Fellow CNC Zone members:
I am seriously considering the purchase of a CNC Mill/Drill. I will be cutting Aluminum, Ren Shape (tooling board), Wax and high density foam. I'm looking to spend $5-6K The 2 I'm looking at are:
CNC Masters (www.CNCMasters.com)
and
CNC Mill/Drill from CNC Tools & Automation (on ebay)

Does anybody out their own one, and if so what is your feedback?

Any other brands I should be looking at?

Thanks & Great Forum

I highly recommend trying to build on on your own.....the mill on the CNCmasters site looks exactly like the one that HomeCNC uses. It looks like hes got some pretty detailed plans on his site. It would save you about half of what you're looking on spending......just my opinion though

full view of machine before any chips were cut
http://www.langerperformance.com/tom/machine/P9100489.JPG

part of a side view and the cad/cam station (sounds so fancy)
http://www.langerperformance.com/tom/machine/P9100490.JPG
On the left side of the machine there, you'll see the nitrogen shock used for counter balance, and the black bar next to it is for the limit switches.

first part, workin on a jig.
http://www.langerperformance.com/tom/machine/P9120492.JPG

cutting a rocker arm
http://www.langerperformance.com/tom/machine/P9220494.JPG
http://www.langerperformance.com/tom/machine/P9220495.JPG

I would go with the square column mill for sure.


Machine Specs:
X travel - 20"
Y travel - 8"
Z travel - 14.5"
Quil travel - 4 3/4 (Manual)
Head tilt +/- 90°
Table Size - 9 1/2" x 32 1/4"
Rapid speed - Up to 500 IPM! (The other guys' can't even come close!)
Backlash - .000"
Resoultion - .0001"
Spindle - R-8
Motor - 2HP, Single phase 115/230 VAC
RPM range (stock gear head) 120-1970 (6 speeds) - (Note: model in photo is shown with optional 0-6000 RPM infinetely variable speed head installed)
Shipping weight (Approx) - 1200 LBS

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=25276&item=7507477439&rd=1