Help on first Purchase

[Brummie Rich]

Can someone give me some honest advice?

I have an engineering company and we currently just run Bridgeport Vertical turret mills.
I have a lot of experience with CAD 2D and 3D and 14 years experience working with machine tools but my only experience with CNC is with our EDM Wire eroder which is only 2D
We are looking to purchase our first CNC machining centre and i am looking at a second user machine.
I have been offered a Cincinnati Arrow 500 with Acramatic 2100 control for £10K.

I've been told these are a good starter machine as the controller is windows based. Has anyone else had much experience starting with these machines or whether i should look elsewhere.

Also should i opt for a CAM package or can i get by with just the A2100 controller. We use a 2D package for the EDM machine but it's too old to deal with CNC milling machines.

Rich

[mallardfizz]

oright brummie i worked for cinci for 30 years drop a line to my e-mail address
- mallard@fizz58.freeserve.co.uk with your phone number or i will reply with my number to discuss the purchase. is 10k to much?
regards
mallardfizz
ps i live in walmley, sutton coldfield

[mallardfizz]

hello again brummie you didnt reply to my last e-mail and i wondered what decision you had made regarding the cincinnati arrow.if you are still considering it then drop me an e-mail with the serial number and i will see if i can find out its history. any other questions just ask.
regards
mallardfizz