The Tormach is really great looking, but I'm not sure if it's a good unit for primarily stainless and titanium work. Any thoughts? Is there one that's "the next size up" that would work better for my needs (without jumping into a $40k unit) ?

Jay

I haven't tried it yet with mine, I'm still making mountains of aluminum chips on its break in job.

I don't expect any problems when I do start machining stainless. But you have to remember, the spindle horsepower is what it is.

Based on the new one I have now, I expect the first "next size up" will be coming from this company. When they come out with a mill that has 30 X 16 travel and 5 or more HP, I'll buy one.

I looked and looked before I bought this one. The "next size up", pricewise, is a pig-in-a-poke used mill. And having had one before, I didn't want the risk on parts and service. I think I paid almost as much in service and parts for that very nice condition machine as I did for the base Tormach mill.

So, you can't push the tooling as hard with this one. But it will get the job done.

--97T--

We havn't cut stainless or titanium yet, but should be doing some stainless shortly. From my experience cutting stainless manually it can be done on smaller machines but you have to use good tooling and lower feeds, lots of cooling is also important because stainless likes to harden when it heats up.

My very limited experience with stainless is that the common grades don't harden when it heats up, what happens is that it work hardens. So for me, it meant pushing the tooling and the machine to keep things moving. It seems to resist a timid approach. Others with more experience will surely know more than I do, though.

--97T--

NinerSevenTango is correct. Work hardening is what happens on stainless..push hard, don't slow down or stop is the key on stainless

Been there...done that!