Proxxon mf70

[Jonathon BywaterParticipant @jonathonbywater45041]

I m looking for a mini drilling machine for use on metal. Not a huge amount of money though. Wondered about a Proxxon mf70. Does anyone know if the little motor would be succesful on cast iron Stuart cylinder and 16mm garden railway size things. Thanks very much . Jonathon

[Jonathon BywaterParticipant @jonathonbywater45041]

For metal

[Pete.Participant @pete-2]

80% of reviews from owners I've seen haven't been favourable, save your money and get one of those generic 350w little bench top drilling machines that you can get new for around £70, I picked one up second hand for £35, keep your eye out they pop up quite often, some people don't seem to understand they only cost £70 new and expect £60 or so, if you can find one for £40ish they're well worth it, it's obviously not professional quality but it'll drill metal.

[Andy CarlsonParticipant @andycarlson18141]

I have an MF70 and like it but if drilling is your primary objective then I would look elsewhere. The collets will hold 3.2mm maximum diameter and the spindle speed is high so anything over about 2.5mm results in a horrid squealing noise because the lowest speed is still too high.

I mainly use mine for milling parts for 2mm scale models and it does that very well.

[Jonathon BywaterParticipant @jonathonbywater45041]

Thank you Andy and Pete. I did nt want to buy a generic drill because of quill wobble mostly but I can drill through the casting and put a bolt through!

proxxon not quite up to their price perhaps ..

[Pete.Participant @pete-2]

Someone posted a thread on here about a cheap Amolco milling machine for £125 on gumtree earlier, that would be ok?

[Jonathon BywaterParticipant @jonathonbywater45041]

It s gone!

[Ches Green UKParticipant @chesgreenuk]

Jonathon,

I have had the Proxxon MF70 for about 1yr. I used it to help build a Stuart 10V eg milling and drilling. No real issues with it. Max cutter dia is about 3mm and max cut is about 0.25mm.

It faced off the cast iron base parts of the 10V OK but there was a lot of winding the table back and forth since the cutting width and depth is small.

It's lightweight – you can pick it up easily with one hand. It is quick to change tools – I have the collet chuck and drill chuck. Also have the precision vice and dividing head.

The Z axis has a bit of slack but if you remember to tighten the lock it's managable.

It's probably a bit expensive for what it is but it's convenient/easy to use. I had thought of selling it when I bought my Seig SX2P mill but didn't since it is still very useful for 'the small stuff'.

Ches

[Roger BParticipant @rogerb61624]

I have an MF70 and made this video of drilling a 3mm hole in mild steel as a 'Show and Tell' for another thread on here:

**LINK**

I think you will find it a pain to use for regular drilling due to the screw feed rather than lever feed. I have a TBM 220 for small drilling work.

**LINK**

In other threads people have spoken highly of the BFW 40/E system but I have no personnal experience of it.

**LINK**

[Wout MoermanParticipant @woutmoerman25063]

I have a Proxxon TBM 220 and love it. It drills up to 6 mm and has a very stable quill. No idea if it fits your requirements.

My big 2nd hand Huvema column drill also has a very rigid quill. It drills up to 16 km and weighs about 70 kg.

[Andy CarlsonParticipant @andycarlson18141]

Posted by Ches Green UK on 05/01/2022 01:22:47:

The Z axis has a bit of slack but if you remember to tighten the lock it's managable.

I had the same issue with mine – getting on for 1mm of play. I've sorted it now – I had to make a box spanner to get at the nut that is recessed into the plastic at the top of the column. Adjusting the nut would probably be enough to sort the play but I also found that the plastic dial was rubbing on the neighbouring boss and the two were wearing each other away so I took the handle and dial off and made a 1mm PTFE washer to sit below the handwheel and take the thrust when the Z axis is being raised. It's a lot nicer to use now.

[Ches Green UKParticipant @chesgreenuk]

Andy,

getting on for 1mm of play. … Yes, that sounds about right.

I did replace the bearing washers with ball race thrust bearings shortly after I bought the MF70. This Russian chap explained it all   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvgeMu2dYps  

And I see from my notes I was aware of the 'nut adjuster' from this link …**LINK** … but I can't remember if I actually did tighten it sufficiently. I'll have another look inside the mill to check the nut.

Thanks for the info,

Ches

(Edit: This German chap has a lot of interesting mods … https://www.youtube.com/user/mtoynet/videos )

Edited By Ches Green UK on 05/01/2022 09:29:45

Edited By Ches Green UK on 05/01/2022 09:50:33

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

I bought a TBM220 years ago and frankly it's a dog. Because of the design of the head moulding one of the two column clamps can't work. Not enough power or torque, bearings rough, generally more a toy than a serious machine tool. On the other hand I bought one of the generic Chinese small bench drills and it was a good machine with a minimal amount of fettling. Cheaper and better than the Proxxon.

[Andy CarlsonParticipant @andycarlson18141]

Posted by Ches Green UK on 05/01/2022 09:26:56:

I did replace the bearing washers with ball race thrust bearings shortly after I bought the MF70. This Russian chap explained it all https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvgeMu2dYps

(Edit: This German chap has a lot of interesting mods … https://www.youtube.com/user/mtoynet/videos )

Thanks for the vids. I think I'd been put off by the Russion voiceover in the past but muted it and the subtitles explain it pretty well. I had originally planned to use a thrust ball race myself but I had some PTFE sheet in stock so I used that and it worked.

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