Top 10 Best Micro Milling Machines (High Precision)

Micro Milling machines are very versatile; while they are usually used to machine flat surfaces, they can be used on irregular surfaces as well.

These machines are also commonly used to drill, bore, cut gears, and produce slots.

There are many impressive micro-milling machines available on the market today, we selected the best ones for this article.

Top 10 Micro Milling Machines

PRODUCT	TITLE	DETAILS
Editor's choice	WEN 33013 4.5A	100 to 1,100 RPM for versatile use. You can bevel the head and column 45 degrees in either direction. R8 spindle taper and a pre-installed drill chuck are useful features.	View on Amazon
	OTMT OT2213 X2	This machine comes with the way covers you need. For the price, this is a great little machine.	View on Amazon
	Erie Tools Variable Speed Mini Milling Machine	6-piece + 4 flutes and 3/8" shank set is included with this machine. Great hobby mill Variable speed control	View on Amazon
Most compact	Klutch Mini	Designed to run vibration free for smoother working operation. Control for accurate tool height settings up to 1/2 of an inch. This machine comes at a low price.	View on Amazon
	Proxxon 37110 Micro Mill MF 70	Accurate mill that would work well for fine milling applications. Variable speed runs at 5000-20000-Rpm with a 1/8HP (100-Watts)	View on Amazon
	Proxxon 34108 Micro Mill FF 230	High precision milling and drilling work The headstock easily swivels through 360º.	View on Amazon

Before you purchase one of the machines, there are a few things you’ll want to know.

Below, we have created this comprehensive buying guide about the best micro milling machines to help you find the ideal micro milling setup for your individual purposes.

We’ve included some of the most highly rated options out there and added a section to help answer some of the most frequently asked questions about these devices.

WEN 33013 4.5A – Variable Speed Single Phase Compact Benchtop Milling Machine

This machine allows users to remove material evenly and precisely with less effort.

You can machine beautifully aligned channels and grooves into a variety of materials including metal, wood, plastic and much more.

Essentially, the WEN 4.5A is a versatile and well-designed Variable Speed Single Phase Compact Milling Machine.

It offers you a 13-inch swing tool which helps machinists, woodworkers, and other workers, to easily create even and flat surfaces, precise and straight holes, well-angled edges, clean slots, deep and shallow pockets, a variety of surface contours and more.

The included R8 Taper allows for perfect compatibility with numerous different cutters, mills, and bits.

Users will have access to a 1/2-inch drilling capacity, a 5/8 inch end mill capacity, and a 1-1/8 inch face mill capacity for versatile milling.

You can also bevel the cutter head and column at 45 degrees to either the left side or the right one. The variable speeds can be set anywhere from 100 to 1,100 RPM on the low setting, or, 100 to 2,500 RPM on the highest setting.

This is great for handling many different material types. This compact and very powerful machine measures at 23-1/4 by 22 by 29-1/2 inches in size with an 8-1/2 by 15-inch footprint.

You can also move up to 11-13/16 inches along the X-axis, 7 inches along the Z-axis, and 5-1/8 inches along the Y-axis, There are tooled ruler markings around each hand wheel for precise cuts.

The benchtop design gives you a sturdy and very reliable heavy-duty base. It also has pre-drilled bolt holes for added ease-of-use and increased stability.

The rubber cover runs from the table to the column and can help you easily catch chips which is great for minimizing clean-up.

It also has a transparent shield combined with an emergency stop feature for maximum user safety and operation. Because this is a WEN product, it comes with a two-year warranty and a nationwide network of available service technicians.

You’ll also get access to an extensive inventory of replacement parts.

However, this machine does have a few drawbacks. It also doesn’t come with collets ore a chuck key.

Since this is a drilling machine, you’d think those things would be included.

Still, it’s a versatile option that can be used for many different materials and has good customer service.

OTMT OT2213 X2 – Reliable Mini Milling Machine That Comes at a Good Value

This is a great little machine for the money.

It comes from Travers, a very reliable company that does a great job of standing behind everything that they build.

It works well for various jobs and comes at a good overall value. With this machine, you’ll get the instruction manual, all necessary keys, and a quality Drill chuck. T

his mini milling machine may be small in size but it more than makes up for its small stature with all of its handy features.

It has variable speed controls and a gear drive that saves you time when you’re milling and drilling. Its head also is able to tilt at a full 45° to the left or to the right which gives you better control and more precise accuracy while you’re working on various projects.

It also has a fine feed for milling as well as a coarse feed that is perfect for drilling.

The easy-to-read dial comes with .0001″ increment adjustments so you can have it at the right setting every time.

It also offers users included way covers, 2-speed ranges, drilling capacity decimal inch increments of 0.51″ (13mm, an end Milling capacity of 0.62″ (16mm), and face milling capacity of 1.81″ (30mm).

To elaborate, the efficient 1/2 HP, 110 Volt motor is able to run at two spindle speeds for precision and utility. The low range setting gives you access to 0-1,100 RPMs.

Alternatively, the high range speed settings deliver 1,100-2,500 RPMs. It has been crafted to work at table size and is 15″L x 3-1/2″W with a 3.93″ x 8.66″ for travel.

Other specifications include: Horsepower: 1/2 HP, Speed Range: 0 ~ 2,500 RPM, Spindle Range: -45° to +45°, Spindle Taper: R8. T Slot: 0.47″ (12mm), Travel of Table Forward or Backward: 3.93″ (100mm), Travel of Table or Right & Left: 8.66″ (220mm), and Travel|Inch Headstock: 7.08″ (180mm).

For what it costs, it’s a pretty reliable and well-built machine.

Erie Tools Variable Speed Mini Milling Machine – Benchtop Drilling and Machining Gear Driven with Adjustable Depth Stop

The Erie Tools Variable Speed Mini Milling Machine is a heavy-duty variable speed mini milling and drilling benchtop machine that comes at a great price.

It comes standardly equipped with many high-speed steel components.

This is a durable variable speed option that could be great for working many trades.

It’s a mini milling and drilling benchtop machine with a solid design that has been constructed to last for years.

This machine comes standardly equipped with a handy high-speed steel 6-piece and 4 Flute add-on with a 3/8 inch Shank cutter set.

The included set has multiple components including 1/8 inch, 3/16 inch, 1/4 inch, 5/16 inch, 3/8 inch, and 5/32 inch size cutters.

This milling machine has a Drilling & End Mill Capacity of 3/8 inches along with a Face Mill Capacity of 5/8 inches.

We feel like many machinists will like the simplicity of this machine. It is easy to use, maintain, and drill with. It may, however, take a little bit of time to trim.

However, even the best industrial machines will require a little work to make them more accurate when they are brand new. If you purchase this machine, you will need to bolt it down it.

This is because is a little bit top heavy. We don’t particularly understand why it comes with end mills but no tool holder for them, as this would make it easier to use.

Keep in mind that you should never put end mills in a drill chuck because this makes it possible to bend a jaw when you are milling.

Also, keep in mind that this machine is fairly light duty in design; it will cut soft steel, but you will have to take your time. We recommend using carbide end mills with this machine because it likes RPM and has little torque to it.

This is a great little hobby mill that would possibly work for industrial applications but is much better for light duty jobs.

We would definitely recommend this for hobbyists though we aren’t sure it’s ideal for some heavy-duty jobs. All around a pretty nice hobby mill at a good price.

Klutch Mini – Small Milling Machine With 110V, 350 Watts, and 3/4 HP

This Klutch Mini Milling Machine is a good option for anyone who wants a compact and sturdy little milling machine with a decent amount of torque.

It has been constructed with quality materials like cast iron for improved durability and better resistance to wear.

This milling machine runs vibration free for smoother user operation. This can be very handy for fine detailing or refined lines.

It has an included 3/4 HP, 110V variable-speed motor that has a 2-speed gearbox which easily delivers around 350 Watts of power.

It also has a milling head and column that tilts up to 45º left or right.

This is ideal for adding versatility to any job. The worktable length and width are 3 5/8 inches x 15 3/8 inches. It may need some adjustment to fit your workbench setup.

The steel quality of this machine is very good, though you will need to have decent quality tooling.

Obviously, because of its size, it tends to go slowly when being used on steel.

You may also wish to purchase a recirculating cooling pump with a small fountain pump or a catch pan with a filter around the pump intake.

This will make using this machine easier.

For the money, this is a great unit. It can be a good tool for holes, lines, and fine detailing.

This is one of the most inexpensive mini milling machines out there that’s still of decent quality design and construction.

Keep in mind that this unit doesn’t come with many extras.

It also isn’t premium quality, it’s more of a mid-range option. Still, for any home or hoppy application, this is a great choice for many people that comes at a great price.

Proxxon 37110 Micro Mill MF 70 – Utility-friendly Dremel and Mill Hybrid Machine

This machine does a great job of combining the utility of a Dremel with the precise working functionality and general capabilities of a milling machine.

If you purchase this machine looking for an advanced Dremel, you will likely be extremely satisfied.

The Proxxon MF-70 performs many useful operations that would be difficult or downright impossible to accomplish holding a Dremel in your hand.

However, if you’re looking for a mini Bridgeport, you might find that you aren’t all that happy. The Proxxon Micro Mill MF 70 is a small and beautiful machine that can be utilized in many ways.

This unit is ideal for precise milling applications.

It is a very accurate mill that would be great for use in a lab, by an optician, a jewelry refiner, or even for electronic and model building projects.

This milling machine is made with a very sturdy cast iron base that helps it stay in place without too much vibration.

Additionally, its vertical column and compound lathe have been treated and are constructed of high-quality aluminum. All of its axes are play-free and also have adjustable slides.

Its headstock has been made of die-cast aluminum and houses a 24 pole balanced special motor. It provides best in class stability, even at its highest operating speeds.

This creates the kind of stability and precision that facilitates the use of even the finest cutters.

The Proxxon 37110 Micro Mill MF 70 also comes with 6 triple slit hardened steel collets. The specifications are 1/32 inch, 1/16 inch, 5/64 inch, 3/32 inch, 7/64 inch, and 1/8 inch.

Its table has three T-slots as well as an adjustable ruler scale for quick and easy measurements.

This is great for adjusting the positioning of your work-piece.

All of its hand wheels are zero adjustable.

This means that one revolution equals 3/64 inch (1.0mm) and that one division equals .002 of an inch (0.05mm). Keep in mind that when cranking the X-axis, the table deflects +/- 0.010″.

`That means that you’ll get 20 thousandths total in error.

If you use a twisting grip on the wheel instead of cranking the handle, it will help to reduce this to only a few thousandths of an inch.

Tightening the Gibbs also helps, however, the motion then becomes a bit “sticky”.

The Z-axis scale ring also tends to hang up sometimes which may throw it off zero and cause certain errors. Additionally, the head doesn’t rotate which can be frustrating for anyone who wants to position the spindle horizontally.

However, if you need to create precision work and can’t accomplish that with a Dremel, this machine is a great option to consider.

Proxxon 34108 Micro Mill FF 230 – Best for precisely Milling and Drilling a Wide Range of Materials

The Proxxon Micro Mill FF230 is a compact and very accurate milling system.

It can be used for the milling, drilling, and countersinking of materials such as steel, cast iron, aluminum, brass, or plastic.

It has a headstock that swivels all-of-the-way through the 360-Degrees indicated on its scale. Its height is totally adjusted using its zero adjustable hand wheel.

Its well-constructed quill and headstock may be locked in position. this is essential when your milling certain materials.

It has powerful permanent magnet motor drives from a poly-v-belt. this allows for the yielding of high torques. This is especially true when you’re running it at lower speeds.

This machine comes with three collets of 15/64 inch, 5/16i inch and 25/64 inch (6, 8, and 10mm). It has a solid table sized at 10-5/8 inch by 3-5/32 inch (270 by 80mm).

It is also and is T-slotted to 15/32 inch by 15/64 inch by 13/64 inch. Essentially, this is a premium milling machine that has been designed well and can be used for various applications on a wide range of materials.

That being said, this machine is on the higher-end of the price scale.

It’s a bit of an investment. Still, for fast and accurate milling and drilling, the Proxxon 34108 Micro Mill FF 230 is a great option that is well worth the consideration of anyone who needs to mill and drill materials efficiently and accurately.

Micro Milling Machines – Buyer’s Guide FAQ’s

Now that you’ve seen some impressive micro-milling machines, let’s look at a few questions that are important to answer before confirming a purchase.

Which one has the highest precision?

Choosing a high-precision micro milling machine is very important to doing jobs and completing projects that are done right the first time.

On our list, the micro-milling machine with the highest precision rating is the Proxxon 34108 Micro Mill FF 230.

It has been designed to create very accurate milling work and clean holes and lines. It doesn’t have much in the way of vibrational output and can be used in an efficient manner.

To understand how micro milling precision works, you may want to take a look at this in-depth article .

Vertical VS Horizontal milling?

With all of the power and precision offered by micro-milling machines, it’s hard to find a machine that can handle every single job.

Understanding the difference between vertical and horizontal milling can help you choose which machine will best fit your individual needs.

Vertical Milling

Vertical milling machines have a cutting head called a spindle. This spindle is oriented vertically and can be controlled in many different ways.

It can be raised or lowered and is combined with a bed that can be moved in a horizontal way. The combination of these movements allows the operator to create different shapes at different depths.

A turret mill has a spindle and is usually in a position that is fixed. The bed can be moved vertically and horizontally which brings the material being milled to the cutting surface. These mills are great for smaller pieces.

Horizontal Milling

Horizontal milling machines make use of a horizontal arbor to mount on to cutting surfaces. The cutters on a horizontal mill are similar to the blade of a circular saw.

They have a size and shape that is ideal for generically cutting faster than a spindle or vertical mill can. Multiple cutters may be installed on a mill of this kind because of the extended length of the arbor across the width of the bed.

Both vertical and horizontal micro-milling machines have benefits and can be used with CNC technology.

There are also various add-on parts available for each type of mill to help make any job easier.

The mill that you choose will depend most heavily on the uses you intend it for and the applications that it will need to serve.

For more on the differences between horizontal and vertical milling, we recommend that you click here to read on.

Mini milling machine vs Lathe machine?

Deciding if you need a milling machine or lathe machine is important. Both milling machines and lathe machines follow the same basic principles of operation.

This principle is known as subtractive machining.

Subtractive machining begins with a block of material and then shapes the material based on the specifications of the machinist.

The big difference between mini milling machines and lathes comes in when the material is shaped. These machines create different shapes and depths in materials and there is a large difference in the relationship of the workpiece to the tool.

For more on how these machines differ, it may be helpful to read this article..

Final Words

These have been some of our favorite and the best micro milling machine options.

We hope that this article has helped you get a better idea of what you’re looking for in a machine of this type.

Are we missing any great micro milling machine options? Did we forget to answer any big questions about these units? We want to hear your feedback! Please feel free to comment below and let us know what you think.

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