$10'000 To set up CNC and Accessories. What would you get?

[ELM3060]

Ok, newbie here and I plan to buy a small CNC and set up a small work space for it, I will need to be able to do gears as well as spline shafts, so I assume a forth axis will be needed. I will also be working mostly with alloy creating firstly cast gear casings, then machine bearing seats, joint faces etc. Gears will be round pinion and crown sets plus idler gears, either alloy or brass (can you make titanium gears?), lighter the better and spline shafts for them to run on.

It would also be nice to do some work with plastics (200mm wheels), but due to access and $$$ for product, will be starting to make them with alloy as well.

I already have a small drill press (though not very accurate), both small and large angle grinders etc, spanners, screwdrivers, alan keys and all that sort of stuff.

If you had $10'000.00 to spend on a CNC and work area that would be suitable for the above, what machine, accessories and tools would you buy for your CNC work shop?

[MichaelHenry]

Are you looking for mills sold just by LittleMachineShop or at mills from other makers?

Mike

[ELM3060]

The main purpose of the post is to see what peoples opinions are in regard to equipment needed from their own experience, as well as their preferences for mills in the hobbies sizes.
I have had a look briefly online, at Syils SX3-SX4-SX5 and Tomach 770-1100 so far and open to suggestions. I would even consider second hand if it is reasonable condition and priced fairly.

Not sure if quotes are appropriate here, as I believe there is another section for that. Happy if anyone wants to PM me prices though.

I personally do not have much of an idea at present.

My thoughts were, guys with small hobby machine shops (already set up) would have a fair idea of what tools they use and I should have, so that I am not buying gear I will not need, also their opinions on what brands of mill would suit and if I do need the forth axis.

I don't want to walk into a shop or buy online and be told that i need this and that, when I probably don't, just so they get a sale.

I am mostly weighing up my options at the moment, trying to figure if I can actually do this type of work, costs, what mills to seriously look at, etc. I have been injured seriously at work, then had complications from a different surgery. While I am not totally disabled, I doubt very much that I will ever work in full time employment again. I have plenty of time on my hands, though it is dictated be pain, drowsiness from meds etc, so I am thinking, why not try myself when I am capable.

I have two designs that I would like to bring to at least a reasonable prototype stage and have had quotes to bring the first project up to prototype. Problem is I do not have the $20'000 + that they are asking and it is the smallest of the two projects. As mentioned above, I have the time and desperately need an interest that's at home.

While I would like to shop here in Australia first (and I think for the mill at least it would be better due to warranty support, service etc, I am still keeping an open mind if the right offers are there internationally. Due to the high Aussie dollar, cutting tools, vices, clamp kits, measures etc, I will definitely be looking at overseas prices, shopping online and comparing to the prices here in Australia.

I am hoping to find some local hobby metal workers, so I can see how they do things and to get some more advice. Also plan to start visiting some shops to see what I can learn. Will also try to find a few good books, any you recommend while we are at it?

[MichaelHenry]

This particular forum is intended for folks interested in the mills sold by the LittleMachineShop business. You will find much broader feedback in a different forum, perhaps the one dedicated to Benchtop machines:

Benchtop Machines - CNCzone.com-The Largest Machinist Community on the net!

or you can try the hobby machine-specific forums like Tormach, Syil, Novakon, Mikini, Smithy, etc.

As you might imagine, questions like yours have been asked here many times and can find quite a bit of food for thought by just browsing any of the above.

Mike

[ELM3060]

Thanks Mike, I had realised I put my question in the wrong place and contacted the moderator.
At present I have located an old 07 HAFCO RF31 Metal Master and am now looking at the costs/setup of the cncmasters retro-fit cnc kit to see if it will fit.
Fingers crossed.

[mattys281]

Originally Posted by ELM3060 Thanks Mike, I had realised I put my question in the wrong place and contacted the moderator. At present I have located an old 07 HAFCO RF31 Metal Master and am now looking at the costs/setup of the cncmasters retro-fit cnc kit to see if it will fit. Fingers crossed.

Buyer be ware on that front. I bought a CNC Masters Supra Mill in Apr of this year and am finding that it's very, well.... limited.

The plus side is the price & it's very easy to set-up & use the software.

Down side, doesn't interpolate better than .002-.003. When I asked them about it, they said to interpolate as slow as possible, but at 5 ipm I still get the .002 roundness. Also, have problems using the G83/G80 drilling cycles, it loses it's Z zero. Fortunately, my machine creeps up on the Z, leaving excess stock, rather than sneaking down & causing a crash.

I've done many jobs on it, it will get a hobbyist by, but I'm trying to grow my small business & it doesn't cut the mustard for the aerospace work I do. At this point I'm considering either swapping out the CNC unit w/ a MachMotion kit or just biting the bullet & borrowing money to buy a small Haas w/ a tool changer.