Opinions needed on cnc bench top mills

[Stuff-Builder]

Mark,

I've got a Taig 2019CR and I would strongly recommend it for your needs. The max travel of 12 x 5-1/2 is well larger than what you need for your parts. You could easily build one up for CNC for less than $2000. Everything just bolts right up. I run rapid traverse on my machine at 108 ipm and have cut slots in aluminum with a 3/16" cutter at 18 ipm. You can get a lot done here for not much money.

This morning I was machining a part very similar to what you described. I milled a logo in a piece of aluminum 0.040" deep with an 1/8" cutter. Took maybe ten minutes at a pretty conservative feed rate. The finish was beautiful. I just ran steel wool across it a few times and I was done. You could probably run a Taig at 30 ipm cutting acrylic.

Send a post back or PM me if you have questions.

Scott

[dammachines]

If you are interested in going the Taig route, I have one that is just gathering dust since I got my Tormach a couple months ago.

I bought mine from Denver CNC, so I have their Xylotex based 4-axis controller. It's been upgraded to the 1/4HP spindle motor and 280 oz/in stepper motors. I've never run mine much above 30 ipm, but I'm sure it would go a bit more. I'll throw in all of the Taig tooling I have, fly cutter, 5 of Nick Carter's tool holders, drill chuck. Also included is an old Trico Micro Drop Coolant system (less mess than flood or mist) that I picked up on Ebay for $160. It leaks a little, but it still works fine. Oh, and the 48x24 enclosure I built from 80/20 quick frame and 1/8" plexi goes too... I'm looking for around $1800 for everything...

If you're in Pittsburgh, I'm only a 3 1/2 hour drive away in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Let me know,

Dave

[M4RK_23]

Thanks for the offer but I'm sold on the idea of a bigger machine now that I have financial support to afford it. I'm now in the market for either a CNC mill or router around $7000. Thanks -Mark

[wizard]

Don't forget to budget for tooling, both the expendable and the hard type. You seem to be forcused on specific usage at this time so your needs may be modest, but you are still likely to need some stuff.

Thanks
dave

[ViperTX]

Well there is a big difference between a mill and a router...the mill is generally sturdier and the router generally has a larger envelope.

I would look at picking up a used Bridgeport CNC and retrofitting it if the envelope is sufficient for you....