Townlabs mini mill? Check this out

[bilinghm]

See this site. They are for sale on Ebay for $2500.

http://www.townlabs.com/index.html

[DonF]

Yes that has been bought up before. There have been some reviews with very unhappy customers!

[DonF]

Check out this thread -> Town labs TL 512

[ataxy]

ouf 2500$ is alot of money for such a weak machine

[Halfnutz]

I would look at the Proxon, the Taig the X2 conversion kits and the Sherline for a comparison. These machines do great in wood, wax or composites but people expecting to mill metals are often disappointed with their overall strength and rigidity. There are however, people with skill and patience ( I'm not one of them ) that can do incredible work in soft metals with these little lightweights, but you really have to learn some machining basics first.

I have a CNC'd X2 that works great, it cost under a grand total for the machine, a HobbyCNC kit, the plans and some time for the conversion but overall I really like it, it just cant hog with a 1/2 inch endmill like my big mill/drill can, but for light stuff (even light cuts in metal) it works great and doing the conversion myself taught me skills that money can't buy.

[BrassBuilder]

Originally Posted by Halfnutz I would look at the Proxon, the Taig the X2 conversion kits and the Sherline for a comparison. I have a CNC'd X2 that works great, it cost under a grand total for the machine, a HobbyCNC kit, the plans and some time for the conversion but overall I really like it, it just cant hog with a 1/2 inch endmill like my big mill/drill can, but for light stuff (even light cuts in metal) it works great and doing the conversion myself taught me skills that money can't buy.

For $2500, I would CNC an X2 before I spent that much on a X1. It cost me a little more than a grand to buy my machine and CNC it, but even if you went with the same package I did, you will have around $1000 left over from your $2500 and have a much better machine. I now have a machine that I built and if something goes wrong, I have a good idea on what I would need to replace or at least where to look for the problem. Like Halfnutz said...this taught me skills that money can't buy.
Mike

[johnyaya]

I have a TL518ER from Townlabs. I am satisfied with it's performance. I use it for what it's intended - plastics, wood, and soft metals. It's a decent starter machine for those that have never CNC'd before and want a machine that works right out of the box. I also prefer servos over stepper motors. I know that it will not be my last machine, it's my first. As I learn more, I come to better realize what features I will need (vs. want) in my next machine.

[MrWild]

lets see, cast iron X/Y table $120. Shake well, add paint, and sell for silly beans. Most parts are chinese and claiming "Made in America" is stretching it a bit. Assembled in America might be a better thing to say. Another silly don't touch it with a 9' pole is...

http://cgi.ebay.com/CNC-XY-Mill-Dril...item1c10695128

Why? Because you can do it yourself for well under $700. They did use some quality parts in the G540. No idea of the stepper rating though. Still, not a bad idea.

YouTube- 404XY Demo Rough.mpg

YouTube- 404XY Demo Rough.mpg

A decent deal with far more rigidity is

http://cgi.ebay.com/Shop-Fox-M1111-V...item2ea8369191

[knudsen]

Looks like someone got a stick welder for Christmas. Welded up a frame, bolted parts to it. I'll bet his kid will be pissed when he sees he's taken the chrome forks off his mock chopper moped. Is that a Menards Tools Shop router on top?