Wabeco Mill

[labuda]

Can anyone comment on the Wabeco CNC mills that i found on mdaprecision.com I'd be looking to buy the F1210 High Speed Spindle version

I'm thinking of buying one, but i'd like to hear some testimonials first. Accuracy? Finish? Controller? Reliability?

Anything about it would be appreciated.

Thanks

[LongRat]

I've seen one running, cutting a model engine crank case. It was a really nice machine, and looked to be great quality, certainly on a totally different level than the Chinese imported machines. That is about the only info I can give, unfortunately.

[ataxy]

there really expensive

[itsme]

Hi there,

I can't offer much more than LongRat, but I can reinforce what he said. I've seen them at shows and they are definitely a step up from the Chinese machines.

For some reason, they looked much bigger in real life than they did in the photos I had seen beforehand. I hadn't paid much attention to the specs though.

Regards
Warren

[redrider9112002]

There spec to dollar ratio seems rediculus. You can get a tiag for half that and a tomach for that. If this is your price range I'd spend it on the tormach. If your looking to do fine, small and precision work I'd get the Taig or one in that performance range.

[philbur]

Ya, but the pure numbers game seldom tells the true story. Compare the numbers for a Porche 911 and a Ford XXXX. Those that buy based on a simple spec sheet have not yet been on this earth long enough to comprehend the meaning of real disappointment.

Sorry if it seems like a smart arse answer but it really is true. So many people spend hours and hours pawing over specs sheets to find whose offering the largest x travel or the most horse power etc for the lowest price by $5.00. To get real vaue for money you need to look beyond this simplistic view of the consumer market place.

Regards
Phil

Originally Posted by redrider9112002 There spec to dollar ratio seems rediculus. You can get a tiag for half that and a tomach for that. If this is your price range I'd spend it on the tormach. If your looking to do fine, small and precision work I'd get the Taig or one in that performance range.

[labuda]

Originally Posted by redrider9112002 There spec to dollar ratio seems rediculus. You can get a tiag for half that and a tomach for that. If this is your price range I'd spend it on the tormach. If your looking to do fine, small and precision work I'd get the Taig or one in that performance range.

I'd love the Tormach, unfortunately it won't fit through the door and down the stairs.

As for the Taig... is it for real that it weighs 85lbs??? I thought the wabeco was extremely light weight with 285lbs.

I'm assuming there is a BIG quality difference between the TAIG and the WABECO...

[InspirationTool]

Originally Posted by labuda I'd love the Tormach, unfortunately it won't fit through the door and down the stairs.

Are you sure? Tormach's documentation has some details on how it can be broken down. You should probably hire a rigger, but I bet it could be done.

-Jeff

[labuda]

Originally Posted by InspirationTool Are you sure? Tormach's documentation has some details on how it can be broken down. You should probably hire a rigger, but I bet it could be done. -Jeff

They explain how to get it through a 32" door.

But to bring it down a 30" staircase, i would have to remove the whole table, ball bearings etc... voiding the warranty and potentially breaking stuff because the components are so heavy. Not a risk i'm willing to take. Also, i'm going to have to move the shop out of there in 3 or 5 years. so the problem is twofold. I'd rather spend a bit more money, get a wabeco, and not worry about disassembling + moving (which would cost over 1000$ in the end anyway).

[philbur]

You can get the Tormach through the door and down the stairs if you really, really want to. Talk to these guys.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tormach1100

Regards
Phil

Originally Posted by labuda I'd love the Tormach, unfortunately it won't fit through the door and down the stairs. ...

[LongRat]

Having seen Taig and Wabeco machines running under CNC, the Wabeco is nicer quality to my mind. But mainly, a hell of a lot beefier. I doubt the Wabeco would disappoint, it is always satisfying to own really nice quality equipment - machine tools or cars!* Whether it would be as capable as a Tormach, I don't know.
*I know because I drive a Toyota pickup

[denningte]

I purchased a Wabeco from Markus last year and I am glad I did. I am able to get 0.0002 accuracies routinely with careful tool management.

I looked for a long time and considered all of the lower cost options. After owning a string of Taiwanese and Chinese manual systems I opted for the F1210 HS. Most of my work involves mills smaller than 1/8 inch so the speed and accuracy is very important to me.

I have owned a Wabeco D6000E manual lathe for 10 years and I wouldn't trade it for anything else in the price range. I had two other Chinese versions before that and haven't shed a tear in finding them new homes.

MDA adds a strong set of steppers in all of their equipment and now offers an upgrade to servo-style motors.

They are German-made and the Euro is making them more expensive. Can't do much about that.

TD