Based on what you will be doing I don't think a Taig wil make you happy. I had one for a year or so that I converted to CNC with a flashcut system. It took about three hrs to machine some .25 deep pockets in a 5" X 5" 6061 plate. The Taig has a 1/8 hp spindle so heavy cuts are fantasy, think 0.05 or less at 20 ipm or less. Steel will take longer. You also have to stand there the whole time with a squirt bottle of your fav lube / coolant, and it makes a BIG mess.
Running a fly cutter? Max cutter diameter for me was 3/8ths and that stalled quite a bit. |