I am sort of in the same situation. I was a geriatric pharmacist and got hurt. I cut three tendons in my left arm which required two surgeries. I subsequently developed a very painful disease called reflex sympathetic dystrophy which I have to take very powerful pain killers to dull the pain. This in turn keeps me from practicing pharmacy.
So I decided to return to college to get my computer and electronics engineering degree. I have a passion to pursue robotics. Which leads me to machine work.
I will turn 48 in Jan. and by then hopefully will have several classes in machining finished by then. I bought my first lathe a mini 8 x 20 which didn't really have the capability to do the things I wanted to do. I sold that lathe and bought a 12 x 36 wholesale tool lathe which was about 30 years old. I was able to make blow pipes for glassblowers and some larger items. I have just sold my 12 x 36 to a friend and am now searching for what I would like to replace it with.
I have the opportunity to purchase a 14 x 80 monarch I believe for $450 but I don't think I really have the room to put it in my shop/lab. I would really love to have a big lathe in which I cold do some awesome art with. But do I really want to take up a big portion of my space.
I am also looking into buying either a Grizzly G3616 or WT 6 x 26 knee mill.
I don't have tons of money to spend so I am trying to keep things in perspective knowing what motors I want to use for CNC and what linear scales and encoders as well as drivers. I also am planning of using CNCBrain with this setup. I am really impressed the capabilities of this
controller. And having the source code helps.
But I am up for suggestions and always open to advice.  |