least WISH I was buying a mill every morning!!!!

[@flomojo2u]

Wow, this brings back memories when I first tried to mill boards of my own. It's really difficult to overestimate just how difficult this is, to get usable results with medium thin traces and pads. You find out really quickly that no board is completely flat, which can spell the difference between no trace and breaking a bit when you're using extremely thin v-bits. You really need to probe the board with a small mesh size to capture all the potential dips and bumps. Use silicone oil or another light oil to prevent chips from sticking to your bit as well as extending the bit's life, and run the spindle speed as high as it will go with carbide bits.

[@g3i0r]

That opening meme --> instant like 😂

[@SeanChYT]

Good job! I mill prototype PCBs with that CNC type too, only a larger version. I am able to achieve somewhat finer resolution by using a probed Z height map, but this step will slow down the process somewhat so it depends on what is necessary. Prototypes are meant to be quick, so only do what is actually required. I think your results are very good, knowing you just got this machine. I also built an acrylic/wood enclosure with dust extraction, an enclosure to protect the motherboard, active cooling of the stepper motors, emergency off switch, push-pull style blowing and sucking away the milled chips close to the router bit using Loc-Line flexible hose, drag-chain on top for the router and Z-stepper cables, additional ball bearing for securing the lower section of the Z lead screw, end stops, plastic end caps for the 2020 profiles, and other miscellaneous things, but none of that is really required or perhaps worth the effort. I also used a pro CNC router some years ago to mill boards, and of course it is possible to achieve better results with pro machinery that are more precise and heavy-duty, and also closer to 20000 or 30000 RPM instead of ~8000-9000RPM, but they cost ~100 times more. If I need quality boards, I finalize a more compact PCB design and order from JLCPCB like everyone else. I now use FlatCam and Candle. Sometimes I use cheap Chinese V-bits (0.1 or 0.2mm), and sometimes I use (also) cheap, second-hand refurbished 0.4mm end-mills from professional CNC shops that sell lightly used bits on eBay. I usually use very thin double-sided tape to stick the PCB to the backer board instead of hold-down nuts.

[@avramitra]

Thanks for sharing such helpful information. I'm planning to buy a cheap mill like this. Guess a steep learning curve is waiting ahead. 😅

[@SeanChYT]

@@avramitra Very good. As far as I know, this type of chinese CNC has in the last few years been upgraded twice with newer versions including many of the additions I made already part of the package. These might be slightly more expensive, but if you need these features it would most likely be cheaper and significantly less work to buy a CNC with them from China than to make some custom DIY-job yourself like I did. I spent waaaay too much time and money on mine, even though the base package was very cheap.

[@LittleRainGames]

@@avramitra dont. I bought the bigger one like him and its shit. If you want to make PCBs, learn how to do it with acid.

[@LittleRainGames]

It will work ok for some TH cases, but forget about SMD or double sided boards

[@SeanChYT]

@@LittleRainGames I disagree. Both SMD and double sided boards are possible. It's just another tool people can use, and it offers a lot of maker flexibility with milling, drilling and cutting PCB and also other material. It is correct to point out the difficulty level is quite high, and the difficulty is further increased by going for a low-end machine like this. A professional machine will make many aspects of PCB milling easier and more productive, but that's also why they are so expensive. I do some etching too, but am not really a fan of chemicals. That's my my personal preference, for other people they have to choose what they like depending on their project types, work space, ventilation, noise considerations, project deadlines, tools they already own, availability and pricing of ingredients, materials and accessories, primary areas of interest, preexisting skills, budget, and many other factors. Good luck and have fun everyone. :)

[@axlslak]

As soon as I saw the crowbar... I knew I was in for a ride. Seconds later... he pulls out the chainsaw. Right on ...

[@rishishenoy]

Just when I was rolling my eyes looking at the you trying to open the package with crowbar, you pulled out the chain saw. RESPECT !

[@MrCoalcracker79]

Yup. Someone's been watching AvE.

[@ThunderPantz01]

@@MrCoalcracker79 Thats what popped into my head as well!

[@stuart8taylor]

A really easy way to improve your clamping is to add a piece of material on the other side of the bolt. The idea being to support both sides of the washer so that it stays closer to flat; probably easiest just to use a few scrap pieces of whatever you are cutting. Alternatively drill a couple of holes through the plate and clamp through those holes.

[@jao_cnjao_cn6022]

Nice CNC! You deserve many likes to contribute to the replacement of broken tools. That said: I think that for the use of conical tools you should take more into account that the plates are not completely flat, so you could use only very thin cylindrical tools and mill the material in successive passes of only 0.2 or 0.3 millimeters in order to preserve your expensive bits. Or you can previously map the surface of the plate and add the shape to your z coordinates so that the tool always penetrates the same depth into the plate

[@abner20bushi]

First I wanted a CNC. Then I needed one. Now, after watching this whole video all the while feeling very satisfied, I REALLY want and need a CNC. Your excitement during the video made me want to watch more of your videos. so you got a subscriber :)

[@JA-qj5fb]

First time encountering your channel. You've got a new subscriber. Love your video editing and honesty related to mistakes that you've made. Great job!

[@TrueMachine2]

My wife and I laughed when we saw the Chain Saw come out to open that box!!! Fun!

[@Lonely_Wiz]

just a tip: dont let your wires create loops. Although this is a very small piece of circuit and the wires aren't that big, it is a long going habit of mine. Once, in my electrical classes, our teacher explained why you should never let your wire create loops, and he demonstrated it. It basically becomes an inductor, and it can lead to some metal melting, and eventually a huge fire. Take care, great project!!

[@hatem0]

Nice. Thanks for the info. Can you please provide a link to read more about that?

[@youseff500]

@@hatem0 search it up yourself lol

[@salih_95]

@@hatem0 search for induction, selenoid mechanisms at physics, go through circuitries, electromagnetics and microwave circuits so on..

[@Spidr-Man]

And what would be the correct way in this case since the wires are so long compared to the actual machine??

[@Sweetlyfe]

Bitluni’s lab I have no idea about milling and building PCB’s, but I watched the whole video because your enthusiasm was so great. Thanks

[@jonjingleheimerschmidt5153]

OMG, the chain saw thing made me cackle out loud. I was not expecting it and wow, was that hilarious.

[@soupwizard]

3:41 nice editing of actions to match the music beats!

[@bytesizedengineering]

I recently had some success milling a PCB. You should look into flatCAM to generate your gcode tool paths. Thanks for sharing

[@Allan-mf1he]

flatCAM was so easy to use!

[@filipecoelho9855]

I would also recommend FlatCAM. I have made a couple of tests with small boards (I find it eaiser to iterate -- and less waste) and for now I'm using 0.5mm for the traces. Also, in FlatCAM, use multiple passes (something like 5) with some overlap (30 - 40%) for the top/bottom layers. Use the calculator tool to calculate the tool diameter when using those V-bits. And DON'T MILL WITHOUT AN HEIGHTMAP!

[@johnh3337]

Love it, thanks for the video, might need to get me something like this to play with now.

[@firejim8]

thank you for your experience that you share with us, keep it up!

[@davidbarr707]

You had me at the chainsaw.

[@marving3567]

bought and build one when I was drunk. Nice to see it's able to work properly

[@requiem4adreamc]

😂😂😂

[@chaneljadehyatt7009]

Love how your building cutting and plugging things in to the rhythm of the music lol cool dude

[@naboulsikhalid7763]

worth to like and subscribed, given the all the success and failed experiences you went through. I thank you for sharing your knowledge

[@zephalon]

Bitluni: Watch this! JLC PCB: Am I a joke to you?

[@HamzaNajahOfficial]

Haha!

[@douras96]

Well isn't that nice ? Local autonomous production of PCBs instead of depending on Chinese (or anyone) and global supply chains to do prototypes or small batches. Smaller carbon footprint too :) But local production of components is another story, building ICs is still far from a 150€ aliexpress machine lol

[@yippiekayeah]

@@douras96 Making 6 mil PCB's is apparently also way out of reach of a 150€ aliexpress machine. Over the years, I've tried all imaginable methods of making PCB's. There is only one way that really works... JCLPCB, PCBWay and other similar suppliers. Why fuck around with anyhting when you can get 5 high def PCB's in a couple of days for $5 (or $2 even).

[@-r4inb0wzz-35]

Haha :D

[@stigberntsen9301]

@@yippiekayeah Why live, when we are all going to die anyway? (cause we can...)

[@imms74]

Just a quick tip, always push the ER collet into the cap first until it snaps in and then screw it into the holder.

[@EmmetPhD]

It's not a "quick tip" but only and standart way to do)))

[@RyKingUploads]

You got my subscription when you opened the box with the chainsaw lol. Great vid

[@craigmonteforte1478]

pretty darn cool for the price despite its small quirks and drawbacks its still hard to believe they can design, manufacture , and ship the package for that price i do like all your comments and tips plus that you went ahead and used all the least expensive tooling etc you could find online i’m a retired Woodworker and i think this little set up would be a good thing to have in many home shops

[@billjohnson69]

I love it, the AvE method of opening a box.... aaand..........done!

[@osculant]

"aaaaaaand time!"

[@smith1401]

Try flatcam for gcode generation ;) I would also recommend using the probing/grid interpolation feature of you grblcontrol software (candle). With this I managed to get really fine traces with 0.05 mm depth of cut ;) another tip is using the highest rpm possible and not cutting too slow. For finishing i used WD40 in combination with scotch pads. I hope this helps you a little bit on your prototyping journey ;)

[@1pcfred]

I just milled a piece of HDPE plastic on my machine then I mount the board to that. I use dabs of hot glue on the edges to hold it down. It peels right off.

[@flamehaze59]

Greetings from a CNC machinist from Germany 😎 Love this stuff so much! 🥰

[@4mb127]

Thanks for putting your music tracks info into the description. Really some nice catchy tunes.

[@seanjournot7115]

When cutting metals it is extremely important to properly set your spindle speed. This controls the velocity of the cutting edge through the metal. Small air cooled spindles operate at RPM's so high that you are limited to very small diameter tools. For instance, if your spindle is running at 24000 RPM you will not want to use a tool larger than about .010" (.254mm) in aluminum. Using too large of a tool will increase cut speed so high that it will quickly dull and start pushing around material instead of cutting it. When using very small tools make sure they are of very high quality; miniature tools are difficult to properly manufacture. The last time I used a micro end mill I believe I paid $50 USD, (it was a .050" long reach reduced shank square mill i think), and snapped it in half 3/4 of the way though the job. Small tools are tricky to work with. I would also recommend using liberal amounts of lubricant, tap magic is great for aluminum, but in the end this machine is simply too small to effectively use larger tools and will always struggle cutting metal no matter what modifications you make or tooling you select. If you really want to cut metal pick up a mini mill with an R8 collet; that is about the bare minimum to make anything useful.

[@jekekefe5923]

Even a gun ?

[@SteveHarvey_madsmooth]

Love how you syncs the tie straps to the beat!

[@bagged5178]

i love how the combining of the parts and the music combines perfectly

[@muxallopeniot9194]

Great video! Now that's how you open a box. I'm glad to hear it's up to the task for you.

[@softyzz69]

I use 2 Fadal 4020s everyday at work, i am self taught when i first started i crashed the mill 5 times in the first 6 months since then its been nothing but good times

[@Metroid1890]

8:07 that's me every time I test my projects xD

[@TheSynthnut]

I never realised that watching cable ties being cut to the beat was so satisfying!

[@alexgoldstein7553]

Oh man how did I just find your channel?! This is great!

[@thishandleisntavailable1]

Ahhh! You trim zipties like a monster! But fun video like always. I have been eyeing these machines for a while but have yet to pull the trigger. Quality is better then I expected.

[@DANKAF]

the meme intro 😂😂

[@SahelanthropusX]

You have some of the coolest music out there. I learn so much from watching your videos, thank you and keep it up!

[@mveldt]

Just assembled mine. It's really a fun machine :)

[@b5a5m5]

Bitluni: I don't want fiberglass bits flying around. Also Bitluni: Takes freshly milled PCB and blows the fiberglass dust off right outside the machine enclosure...

[@p_mouse8676]

This thing has a lot of hack potential. Some longer extrusion beams and extra bracing wouldn't be to expensive

[@xConundrumx]

I would advise the Red or even Blue anodized all metal 1310 versions. The blue ones have actual linear rails too. Add one of those yummie S4225 spindles and you have an insane mini cnc.

[@dannys2290]

made a large CNC router for my dad. my version 3 now uses 10' x 1" galvanized steel with 608 skate bearings. mostly hardware store build now :)

[@drawincode1800]

Is this just for PCB making your talking about?

[@xConundrumx]

@@drawincode1800 if your question was meant for me. Then yes mostly but it could do other things also. My main use would indeed be that but there is nothing stopping you from doing other things with it. The only real cruncher is S4225 spindles have ER8 collets, not ER11 so only up to what 5mm shank tools? For small CNC's rarely an issue.

[@muskokamike127]

YOu have to be careful with longer extrusions: that means more flex and less accuracy. You have to increase the cross section per increase in length. You should also go rectangle instead of square. I built mine with 80/20 2" x 6" 3 web I beam. I used their calculator to determine I would get .001" of deflection in the middle with 300 lbs of pressure.

[@normoloid]

I just bought a similar machine for studying, can't wait to try it out!

[@MyClutteredGarage]

Anyone who uses bionic sound effects is #1 in my book. Subscribed.

[@paulspencer153]

Just an observation from a manual engraver. On my Taylor Hobson CXL engraver I use "fences " that slot in the bed slots This keeps the workpiece straight to the bed and resists the work becoming loose when its being engraved

[@sevdev9844]

I need to "cut" thin sheets out of aluminum and maybe very thin steel and copper. Is this working with such a mill? I looks okay with the aluminum, but what about the edges? How precise is it with thinner plates (sheets) and going through?

[@kadentaylor4784]

3.5 minutes into this and I’m so impressed I had to comment 😍 you have improved video editing skills so much in such little time!

[@tuomassalmi9769]

I just love that SID based sound..almost as much as my own CNC milling machine.

[@fabriziodutto7508]

Thank you for the video! Next project: build a new and more efficient vacuum cleaner :-)

[@manibharathy1994]

the sound of news paper is very nostalgic

[@OpusDeFocus]

Great video. Informative and entertaining! Bet of all was your early acknowledgement that personal protective equipment is a MUST when using equipment like this. The face shield was a great idea.

[@bradpaca]

Man all these year i have been using a box opener, then i saw your video and a new dawn for me on opening boxes. Thanks mate.l😁👍

[@proluxelectronics7419]

I spray WD40 on my board before I start milling, it keeps the dust down and lubricates the tool tip..

[@strycknyne]

Always good to keep your tool lubed up.

[@leoblazer74]

All the WD40 is not going to help a burr cut aluminum.

[@deadprivacy]

@@leoblazer74 you would be surprised, wd40 is generally considered kinda useless as a lube, crappy as a penetrant, ok as a cleaner, but what it does excel at? is cutting aluminium.

[@newerest1]

@@deadprivacy no it's still bad at that even. get the proper cutting fluid.

[@johnbrevard5966]

all you guys are idiots. let the man use his wd40 and shut up

[@arsenic1987]

6:58 - I literally laughed loud at that one xD "Chineesium". Genious.

[@blue03r6]

it's literally a 15-20 year old saying dude.

[@hxhdfjifzirstc894]

AvE.

[@lanfrancosimoncelli3980]

In PCBs, I first drill the holes and then the tracks, because if you drill the small pitches, they detach. I learned it by making mistakes ... many. Congratulations on your video which also shows the errors ... and this is much more than just seeing a perfect video ...

[@xxxbaronok2157]

HAHAHA the music sounding when the machine starts to work is awesome! :)

[@kornkid4032]

Come on man! They’re called “flush cuts” for a reason!!! XD

[@zbradbell]

Put a nut or something like that underneath the opposite sides of your clamping washers to tilt them slightly down into your workpiece. You want the clamp force pushing down on the face of your work, not sideways on the edge

[@blue03r6]

no he needs to learn what a step clamp is. it's what every machine shop in the world used to clamp work pieces.

[@Inventive101]

Wonderful job sir! I see so much that I don't even know why to start, I think I will do that too. Good luck

[@seanmelby4504]

“Oh shit, it’s doing something hahaha” I love this and subscribed

[@melgross]

It’s built of a cheaper Chinese version of 80/20’s extrusions, as so many Chinese products are in the 3D printer and small engraver/mill market. Substitute a small laser model from eBay, and you’ve got a laser engraver. Those “ pointy” bits are engraver bits, not milling bits. Be careful how you use them. And NEVER use an engraving bit, even the heavier ones, for milling. The bits with the cross hatched cutting edges are also not milling bits. By the way, you need carbide bits for anything with fiberglass, as steel bits will wear out very quickly. I don’t know what your bits are made from. You need a proper plunge bit for metal. Those bits you’re using are “die” bits. Not designed for what you’re doing. Buy carbide bits with two flutes for aluminum. Make sure they are made for plunge cutting. Take slow cuts, and think about using some small amount of cutting fluid do the bits won’t become clogged with the aluminum you’re cutting. This is a problem with softer aluminum alloys such as 1001, 3003, etc. don’t use cardboard or something soft beneath. Elevate the part above the surface, and let it cut through so chips will fall out.

[@micultimy91]

how about probing before milling a PCB ? :D anyways, great video! P.S: I've purchased a 3018max and it performs actually well. Kinda noisy but still works beyond my expectations. L.E.: Give a try to Fusion360 CAM.

[@minoc2]

Funniest video I have seen in a good while. I have not used a CNC machine before, but, after seeing this educational tutorial, I think I am ready. And I have the chainsaw all set.

[@licketysplit6234]

Hilarious, love seeing your enjoyment as your milling!!!

[@adityaBis]

Great Video Also In GRBL control software that you are using there is also option for Auto levelling (heightmap) use that feature for even milling result also i would suggest FlastCam for Gcode of Circuit Regarding Autolevel if you face hard time finding pins on the Board its usually A5 of the Atmega328 controller and it detect the limit when A5 is grounded

[@MegaSchoolman]

0:46 Gordon "Bitluni" Freeman

[@gatisozols]

Yeah with a touch of AvE fruther on :D

[@NiHaoMike64]

​@@gatisozols AvE uses a mini chainsaw to open boxes, he went a step further and used a regular size chainsaw. I guess doing it the EEVblog way with a big knife is too repetitive after SexyCyborg and The Current Source did their takes on it...

[@TheMyname707]

Exactly my thought!

[@AndreasDelleske]

Colin bitluni Furze!

[@dragonrider6875]

Awesome review. different clamps will help. The project is very nice looking forward to more from you

[@lappieslabuschagne2428]

Interesting video. Love your "upgraded" arcade music !

[@iiennjiang3682]

The meaning of these Chinese Characters is "Stop (milling) now"

[@jimmyjesen]

try jto use rubbing alcohol as lubricany when milling aluminun it stops the melting "burned look"

[@ChristopherCobra]

Um......so, it gets hot and you suggest putting alcohol on it? Why not some oil?

[@ferrumignis]

@@ChristopherCobra Because oil makes a big mess and forms a grinding paste when mixed with abrasive particles like glass fibre. Alcohol is water soluble and will evaporate by itself eventually, much more suitable for this kind of work. He's not engraving/milling any materials that will create sparks so it's quite safe.

[@aussielids2828]

When I used to machine aluminium the best "Cutting Fluid" for aluminium was Kerosene!

[@SuddenSpark]

Love the unboxing, cutting the tape, method!!

[@fongy200]

I used to work for a German company and we would go and assemble big injection moulding machines. They were less complicated to assemble lol.Great stuff by the way, thank you.