Best Benchtop Milling Machine

The best benchtop milling machine is capable of ripping through solid steel. Of course, the tasks performed by a milling machine is way beyond the natural human capacity to do. Hence, the availability of milling machines facilitates the difficult tasks of drilling and milling. Finding the best benchtop milling machine, however, is no mean task, given the myriads of milling machine’s models and brands on the market today.

Top 5 Benchtop Milling Machine Reviews

To zero in on the best benchtop milling machine, you need to consider several factors as well as learn as much from the opinions of experts and the feedback given by previous customers on each of the prospective benchtop milling machines that you intend to buy. To facilitate the search process for you, however, we have delineated here six of the best benchtop milling machines on the market today:

Grizzly G8689 Mini Milling Machine

If you are in need of a reliable milling machine, you should consider buying the Grizzly G8689 Mini Milling Machine. This is a handy tool if you are a professional or hobbyist. It is pricey, of course, but that’s understandable because milling machines are really expensive. It features a mill/drill machine that is very efficient and reliable. It can handle any type of job of up to 1/2″ drilling and 1/2″ end mills, and 1″ facing. Moreover, it doesn’t require any belt changes. Its variable speed control and its gear drive save you a lot of time.

Grizzly G8689 Mini Milling Machine is a remarkable machine that features dovetail column, with safety shut off switch. It also features an adjustable depth stop with fine feed head control. Other features include fine feed head control, geared drive, a clear guard on a spindle rubber. It is powered by 3/4 HP motor that you can power with 110V. Its speed range is 0-2500 RPM with a shipping weight of 149lbs. This drilling and milling machine has a good design that looks externally good. It performs well and will do everything required of a milling machine. It is easy to operate and use.

Pros:

• It is a good starter kit.
• It is good when working with smaller items.
• It is less expensive than other milling machines.

Cons;

• It takes longer to mill something.

Proxxon 37110 Micro Mill MF 70

The Proxxon 37110 Micro Mill MF 70 is another affordable micro-mill that allows you to do micro-milling tasks. It comes in a smaller size and is ideal for use at home. It is designed for accuracy and is perfect for an optician, lab, jewelry maker, electronic, and those who engage in model-building projects.

Proxxon 37110 Micro Mill MF 70 offers a variable speed of 5000-20000 RPM. It features a 1/8HP (100 Watts) motor and you can use 110 to 120 Volt AC, with 60 HZ. Its table size is 7-7/8-Inch by 2-3/4-Inch with X-Y travel of 5-17/64-inch and 1-13/16-Inch along with vertical travel of 2-3/4-Inch. It weighs around 15.5 pounds.

The base Proxxon 37110 Micro Mill MF 70 is made of cast-iron, and its compound lathe and vertical column are treated and made of high-quality aluminum. Its axes are play-free, and they have adjustable slides. Its headstock is made of die-cast aluminum and houses around 24 pole-balanced motor that provides greater stability even if you are operating at very high speeds.

Pros:

• It is very powerful despite its diminutive size.
• It is affordable.

Cons:

• It can be noisy.

Grizzly G0704 Drill Mill with Stand

The Grizzly G0704 Drill Mill with Stand is a small machine that can perform well. It sports the same features that you would usually find in larger milling machines. Its features include dovetail column, safety shut-off switch, spindle speed DRO, fine-feed head control, 2-speed gearbox, a clear guard on the spindle, rubber chip guards on ways, zero setting dials, dials read inches, forward/reverse switch. its floor-to-table height is 37 1/2 inches and its stand footprint is 15 3/4 x 16 1/2 inches.

The Grizzly G0704 Drill Mill with Stand is definitely a good option if you are a professional or hobbyist who works at home or in your shop. This little machine will surely help you do the milling and drilling with ease. It is easy to operate and is durable enough to last longer.

Pros:

• It has a nice finish and fit.
• Its dovetail ways along with its taper gibs are well done.
• It features a large table despite its size.
• Its stand has storage.
• It has a nice motor speed controller.

Cons:

• It has a typical China Gear Drive.
• It lacks an adjustable quill stop.

Erie Tools Variable Speed Mini Milling Machine

The Erie Tools Variable Speed Mini Milling Machine is a heavy-duty machine that is meticulously designed for drilling, face milling, and deep drilling. It features variable speed control that lets you have perfect control over the task. It offers a solid combination of affordability and usability.

The Erie Tools Variable Speed Mini Milling Machine has a drilling capacity of 3/8″ or 10mm. Its end mill capacity is 3/8″ or 10mm. It also features a high-speed steel 6-piece and 4-flute with 3/8′ shank set.  Other features include a drawbar, a spindle locking pin, 4 T-slot nuts, an oil can, spanner wrench for spindle nut, hex wrenches, and open-end wrenches.

Pros:

• It is powerful even with its diminutive size.
• It comes with many features.
• It is very versatile and easy to operate.

Cons:

• It is only designed to handle easy and medium difficulty tasks.

JET 350017/JMD-15 Milling/Drilling Machine

The JET 350017/JMD-15 Milling/Drilling Machine features a large worktable that works pretty well and with excellent precision. You can use this when working on ceramic, aluminum, and wood. It has a larger size than the abovementioned brands and models and thus it is viable for use in larger projects. It is also reinforced and designed for heavier objects. Additionally, its swivel head along with its adjustment knobs ensure that it will work with a high level of precision and accuracy.

The JET 350017/JMD-15 Milling/Drilling Machine comes with a one-piece cast-iron column for additional support. It also features a quick-slide latch for faster belt adjustment in order to change the spindle speeds. It also comes with a tapered base for easy clean-up. Moreover, it features a heavy-duty power down feed along with a manual fine feed. It is also capable of 360° head swivel along with its extra-large worktable.

Pros:

• It is easy to operate.
• It is heavy-duty.
• It offers great accuracy.

Cons:

• It is heavy.
• It necessitates a higher level of expertise.

OTMT OT2213 X2 Variable Speed Mini Milling Machine

The OTMT OT2213 X2 Variable Speed Mini Milling Machine is another mini-milling machine that is less expensive. It allows you to do the milling and drilling tasks for less amount of money. It can handle most jobs as long as you use the right speeds and feeds for this mill.

The OTMT OT2213 X2 Variable Speed Mini Milling Machine has a drilling capacity of 0.51 inch or 13 mm. Its end milling capacity is 0.62 inch or 16mm. Its face milling capacity is 1.81 inches or 30 mm. Moreover, it features 2-speed ranges and its head tilts to a full 45-degree angle to the right or to the left. Professional millers will surely find this mill wanting, but it is understandable considering its meager price.

Pros:

• It is compact.
• It comes with many solid features.
• It is very affordable.

Cons:

• It exhibits a lack of slack on its x-and-y axis.

Things to Consider When Buying a Benchtop Milling Machine

When shopping around for a benchtop milling machine, you should consider several factors to be able to zero in on the best milling machine. Here are some factors that you need to consider when buying a benchtop milling machine:

• Consider its quality! The best micro mills should have a cast-iron base for greater durability. The table should also be made of hardened and precision ground-steel.
• You should also consider its milling capacity. It should have the greatest distance between the spindle and the table.
• Consider the maximum working area provided by the machine.
• Consider the quill travel which refers to the maximum depth of the slot or hole that you can cut.
• You should also consider its motor power and speed.
• Consider the feed rate.
• Consider its accuracy.
• Consider safety features.
• Consider its price.

Conclusion

Finding the best benchtop milling machine is a bit difficult that necessitates reading reviews and feedback by experts and users. Moreover, since benchtop milling machines are not cheap investments, you should also consider the important factors to look for in a milling machine.

Although there are myriads of choices at hand, you should still carefully assess the pros and cons associated with each of the prospective milling machine models that you intend to buy.