This is a coolant pan for my DMC2 Mini: galvanized sheet, 3D-printed edge trim and drain parts, and a drain recess formed with a 3D-printed die.
Folding the pan (October 2025)
On October 22 I started fabbing up a little catch basin. Sheet metal is fun. Here's the folded tray on the bench. I just cut the shape with some metal shears by hand, and spot welded the corners.
The drain needs a conical recess, so I 3D printed a one-off punch and die to make one. This is the design, in cross-section.
I already have a Harbor Freight 20-ton hydraulic press, like everyone has in their garage, but this is only 26 gauge steel, so a clamp or a bolt and nut is plenty.
Forming the drain
It worked even better than I expected. Here's the clamp squeezing the printed die into the tray.
And the formed drain: a nice smooth conical recess.
The drain parts are 3D printed too. This is the drain fitting seated in the recess.
From underneath, the drain passes through the table via a printed hex nut fitting, with a clear braided hose attached below.
Finished (October 2025)
Here's the finished product (the photo at the top of the page), just waiting for the silicone to cure. I tilted it up ever so slightly so everything runs to the drain. I might need to add some bumpers at the edges to make sure the mill doesn't vibrate the whole thing loose. For obvious reasons I didn't want to fasten the pan down, although I could; a neoprene washer under the screw would probably work fine.
Here's the mill running with the pan in place. Working like a champ.