Proxxon Micromot MF 70Milling Machine

I bought this mill for model railway and similar small scale work. My existing milling machine was limited to 2000rpm and it wasn't fast enough for drilling and milling with tiny carbide bits. I spent a couple of hours setting it up and adjusting the gibs and the play in the handwheels. At first the stiffness of the ways varied a lot over the travel, but after repeatedly winding the table end to end and forward and back all was well. I reckon the lead screws had not been evenly lubricated. A dial test indicator helped to show any slop when adjusting the gibs and handwheels. It's a pity that the instruction sheet does not explain how best to adjust these clearances. Only the end two of the three adjustment screws on each slide need setting, Use the centre screw to lock the table when necessary. Some reviewers of this machine have pointed out that the table can distort when work pieces or accessories are clamped to it. While this is indeed so, it is worth bearing in mind that this mill is designed for delicate work,and the forces the machine applies to the work are tiny. When fixing a vice or clamping work to the table, only very gentle tightening is needed to secure the job and prevent movement.All in all it's a cracking little machine for the sort of work I use it for.Baz

Great little milling machine, robust and which works really well. I have used it on plastic and brass with 3mm dia milling cutters. However it is quite small, designed for small modelling projects and as such can only make small cuts, on brass for example about 0.5mm max. depending on the thicknes. It is good for drilling as well enabling slow controlled feed and avoiding any snatching when going through thin materials.

For those with limited space and funds this little miller is good value for money. It does have one fault however which is significant if you intend undertaking accurate work.The table (X axis) traverses smoothly and without any free play when the traverse handwheel is rotated. But as soon as a vice, rotary axis or any other fixture is bolted to the table - even with minimum force - the table develops an alarming amount of yaw. This can only be eradicated by adjusting the gibs. Then when you come to remove the fixture you must first slack off the gibs or have the table seize up! So this rather tedious process has to be repeated continuously. Well, I can put up with it, but I think Proxxon should get this problem sorted as it is, otherwise, a nice little machine.The 3mm Proxxon end milling cutters (ref 28722) seem to have a raised central nib on the bottom cutting face. This does not facilitate good machining on metals. I recommend the RS Components 3mm four flute carbide endmills which cut beautifully and are very good value for money.One final little moan, the collets supplied with the MF70 cover a reasonable range of diameters. But the 2,4mm collet is too small for a 2,5mm drill (M3 tapping size - used often) and the 3,0mm is too large. Proxxon - please note!

I HAVEN'T REALLY USED IT YET, BUT I HAVE SEEN MANY VIDEOS AND WRITE UPS, I AM CONFIDENTIT WILL MORE THAN MEET MY NEEDS.

has the common accessories which allow you to do most jobs, excellent little tool.

Very much a machine for the hobbiest. Do not buy if you require a machine for anything heftier. Produces excellent results on brass or ally, but take small bites and let it take it's time.

Great little machine for what I need it for which is small intricate work

I know this is a small machine, for small work, but there's one thing that drove me nuts with it -- and this is also common to many other machines -- the handwheels are too small a diameter.I am a professional scale modeller & very used to using small and delicate machines, but to get a smooth vertical feed when the gibs are correctly set is difficult. I've made an extension lever for the top feed wheel, which is a huge improvement. The extra leverage means that fine & smooth control is easily possible.I would also like a collet chuck up to 6mm, not for 6mm cutters, but for 6mm shanked small cutters (but that's my problem -- I have many miniature end mills with 6mm shanks).Overall, a good machine but with a definite limit to the materials you can work. It's possible to get good results on brass or aluminium, but only VERY fine cuts can be taken without vibration. Don't attempt to cut steel.With hindsight, I should have gone for the (rather more expensive) FF230 Micro Mill...