new to cnc. have about 3k budget, how to get started?

[Trike]

Hi, i'm new to this board as you can tell. I'm also very new to CNC and machining in general. I would like to get started at cnc, but dont want to get stuck with a limited machine.

my main goals are a very versatile machine. I was planning on getting a taig, but seems like the y and z axis might not be enough for me. I would like a accurate machine, just like anyone else.

so my question is. should i just start off with a taig? Rather should i find a big mill and convert to a cnc. i'm not sure what the advantages and disadvantages are to that. obviously it'll be easier to start off with if i just got the taig. I'm not sure if i converted a regular mill, that it would still mill just as accurately.

I like to build stuff, so converting one shouldn't be a big deal, but i'm not sure about tolerances and how accurate the end result would be.

I have about 3k to work with. whether that means to get a taig, or buying a bigger machine and converting it.

I would love to hear your feedback and comments. I look forward to being in this community as it is very new to me.

Thanks!

[pfeist]

I'm pretty new at this stuff myself... still in the "collecting the parts and figuring out how to put it all together" stage...

Questions you need to ask youself to define what you need;

1) HOW accurate? Do you need to machine parts with a tolerance of +-.005" ? Or to +-.0001"?
That latter figure is gonna be a little tricky ;-)

2) How large a work do you anticipate needing to do? If the Taig is big enough, great. But you better plan that whatever you build will get too small pretty quick :-)

3) How good are you with the electronics end? I found real quick that the more you know about electronics, the cheaper you can do that part of it (not having to buy assemblies 'cause you're too clueless, like me, to just put 'em together from stuff you can get at radio shack...).

If you have access to some manual machines (lathe and mill), you could concievably buy a small import Mill, and retrofit it with scrounged parts (from eBay, of course!), and probably do it for less then $3k.

Take anything I say with a big 'ol grain of salt.. and if someone else who actually knows stuff contradicts me, beleive them...

Paul F.

[Trike]

i consider myself pretty good with electronics. i've built a few efi controllers for cars.

i think the biggest part i would have is about 12"x4" figure if i get the taig, i can just flip it and cnc the other end.

i'm not sure about tolerances yet, probably doesn't have to be +/-.0001

i'm mainly going to be building steadicam parts in attempt to make my own steadicam. I've seen the harborfreight 1600 unit, but they don't list any detailed specs. but i'm thinking maybe a taig would be something good to start off with.

[pfeist]

I'd be inclined to suggest you start BIGGER than you actually think you need...
I'm not familliair with the Harbor Freight model you reference, but you might consider something in this size range http://www.grizzly.com/products/item...mNumber=G1005Z
Not saying that this one from Grizzly is necessarily a great machine, but it's a bit bigger than the Taig, and may end up more flexible for you.

I would also suggest you go to http://www.seanet.com/~dmauch and check out Camtronics kits and controllers and such..
He uses the Gecko Drives motor driver as a basis, and the Gecko's are consistently highly rated.
I just ordered one of the 201's last night (to get started assembling). I'll order two more later.

A steadicam sounds like a GREAT project! If it works our well, you should consider writing it up as a project for something like Home Shop Machinist...

Hope this helps!
Paul F.

[kong]

There is plenty of info over at www.homecnc.info about converting a mill/drill to cnc. I would personaly forget the Taig altogether, if you decide to go for a small mill, at least have a look at the Sherline range.

[sendkeys]