Mechanical design of a desktop milling machine for fabrication in an introductory machining class by Johannes Schneider.

Abstract

The purpose of this research is the mechanical design of a miniature desktop milling machine for use as an alternative class project in MIT's introductory machining course 2.670. This research is important, because a well-designed introductory machining course has the potential of inspiring students early-on in their academic lives to learn about and become familiar with the principles of precision machine design. This thesis proposes a mill design that is simple enough to being built by inexperienced engineering students within the scope of a single semester introductory machining course and within a class budget of about $150 per student. The design that is proposed in this thesis is different to conventional desktop mill designs in that it is considerably more compact in size, thereby reducing material costs, machining time, and ease of storage. This thesis mainly focuses on the mechanical design aspects of the machine. It is structured in five sections: Machine Configurations, Cutting Analysis, Spindle Design, Stage Design, and a final segment covering frame design, vice design and final machine assembly.