Newbie- CNC Machine Tool for $10,000?

[Rockn-Roll]

Hi...I've put in about 10 hours reading through these forums...haven't learned what I need yet.
I'm looking for a new general purpose CNC machine tool for around $10,000USD.

Minimum Requirements:
Throat: 5"
3 Axis movement with .001" increment.
Sufficient power to make .010" cuts from 200-250 MPa Yield Strength steel using 220V Single Phase...minimum 2HP...it doesn't need to be speedy.

Just form in your mind a machine that can make a cut on any area of one face of a 5"x5"x5" cube with precision of .001"...I'm sure there's a machine out there that can do it...I'm just hoping to get some more options before I start looking for demonstrations of the machines.

I would prefer USA made so the user manual is easy to understand and I can understand customer support in every division i.e. Marketing, Sales, Technical Support, Accounting, etc. and to reduce damage from shipping since I'm in the USA. A good quality machine can be built in any country, but I would have the best understanding from user manuals and customer support from humans and user manuals made in the USA.

[mactec54]

Rockn-Roll
Question 1) My college shop instructor said a Lathe can do anything a Mill can

I would not trust your instructor, A $250,000 (Plus) dollar, 5/6 axes can do both, but would have to be a very large machine to do a engine block, a regular standard lathe can not do what you can do on a regular mill

You can get new front rotors for $300 for your car, & you may be able to find a better price than this

If you want to machine the engine your self, you need a special machine to do the V8 engine block, it could be done on a mill with special fixtures, to hold the block, at the right angle, but would not be worth the trouble, A good engine builder can put it right, in there special machines they have for doing this work

Other Zone users can give advice on a machine, but don't even look at the 3 in 1 type machines

[underthetire]

Your instructor obviously does no know machining. Anything big enough to even fit a V8 block in to on a CNC is going to be ~75K for a cheap one. A lathe, especially a CNC, will be hard pressed to mill anything other than a slot. Multifunction (live tool lathes) with Y axis are going to start at around 125K, and thats going to be about a 6 -8 inch machine. Used mills can be had for your price range, but remember, your going to need three phase power for almost anything.

[Rockn-Roll]

Hmm...this thread is already off track...I'll edit my original post.

[DareBee]

Your biggest problem - you have bad luck.
All the shops you have used are incompetent Jackasses.

You can NOT get a CNC machine that will do an engine block for likely less than $75,000, and it will be 20+ years old.
You can NOT get an American made CNC any cheaper than a Haas (Haas may very well be the only full US machine left).

A Syil X7 is likely the closest you will get to your specs and it is still a long way off.

[mactec54]

Rockn-Roll

That was a big change, once you write it, a lot of people are going to see it as soon as you post, Going from a V8 to a Lawn mower size engine 5x5x5, what changed

Now that you have changed things, there are many small machines that will do what you want, I would look at the How-Mau machine, there biggest cnc would be the best of there machines to get for the money you want to spend, & they are in CA Paseo Santa Cruz

[DareBee]

I agree.
If you didn't know the original post, it makes my previous post look retarded.

except for this part \/ (even though there is no context as to why I said it )

Your biggest problem - you have bad luck. All the shops you have used are incompetent Jackasses.

[Rockn-Roll]

Originally Posted by DareBee I agree. If you didn't know the original post, it makes my previous post look retarded. except for this part \/ (even though there is no context as to why I said it ) Originally Posted by Rockn-Roll Your biggest problem - you have bad luck. All the shops you have used are incompetent Jackasses.

Sorry...I'm a total noob and will probably say a lot of stupid things...please be patient. I've learned enough that I will most likely support this forum, so I'm not going anywhere...after obtaining a machine tool I will most likely need some assistance from the more experienced machinists. But, yes...I think the Sacramento CA area has lost their minds and taken the economic situation too literal and are paying just above minimum wage for crucial labor...I'm seeing a lot more vehicles breaking down on the streets. I'm actually getting out of here the first chance I get. My uncle is a 30 year veteran commercial welder and I'll probably be setting up the machine tool at his shop.

Originally Posted by mactec54 Rockn-Roll That was a big change, once you write it, a lot of people are going to see it as soon as you post, Going from a V8 to a Lawn mower size engine 5x5x5, what changed Now that you have changed things, there are many small machines that will do what you want, I would look at the How-Mau machine, there biggest cnc would be the best of there machines to get for the money you want to spend, & they are in CA Paseo Santa Cruz

OK...thanks. I did a web search for How-Mau Machine Tools and am currently looking at a web domain name of Atron.com.tw which appears to be the domain of the How-Mau CNC Machinery company in Taipei i.e. Taiwan. If their Company name is How-Mau then why isn't their Domain name How-Mau.com? I checked with Register.com and it's available...and for $15/month they can have the domain along with email addresses...it looks like they are all using HotMail accounts. Sorry, I'm just making an observation that the How-Mau company is 10 years behind in products and services which only cost $15/month. In my personal and very subjective opinion I suspect their products and services which cost $5,000 are also behind the times. It looks like there is a subforum here for How-Mau machinery...if I can't find anything closer to home then I'll definitely drop in there and see what they have to offer...thanks.

[underthetire]

Don't know what jobs you've been looking at in Sac, but I know several shops in Elk Grove/ Sac area that pay VERY well. And can't get skilled people.

[mactec54]

Rockn-Roll

Sorry,just Google HM CNC Systems, this is How-Mau USA

HMCNC

[Rockn-Roll]

Originally Posted by mactec54 Sorry,just Google HM CNC Systems, this is How-Mau USA HMCNC

Ah...OK...that's more like it. They are in Fremont actually...I lived there for about a year in 1999...about a 50 minute drive from where I am. Thanks, I'll give them a call and see if they can demo some of their machines.

Originally Posted by underthetire Don't know what jobs you've been looking at in Sac, but I know several shops in Elk Grove/ Sac area that pay VERY well. And can't get skilled people.

I don't know directly because I haven't applied for a job as a mechanic for a couple of decades, but just a few years ago I met a high school student who was hired as a shop assistant for just a little above minimum wage and was asked to perform tasks that require a journeyman mechanic...telling them that it's training. I would be completely surprised if you have worked in the Sacramento area and have not encountered businesses which take advantage of individuals who are inexperienced or desperate for a job. After these workers complete their training and start asking for a raise they are fired and the shop hires another "trainee". Heck...I just got through training my replacements for a job I worked for over 2 years...because I got tired of doing 3x the work that my supervisor was doing and getting paid and treated like I was something they needed to sweep under the rug if someone important wanted to meet the team. During my stay here that's the rule and not the exception...the exception is finding a business that wants to build their business by holding onto workers that can improve it...not fire them and hire workers that will maintain the poor quality and lack of progress that has kept the business from growing for the past 10 years.

[draughted]

sounds like you need something like a tormach.