- Joined
- Jun 12, 2014
- Messages
- 4,830
A number of other HM members have purchased DRO's from Aliexpress, they are the Amazon (or eBay) of China. I have not purchased from them, but purchased my last DRO from DRO Pros and they are highly recommended also. I would review other posts on their reviews/vendors. On the mill, I would try to swing for the Easson 12B, a lot of forum members have used this on their mills, the quality of the Easson is a cut above the generic DRO's, but it all comes down to budget. Most people put the Z axis on the knee and add a battery operated digital scale for the spindle. You do not need anything fancy for the spindle, there are some bolt on models that you can adapt.
https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/thedrostore-com-anyone-ever-used-them.64498/#post-536509
https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/3-or-4-axis-dro-for-9x42-mill.64170/#post-533621
https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/easson-12b-dro-bolt-circle-function.63260/#post-521896
https://www.hobby-machinist.com/thr...ls-on-a-pm1340gt-long-post.55949/#post-479015
On end mills, there are a lot of high quality end mills on eBay at a fraction of their list price, I would recommend 3 flute for aluminum, 4 flute for steel, both center cutting. Maybe a 3/4" rougher for rapid material removal. There are some inexpensive end mill sets, like Shar's..
https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/thedrostore-com-anyone-ever-used-them.64498/#post-536509
https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/3-or-4-axis-dro-for-9x42-mill.64170/#post-533621
https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/easson-12b-dro-bolt-circle-function.63260/#post-521896
https://www.hobby-machinist.com/thr...ls-on-a-pm1340gt-long-post.55949/#post-479015
On end mills, there are a lot of high quality end mills on eBay at a fraction of their list price, I would recommend 3 flute for aluminum, 4 flute for steel, both center cutting. Maybe a 3/4" rougher for rapid material removal. There are some inexpensive end mill sets, like Shar's..