manual machine shop

[MBG]

I dont mind working part time either. I am still working my way through college. I just would like to start a part time machining business.

[ViperTX]

Well keying off of DLMACHINE's observation of what is occuring at auctions..."manual machines selling for a premium over CNC" because of us.....leads me to recommend that if you can undertake a CNC retrofit of a CNC machine...that may be the way to go.

[wizard]

Originally Posted by miljnor I agree with DL It can be done, but, don't quite your day job!

Wise advice!

However on the other hand if things take off don't forget the importance of that college education.

Another big recomendation is to make your own product because in the end a job shop is a glorified employee thats easy to fire!

This is a good idea but don't underestimate the marketing costs. Also for a straight job shop with just a mill and a lathe, I'd have to wonder what you could produce that would be competitive.

miljnor and DL... both have hit things on the head. It may be far easier to get into some basic CNC hardware due to current market conditions. As long as you have a manual capacity in some form it is the way to go. As to lathe or mill as the first CNC device well that sort of depends on what you expect to do. I know of one guy that ran a bunch of lathes in his basment making very small parts for years. It is a matter of the type of work you intend to pursue, when I here job shop though I think CNC mill.

Thanks
Dave

[wizard]

The idea of working your way though college with your own business is not unheard of. It won't be easy either. Many business will have trouble dealing with part time business but there won't be enough of these to matter to much.

You might find that there will be potential business available to you simply because you are working your way through college.

Frankly the best reason to go the CNC route is that the machine itself can work for you while you are studying. Or more likely sleeping.

One word of caution though with respect to used CNC equipment. If you are not inclined to make repairs or upgrades your self you may need to rethink used CNC. The bargains are there because no body wants the headaches that go with fixing old hardware. A person with the right aptitiude might not have much of an issue with this though.

dave

Originally Posted by MBG I dont mind working part time either. I am still working my way through college. I just would like to start a part time machining business.

[MBG]

I think I am going to go the cnc mill route with a manual lathe.

I am checking out haas cnc toolroom mill.

[Geof]

Originally Posted by MBG I think I am going to go the cnc mill route with a manual lathe. I am checking out haas cnc toolroom mill.

Good choice; manual lathe and CNC mill but I suggest at least the MiniMill not the toolroom mill. Except for the one advantage of longer table travel the TM has, in my view, only disadvantages compared to the MM: The spindle speed is lower, the feeds and rapids are much slower, the Tool Changer is not included and the machine is open so you cannot work with flood coolant which is essential for maximum productivity on aluminum. In terms of potential earning capacity I think the MM is a better buy. An even better buy, although it is quite a bit more money, is a Super Mini Mill with the extended Z clearance and fourth axis so you can expand to a rotary table in the future. On this SMM you can mount the Haas HRT 210 and still maintain full X travel on the table and you have almost the same Z clearance above the centerline of the rotary table as a regular MM has above the machine table.

[MBG]

Originally Posted by Geof Good choice; manual lathe and CNC mill but I suggest at least the MiniMill not the toolroom mill. Except for the one advantage of longer table travel the TM has, in my view, only disadvantages compared to the MM: The spindle speed is lower, the feeds and rapids are much slower, the Tool Changer is not included and the machine is open so you cannot work with flood coolant which is essential for maximum productivity on aluminum. In terms of potential earning capacity I think the MM is a better buy. An even better buy, although it is quite a bit more money, is a Super Mini Mill with the extended Z clearance and fourth axis so you can expand to a rotary table in the future. On this SMM you can mount the Haas HRT 210 and still maintain full X travel on the table and you have almost the same Z clearance above the centerline of the rotary table as a regular MM has above the machine table.

wow no coolant screw that.. damn 40k for the super mini mill. I am better off getting the vf1 damn. What about used machines where could I pick them up? I like HAAS.

[Geof]

Going for the Super Mini Mill has advantages over the VF1 that could apply in your planning. The machine weighs in at about 4500 to 5000 lbs with the extra Z clearance compared with 8000lb for the VF1 and it occupies less space. The SMM does not need to be accurately levelled because it is a small machine and sits on a rigid steel fabrication that is also the coolant tank. If you are setting up a small shop and may be in the position of sharing space or get into some place with limited access to save money the SMM is much easier to move. Also it comes with a 10000 rpm spindle and 1200 ipm rapids compared with 7500 and 750 on the VF1 (unless it has been upgraded).

[DareBee]

MBG
You could try starting here http://www.machinetools.com/MT/Machi...MachineID=2740.
I also suggest looking at Fadal for economical yet good machine options.