I'm been trying to find a good used machine for the past few months. going back and forth on USED MACHINE vs. New Machine.

My main uses will be
1. 2D & 3D digitizing
2. Milling Aluminum work (nothing more the 6061 AL)
3. Tapping

My Dream would be a large VMC with a table work six of X 30", Y 24", Z 24"

BUT

THIS is what my need are;

A large Z 16" or bigger

A large Y 12" or bigger

I was thing of two other option besides a VMC
1. CNC ROUTER
2. CNC HORIZONTAL MILL ... {then a normal X would be replace my need of a large Z}

Any input?
and if So put lots of links ... I like see what people are talking about

A DeVlieg horizontal mill would give you the working area you're craving but the floor space is pretty massive. The machines are not easily found.

A router might suffice, area wise, but I don't know about how accurately it would digitize. THis would depend on the drive system and/or the rigidity.

Probably the most versatile unit would be a/the VMC. SInce it will be ball screw driven and designed for cutting metal, stiffness and accuracy should not be an issue.

I"d go after a VMC...