looking at a desktop mill

[ME-Student]

So My father and I have been looking at getting a CNC mill for a while, my reason for the mill is simple, in my Mechanical Engineering program I've designed several small 2"x2" by .5" tall parts I wanted to mill out of copper. My dad likes to Prototype inventions/small parts.

We know a guy that owns a local shop that has 3 or so HAAS machines and he told us to go HAAS. However, even a HAAS minimill would be upwards of 50-60K and right now I don't have the time to learn how to operate a CNC mill, and make the money to pay the financing on it and the tooling.

So what I am looking at is this, a Desktop mill would suffice I believe for everything we would need. I just know a high spindle speed is required for the Al, parts he would want to machine, and high speed is good for surface finish which I would need.

Now the question I have... What would be the best mill option to go with? Budget is a concern, and I already have Solidworks 2k8 installed on my desktop (which is what all the parts we would mill would be modeled in). That being said, I have a laptop I can strip down to run the mill, or I could build a micro PC that could run it.

I know I will need some CAM software, I've done some minimal G-Coding and frankly for my parts... It would take hours to manually write the code, so suggestions on an easy to use/learn CAM software would be helpful.

The local machinist my Dad grew up with uses Bobcad, and I know if I had some questions regarding that... he could be of some help, but I also know it had some issues trying to import my .sldprt files in the past.

Sorry for the long winded post.

Oh as far as available power, we have access to at least residential 230V service in our shop. Space isn't too constrained, we can shift some stuff around benches if need be.

So advice in all area's is welcome.

-Casey

[ninefinger]

From the Novakon website:

http://www.novakon.net/NM-135%20Comp...hart%20(2).pdf

Seems like this is the class of machine you want and you want turn-key as opposed to a DIY solution.

Mike

[Crevice Reamer]

AFAIK, Novakon is the ONLY mill in this class which uses the reliable and American-made Gecko drives. That makes it number one choice IMO.

CR.

[hoss2006]

If I were you I'd base my choice on more than just what drivers are in a machine.
Each of the companies in the comparison chart have their own forum here.
You'll find the most complaints from customers in the Syil forum with novakon 2nd.
Tormach gets rave reviews for their machines and customer support, the PCNC 1100 is a grade above those mentioned.
Syil Products
Novakon Systems
Tormach PCNC
Many others.
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/forum.php#metalworking_machines
There are some more advanced turnkey CNC Mills that are far less than even a used Haas, if it's in your budget.
http://www.mikinimech.com/1610L.html
http://www.turnkeymills.com/bobmill2300.
LOTS of choices, depends on whether you're looking for hobby, semi-pro or professional grade equipment.
Hoss

[hoss2006]

If you need to go tiny, you have choices there too.
These are also turnkeys or nearly turnkey.
LMS 3501
Novakon NM-070 Sold out till?
Deepgroove Taig
Sherline 8540
Hoss

[MichaelHenry]

What sort of budget do you have to work with? Do you also need the typical accessories (mics, calipers, vise, hold down set, cutters, 1-2-3 block, etc.)?

Mike

[eartaker]

If you have a friend that owns 3 HASS machining centers, and you can model the part in Solidworks... why not take the model to him and ask if he could mill a part for you?

[ME-Student]

The budget is sorta minimal...

The buddy that has the CNC machines gave me an early quote of about 1000.00 per item to mill, they are fairly small and detailed... so that's the hitch there.

Also yes, we would need all the cutters, fixtures etc... I can build my own PC to run them, so nearly turnkey is ideal, and I'm sure we could put a DIY kit together without any issues.

[alex781]

my reason for the mill is simple, in my Mechanical Engineering program I've designed several small 2"x2" by .5" tall parts I wanted to mill out of copper.

I have trouble understanding what kind of ME degree program asks you to manufacture parts and doesn't provide access to a mill or training for CAD and CAM. Why don't you find out what they're going to teach you before you get the software someone else recommends on here

[Teyber12]

ill chime in as i make a lot of parts that sound identical to what you make.

I have a cnc converted sieg x3. I love it but it sounds like the taig deepgroove with the g540 would be a good cheap option for you. it has a higher speed spindle and is extremely cheap. it holds its value very well. This would be more then enough for any copper milling, and in reality would do a LOT better with small cutters in copper then some other machines

[ME-Student]

I have trouble understanding what kind of ME degree program asks you to manufacture parts and doesn't provide access to a mill or training for CAD and CAM. Why don't you find out what they're going to teach you before you get the software someone else recommends on here

The mills that I would have access to are on Main Campus, and we have to go through the machinist there. Currently I'm attending a distance learning center, so access there is kinda limited (its a hour drive to main campus and I work till 5pm and attend classes during the morning and evening), and a manual mill wouldn't be precise enough for what I need to mill.

Now the particular piece I want to mill, was asked to be designed in my SolidWorks course, as a final project but never to be milled, or put together, its something for my own personal use, which could lead to profits, ergo why its a gray area with my school. So they are not asking me to manufacture parts, this is just something I want to do.

Thanks so far for all the links! keep them coming

-Casey

[alex781]

The mills that I would have access to are on Main Campus, and we have to go through the machinist there.

Now the particular piece I want to mill, was asked to be designed in my SolidWorks course, as a final project but never to be milled, or put together

So they just teach you to design the part and leave it to some lowly machinist to know how to produce the thing