i sent out my check today for my tormach. i am still a bit shaky after spending that much at one time on one machine:eek: .

i ordered:

pcnc1100
machine stand
machine arm
tts set
rotary table and kit
5" vice
large tapping head


i still need to get a computer and have some questions. all new computers come with vista and every one i have talked to says it would cost at least an extra $200 to get xp on it. i see that tormach says call them to find out about vista but i have not had time to during the day. is any one using vista for their tormach? i can probably get one through dell but i really don't like dealing with them.

edit: i also want to thanks proto trains for showing off his tormach. that made my decision much easier. sure the tormach videos and site are great, but seeing one up close and personal can't be replace with pictures and video.

thaks again!

You can buy at least some new computers from Dell with Windows XP. I just ordered a "system 410" from them with Windows XP.

see http://www.Dell.com

Check out PC CLub ENSP10 Enpower Sparx 10
Genuine Windows XP Home
Built-in parallel port
$449.00
http://www.pcclub.com/


The ENSP10 is what I use to run my Tormach.

You can run the PCNC3 package under Vista just follow the instructions for installation on the Mach website but use the Tormach executable and installation package.

Go to:

http://www.artsoftcontrols.com/artsoft/downloads/downloads.htm

And click on the "Vista users click here" button to get the installation utility and instructions

Vista will need about 1 Gb of RAM for Vista where XP is comfortable with about half that. You can get a fast 32 bit CPU in a bottom of the line desktop with 32 bit Vista really inexpensivly right now that the back to school sales are on. Finding one with a paralell port may be a larger problem.

I have been using a bottom of the line Compaq with an add on paralell port and a memory upgrade as a dedicated PNC 1100 controller for about 4 months now with out any hickups so far.

David

First of all CONGRATULATIONS on the mill, you should be quite happy with the purchase.

We very recently we picked up a cheap Cisnet pc from Staples and it still had XP and a parallel port, so they are still available. Just make it dedicated so there is nothing else being used on it and you shouldn't have many problems.

The Tormach vise is a bit of a joke in my opinion, I picked up a STM GS series 890 vise for under $400. It has a 9" opening and is very nice, the chip/coolant guard just sits on top of the hex part for the the handle so there is about a 1.5" gap and thats it. It hasn't caused me much spilled coolant or chips, but I usually don't use a vise anyways.

Good luck waiting for the machine, when is the delivery date ???
What kind of work do you plan on doing with it?

thanks for the suggestions on the computers.

i just mailed the check yesterday and i am guessing it will be a week or so after they receive it for the check to clear. i have no idea how long shipping takes to california.

i have a few parts for rock crawling 4x4s that i plan on making. one of them is an aluminum brake adapter pictured below (3"x5"x.5"). i also have some firearm parts planned.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/adapterplate.jpg

This kind of part should be a real joke on this machine, you should'nt have any problem doing it... and if you have problems... you have a tons of friends here who'll be happy to help.

That will be a nice warm up job for the Tormach, with the type of work your looking to do the sky is the limit.

I have been making molds on my out of steel, and it seems to work pretty good so far.

Shipping to Canada was about 6 days, but I used my own shippers, and it sat at my local depot for 2 days before they delivered it.

i am still a bit shaky after spending that much at one time on one machine

I know what you mean. My wife is very understanding--the Tormach with accessories cost as much as either one of our cars, purchased new...

i also want to thanks proto trains for showing off his tormach.

It was my pleasure. And it's an open offer to anyone else in northern California to come over and see it.

Best regards,

Randy

I know what you mean. My wife is very understanding--the Tormach with accessories cost as much as either one of our cars, purchased new...


Best regards,

Randy


now i need to tool it and also tool up a new lathe i just picked up the other day. i am getting a head ache staring at catalogs for hours on end. it would be so much easier if there weren't so many ways to do the same thing. either way, this is about to get expensive.

300

If you have any machinery dealers around, you may want to give them a call. It is quite normal for them to have heaps of used tooling laying about. There is also eBay.
If you have no issues with the money, by-all-means the "good-stuff" brand new, greased and wrapped in cello is quite arousing!

the "good-stuff" brand new, greased and wrapped in cello is quite arousing!

AHHHHH I LOVE THE SMELL OF NEW TOOLS IN THE MORNING.

Gives an alternative meaning to the question "what's the correct method for mounting my new .... tool in the spindle"

Phil

300
If you have no issues with the money, by-all-means the "good-stuff" brand new, greased and wrapped in cello is quite arousing!

yep, i think i am getting all new tooling. i see no reason to start going used now after buying two new machines. when i bought the lathe they had one on display that was still on the pallet but un-crated. i figured i wanted NEW if i am spending that kind of money so i requested one that was still in the crate. i forgot about the cosmoline. after spending a few hours un-crating it, cleaning the cosmolie and disposing of the crate/pallet i should have just got the display. oh well, live and learn.

i should have just got the display.

What lathe did you buy, Robert? The Sherline is the only lathe I have, but it would be nice to get a lathe somewhat in the class of the Tormach...

Best regards,

Randy

One of the reasons I bought a 12x36 lathe was because of the 5C collet in the spindle feature. 5C collets can be used with my manual mill and with the Tormach also. So if I have a 3" diameter internal expanding collet that runs in the lathe then the same collet can run in any number of 5C indexers, collet block fixtures, or in a rotary table with a 5C chuck on the Tormach or Rockwell manual mill.
Also I have about 30 different TTS toolholders that can be used in either the Tormach or in my Rockwell manual mill. Although the Rockwell has been used more as a glorified drill press with three axis DRO since getting the Tormach.

What lathe did you buy, Robert? The Sherline is the only lathe I have, but it would be nice to get a lathe somewhat in the class of the Tormach...

Best regards,

Randy

i got a kent usa kls 1340a (still made in taiwan). it is a 13 x 40 with a 1-1/2" spindle bore. it had allot of features found on much more expensive machines. after shopping around i think it is a great value. i still need to pipe power back to corner of the shop that will house the tormach and lathe.

i got a kent usa kls 1340a

Sweet lathe for the price, it seems. I had not even heard of Kent before your post. But they seem to be well thought of in the gunsmithing community, now that I've done some reading. And that is a great spindle bore.

But I was actually thinking of something designed ground up for CNC like the Tormach, with a 4000RPM VFD spindle and ballscrews and Turcite-equipped ways. No backgears or change gears or threading dial or split nut etc etc. With just a headstock and carriage and cross slide and tailstock and some electronics.

S_J_H and JH-Q over in the "Vertical Mill, Lathe Project Log" forum are both DIY'ing similar lathes (albeit with linear bearings, something I wouldn't expect in a Tormach-class lathe...)

One of the reasons I bought a 12x36 lathe was because of the 5C collet in the spindle feature.

5C is a great feature. There is a 5C closer available for the 1340a lathe. Back when the engineers were allowed to use the machine tools in the prototype shop at work, I became very fond of the collet closers on the Hardinge and Clausing lathes.

Best regards (and sorry, Robert, for hijacking your thread!)

Randy

Sweet lathe for the price, it seems. I had not even heard of Kent before your post. But they seem to be well thought of in the gunsmithing community, now that I've done some reading. And that is a great spindle bore.

But I was actually thinking of something designed ground up for CNC like the Tormach, with a 4000RPM VFD spindle and ballscrews and Turcite-equipped ways. No backgears or change gears or threading dial or split nut etc etc. With just a headstock and carriage and cross slide and tailstock and some electronics.

S_J_H and JH-Q over in the "Vertical Mill, Lathe Project Log" forum are both DIY'ing similar lathes (albeit with linear bearings, something I wouldn't expect in a Tormach-class lathe...)



5C is a great feature. There is a 5C closer available for the 1340a lathe. Back when the engineers were allowed to use the machine tools in the prototype shop at work, I became very fond of the collet closers on the Hardinge and Clausing lathes.

Best regards (and sorry, Robert, for hijacking your thread!)

Randy


i really have no need for a cnc lathe at this point. most of the things i use it for are very simple or crude. i thought about a dro and even decided against it for now. a collet closer would be nice. i need to sell my clausing 6300 and fully restored craftsman 12x36 lathes now to make room for the incoming tormach.

i just got an email saying that my check has been received by tormach. i guess in a week or so i should get a shipping/receiving date from them. i am having the machine delivered to my old work (comercial address and forklift)that i still have friends at. they have a fork lift and trailer. i think i will pick up the machine with my trailer and have a friend grab their trailer and forklift to bring down to the shop. after dealing with unloading that lathe, i am going to take the easy road for this one.

i just mailed the check yesterday and i am guessing it will be a week or so after they receive it for the check to clear. i have no idea how long shipping takes to california.

Must be nice ordering one of these now that Tormach keeps them in stock. When I got mine back in '05 I think I paid in August and had to wait until October for it to be delivered... :mad:

It was definitely a step up from my old Taig CNC mill! I'm sure you'll love it.

Dave

now i need to tool it and also tool up a new lathe i just picked up the other day. i am getting a head ache staring at catalogs for hours on end. it would be so much easier if there weren't so many ways to do the same thing. either way, this is about to get expensive.

I've said it before... this cnc tooling is more expensive than drugs

I've said it before... this cnc tooling is more expensive than drugs


all my hobbies are expensive, fortunately for me drugs isn't one of them:) i just sold my clausing lathe today so i have some extra cash towards tooling. i also got an email today saying that my accessories have been shipped. i guess that means the machine should be on a truck before to long.

well my vice arrived here on friday. i just got a notice that the machine has been shipped and is due to arrive at a friends shop on tuesday. it may have to wait till this weekend to come home. it looks like the accessories are coming in about 5 different shipments. i have all kinds of notices and tracking numbers.

i'm still computer-less at this point. i guess i better get on that. good news is i sold both my older lathes and have some tooling cash available now.

glad i am not in to big of a hurry as i just got this message from tormach:

Hello Robert,



I have been advised that your machine was misdirected by Central Freight and will arrive to you in a couple of days.



Please let us know if you have any questions.



Thank you for your patience.



Best Regards,



not that big of a deal because i still don't have the computer yet. i got a call from my friend where the machine is getting delivered to. he said that the stand came in on monday. i have gotten many boxes from ups over the last few days. it looks like christmas at my house!

Hi - Don't know if you have bought your computer yet. If you have not.....what I did was go to my small local computer repair shop and bought from him a 2nd hand XP computer which he was keen to sell - so he reloaded as per the manual directions to optimise for mach3 - thrown in....this only cost about $US 180 (plus a new LCD monitor) it all runs really well and much less hassle than last time when I did it myself.

Hi - Don't know if you have bought your computer yet. If you have not.....what I did was go to my small local computer repair shop and bought from him a 2nd hand XP computer which he was keen to sell - so he reloaded as per the manual directions to optimise for mach3 - thrown in....this only cost about $US 180 (plus a new LCD monitor) it all runs really well and much less hassle than last time when I did it myself.

yes, i got the computer already. i also went to a local computer builder/repair place. i had them put together a basic system using all new parts. it ended up costing a little bit more than a dell system but i got it the day i ordered it. i also like that it uses all standard components unlike dell. i have heard that dell uses their own parts so if something goes bad it needs to go back to them for repair most of the time. this local store sounds like they have some good customer support also. they are open 7 days a week and are just a few miles away from where i have my machine.

now if i could just get my spindle motor to run i'd be a happy camper.