Newbie- Advice on selecting a machine

[mono4lamar]

Hey guys, I'm looking for advice on what machine I should purchase. I have no experience programming but I have access to people that can make me all the files I need.

Basically I'm in a bind because I keep going through machinists. Nobody is reliable so I'm getting to the point where I might as well buy a hobbyist machine, fixture the material and push start!

I engineer automotive parts and I need to just build flanges. The largest and most complicated flange I make is 12" X 5" and has 45 degree ports that go into it. I don't know if I need a 3-axis machine or a 4-axis machine.

I'll get a couple pictures of the flanges that I have machined posted soon to give you a full example. Basically though I need something that's relatively inexpensive and simple to use. I've been looking at this on ebay...

CNC router engraver drilling and milling machine 60400

http://cgi.ebay.com/CNC-router-engra...69916051835314

Let me know if you seasoned pro's can give me any advice. Thank you for your time reading this and cooperation in advance!

-Lance Mayhon
FreeLance Motorsports

[Algirdas]

How is going?
You should be coverred by offers, if You were in our area :-)
You need to provide estimate of annual production capacity and how much You're able to spend including tooling.

[ksanalytical]

Lance,

I know the feeling about some shops not being reliable... 4 axis in terms of most routers means a rotational axis along the length of the X-axis of the machine. Kinda like a lathe. Your part description wasn't terribly specific on those 45 degree holes, so it's hard to say what kind of configuration you'd want. Tilting the head of the router is not a common solution, but is still technically "4 axis". You might try posting a 3D model of the part for better feedback as well as the material you want to make it out of and the rough stock dimensions you'll start with.

Ken

[jvangelder]

Lance,

You can get by with a 3 axis mill and just have a jig setup to hold your flange at a 45* angle for that one set of features, however to maintain the tight tolerance's you have mentioned in your other posts, your going to want to something rather ridged, and a bench top unit made of aluminum isnt going to really work, your going to have to take very light cuts,and even then im not sure if your you can get that kind of resolution and repeatability on that type of machine.

edit

infact they mention right on that add that the repeatability of that machine is only 0.001, which inst good at all really.

-Jacob

[slowtwitch]

Lance, I'm in the same boat as you. I've gone thru 6 machine shops to get my product to market and I'm still waiting on parts

Shops are crying the blues about not getting the work and when they do get the work they screw you. As you, I make custom automotive parts.

Currently, I make the parts on an old Logan lathe and an old Enco mill/drill. I would be very intersted in what machine you go with. I'm in the process of building a larger garage and it will have a CNC mill in it.

pete