Innocraftsman Mill

[Y.T.]

2 hours ago, kgstakes said:

Is there any movement when using it as a mill (head movement) it’ll stay vertical, true with no movement?

It is held by lowering and holding a drill quill. I find it extremely efficient. I have Sherline mill but would never do blocks on it even with a sensitive drilling attachment I have. It has about 5 thou runout on the 0.4 mm tool. My Proxxon setup is 1.5 thou runout. Sherline is for some more crude and metal work. 

Edited December 14, 2025 by Y.T.

[Y.T.]

1 hour ago, kgstakes said:

Is there any movement when using it as a mill (head movement) it’ll stay vertical, true with no movement?

It is sturdy and accurate enough to do such work. Better than Sherline with its runout. 
 

 

[Y.T.]

2 hours ago, kgstakes said:

Heck if that’s the case that may be the way I want to go for now at least (and maybe for ever if it works the way I want it to) and less expensive than a mini mill.

If you do, buy it with standard Proxxon collets set to hold the tool. Do not get adjustable chuck as it is inaccurate. Also you may consider buying this contraption. This is very handy.

 

[Y.T.]

One more picture regarding the Proxxon set up accuracy.

 

 

[kgstakes]

28 minutes ago, Y.T. said:

One more picture regarding the Proxxon set up accuracy.

 

 

I’m convinced for what I want to do this will do it!!!

 

 Thank you for all your help.

 

i have a proxxon table saw and really like it.

 

 Thanks again

[grsjax]

On 12/12/2025 at 12:26 PM, Some Idea said:

Yes they are but just like model kits they are pirated from the genuine manufacturers.  

That could be true.  However Innocraftsman sources their tools from China.  Some of these tools have been available on the Chinese market for at least 5 years.  I don't know if anyone is pirating these designs from anyone else so it is an open question.

[Y.T.]

Tired hearing of "pirating". Proof of pirating must be presented before accusing. In general this issue is the matter for legal courts. Has little to do with consumers.

[wefalck]

I agree, every time a similar product appears from the East on our markets we talk about 'pirates'. Strictly speaking, one can only talk about it, if the design or lable is legally protected, e.g. by a patent or a trade-mark.

 

I don't know, whether the 'Cool-Tool' designs of these modular machines (either in plastic or in metal) are (still) protected in any way. Fact is, that these products coming out of Austria, first appeared on the market in the late 1980s the latest. I recall having seen them in a shop in around 1988, when living in the UK. These Chines copies appear on our markets for the last few years, so a good 40 years later. Whether these are legal copies of an unprotected design or of a pirated design I can't really say. So perhaps, I shouldn't have used the P-word. On the other hand, there is no comparable European or US American product ...

[Boccherini]

For what it's worth, Proxxon MF-70 works fine. I'm on my second machine. It does everything I need. If you have limited  horizontal surfaces, it's very easy to put back on a shelf to free up bench space.

Downside is the noise, also the continual cranking can be an irritant. There is a bloke in Germany (I think, can't remember the company name) who has an adaptor to screw onto the crank handles that should reduce the irritation somewhat.

 

Grant.

[wefalck]

Well, hand-cranking is what moves any manual milling machine or lathe. For some milling machines you can buy electric drives for the x-axis (or make one yourself), but this is for long, end-to-end surface cuts only. The other option is CNC, which requires a lot of programming and typically is not worth it for one-of parts (you end up making several trial parts before all parameters are set righ).

 

I never worked with a MF70, only played around on it in shops, but have the feeling that the hand-wheels are too small for the pitch of the lead-screws. Personally, I would replace them with slightly larger ball-handle cranks, which give you a better feel when doing precision work. In that way you also get rid of the sloppy, turning handles that are detrimental to a good feel of what is going on at the milling cutter.

 

[Boccherini]

Link to Usovo Proxxon upgrade page:

https://www.usovo.de/en/c/mf70-tuning

 

Grant.

[wefalck]

Yep, I knew these aftermarket offers. I made myself a ring-light for my mill many years ago on the basis of so-called 'angel's eyes' that are used in cars: https://www.maritima-et-mechanika.org/tools/attachments/attachments.html#Ring-light.

 

The problem I have with these angel's eyes is that they cold-white, which does not go well with my prefered warm-white workshop lighting (it's a hobby-setting, not an industrial one, and should be comfortable and relaxing). A yellowish tinted acrylic glass cover instead of the clear one would have solved that problem ...

[Mike Y]

A very cheap and simple, but effective MF70 upgrade is to install an axial bearing for the Z-axis. It would be much smoother operation afterwards, especially if you need to crank a lot when using it like a drill press  

The bearings it needs are standard dimension, I bought the 6x12x4.5 size.

Installation does not require any modifications, just disassemble the z-axis and add them between the rod and the wheel.

Google "MF70 axial bearing upgrade" to find step-by-step guide.

Installing them for other axises is also possible, but a bit more involved and less necessary, the table is smooth enough if lubed and tuned correctly.