I like the concept of the linear ways, because I like to imagine I could always restore my machine to new condition if I really had to. Pretty tough to do that with box ways.
I don't know how much they can harden the ways on a box ways machine, but I'm assuming that linear ways are very hard. That means, I don't have to "feel sorry" for my Haas as it does thousands of passes on a planar finish cut, because the linear ways have a very long life, without excessive lubrication.
Monster cuts are kind of "the old way" of doing things, unless the part requires heavy stock removal. If you do lots of that type of work, the box way machine likely has its advantage. Whether it can finish the part any better than a linear way machine, I am doubtful, because by that time in the process, vibrations from cutting are very low.
I'm not sure about linear ways on a lathe, and how they behave during roughing. I'd really have to watch one or try one out to see if it performed to my expectations.
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(Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management) |