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Hi folks,
Ive done a lot of reading on here and finally need to post a request for help. I am currently an engineering intern working as a tool and fixture designer. We currently send out all our designs for fixtures to be made. After some cost eval I have convinced my boss to let me make the fixtures in house. I have a substantial amount of experience on larger machines (a couple bridgeports and an msc p.o.s. mill/drill).
I understand that these small machines are not going to hog through material like the bridgeport. But I do need a relatively precise mill that can handle a variety of material the hardest being titanium. I have a limited budget and want to avoid 3n1 machines. The most I can justify is approx $1100. This leaves me $200 for tooling.
Our largest fixtures are typically 3x5x9. Is there a small mill with the capabilities i need?
The best mill out there for around $1000 is the G0704 made by Weiss.
There is a few threads on this mill you might want to look at.
It is a fine mill but is a bit smaller than the RF-31 clone you have ,the MSC.
The G0704 is a 400lb machine and I think it is still a bit stiffer then the RF-31 but it may not be near the size or performance you seek. For more machine you will need to spend at least $1600 for the Weiss 30 or about 2k for a good RF-45 clone.
Why do you think the MSC is a POS?
I am sure that msc mills can be made good. But this one is in a student shop, the advisor of the shop is a 74 yr old man with an mba and little to no machining experience. Therefore it is never in proper adjustment, I have had it in adjustment once but then he "makes it better" and we are back to being out of tram and real bad backlash.
$200 ain't going far for tooling. A good keyless chuck is over that. Just milling, I guess you could squeak in with just a clamp set (or cheap vise), collets and a few end mills.
How are you going to keep him from adjusting the new mill?
Just points to think about before you jump in.
In my opinion for that budget there is nothing available NEW.Originally Posted by ajm11
You could watch the online auctions and get something. But even then I would personally walk away until they come up with a reasonable budget, say at least $5000.00 anything less and it is just a waste of money.
Unless the stuff they are currently sending out is very very simple 2 or 3 jobs would pay for the $5000.
There is a 2000lb bed mill that has been on ebay for a long time for $3500. It is a RB brand and looks like a nice machine to CNC but nobody wants to shell out the $3500 so it must be overpriced.
#120155856591
But that is not a 1000 machine either.
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