Next Step Up.

[Terry G]

I've been using a CNC Taig Mill for about 5 years now. I use it quite often and am finding that I am pushing the limits on it. I have a home shop in my garage and occasionally do some low volume production. I have the machine cutting 3/16" steel in a single pass with a 3/16" roughing end mill at 3ipm and .125" deep cuts in alluminum at 15 IPM with a 3/8" end mill. I have a 2.5hp DC motor with a cooling system and the closed loop servo kit from IMS. But it is really hard on this little machine and I am constantly taking it apart and re-tuning it to handle these loads.

I've been searching around for the next step up from this mill. Of course I would love to have a HAAS VF0 or even a Mini Mill, but I just can't afford something like that yet. I have looked into the Tormach Personal CNC but was wondering if there is anything else out there that someone can recommend. The Tormach is about the right price range if I were to upgrade. I just don't like the custom tooling I would need. I would be more comfortable paying for a more standard set of tooling.

An automatic tool changer would be nice, but not necessary. I've also considered an older heavy duty mill and converting to CNC. But I am not sure if I can get the same accuracy with something like this vs an off the shelf CNC.

Any suggestions or comments would be great. I want to make sure I have looked at all the options available before I make a choice.

Thanks.

[dertsap]

before looking at a tormach you should look into finding a used hass mini mill , you'd be able to get one relatively cheap and you'd be far happier and far better off than shelling out the money for a tormach ,
the specs between the two machines is rediculous
i understand that many people are happy and will probably defend the tormach but i could never justify spending that kind of money on a slow tiny stepper motor driven toy when i could buy the real deal used for a couple thousand more or at par if in the right place at the right time
i look at craigslist every so often and there is almost always a local machine or two forsale

to each his own but thats what i would do

[Terry G]

I've been told the same thing before. I was planning on opening a small CNC shop beginning of this year so I did quite a bit of research and receive e-mails daily from a lot of the local machinary sales people with stuff for sale.

I was originally thinking of a VF0 or VF1 in the mid 90's. They all seem to be around the $20,000 range. Not sure when they started making the mini-mill.

My CNC shop is on hold for now, so I am still in my garage shop. I have never come across a cabinet mill for under $15,000, and at that price range what I saw was pretty old. That's the only reason I was even considering an intermediate step with a Tormach or something similar since the price range was around 7-8K.

Anway, thanks for the advice and I may just hold off until the right one comes along.