I have no idea about tormach's repair/support process.
I don't have one. I'm just saying that the original post says.
"....I want to make parts in my basement, what mill should I buy...."
Obviously, that is open to interpretation. Personally I choose to go with the retrofit route. However, I can say that if I did it over again. And I was truly more interested in making items than retrofitting a mill. I would have bought a production type machine.
Of course, in that respect. It would have been a better business choice to have someone else make the parts until I found that there was enough market to justify the purchase of the machine. This is actually what I'm doing at the moment. The cost of all the tooling I needed out weighed the value of the initial prototype. So I bit the bullet and paid someone to make it. After shopping around, it was a lot cheaper than I expected. Albeit, it will be better profit in the long run to have my machines doing all the work.
Now if you have a bunch of different hobbies and you like to tinker. Then I by all means jump all over it. I'd just hate to see someone loose focus, if they are truly more interested in making a product than being a machinist.
I fall into that category. I have more tools and clutter than any one person needs. However, I can't help but feel that I'd be farther along in my business. If I hadn't tried to take on another hobby.  |