Cheape Chinese X Y table Is it a Square Deal

As you may know, I have been looking for a way to determine if this table can actually be used to do useful work. The prime measure is being able to cut square corners. I have been searching for a way to measure this. In this video I start by looking at the squareness of the T Slots to the ways and then switch to using a mechanics square to see if the two axis are indeed square.

[@PeckhamHall]

Looking good 👍

[@oldfarthacks]

A few more tests and then I will make some chips to see what is really there. The setup for that will be a mess, using a tiny drill press is not the most stable of spindles for milling.

[@PeckhamHall]

@oldfarthacks If you're planning on just milling aluminium and brass, I would use small Llanishen burrs and run them in the direction so it will not pull out of the drill chuck,but that's really on thin wall stuff.stay away from fluted tools unless you are machine straight down like hole drilling and if you do! I would go for a 1 flute cutter or 2 flute ball end as your horsepower is going to be like a donkey at the dog food factory I would expect. Look forward to seeing it in action, my friend. All the best 👍

[@oldfarthacks]

Good advice James. That silly little drill press is quite limited, so I was planning to use light cuts with slow feeds and easy cutting tools.