A short review of the Tormach 770

[concombrefrais]

Hello Everyone,

I have own a 770 for over six months now and I wrote a short review about it on my website. I think it can be of interest to anyone who is interested in getting the same machine. Here is a link:
TormachTOC

I will try to keep the site updated in the future as well. Let me know if you have any comment!

Christian

[Magnum164]

CHEATER!

You have a Power draw bar for the 770.. Not fair.. I am looking into the plans now! That looks sweet and I can use one.

I have a bad back and to top it all I am short, so reaching to tighten the draw bar is always rough for me.

[concombrefrais]

Hi Magnum,

Yes, the power draw bar is great. I sometimes swap tool just for the satisfaction of using a power draw bar! And it's cheap and quite easy to make I think.
Christian

CHEATER!

You have a Power draw bar for the 770.. Not fair.. I am looking into the plans now! That looks sweet and I can use one.

I have a bad back and to top it all I am short, so reaching to tighten the draw bar is always rough for me.

[Gerry Sweetland]

Nice web site and review
The power draw bar is cool too.
To late now but you can buy a duplex outlet that the Tormach male plug will fit into at just about any home store, I got one at Home Depot. It only cost 3 or 4 dollars if I recall. I attached a picture.
Thanks for the review, I always liked the way you set up your shop.
Gerry

[zephyr9900]

That is a 20-amp outlet, Gerry, so make sure that it is fed by a 20A breaker and the wiring run will also support 20A loads. Equipment that needs 20A service has the special plug so it can't be plugged into a 15A circuit and overload it.

Not saying that you did, but someone who wires that outlet to a 15A circuit breaker is violating electrical code and their homeowner's insurance will also be invalid if a fire starts because of overheated wiring.

Randy

[Magnum164]

Nice web site and review
The power draw bar is cool too.
To late now but you can buy a duplex outlet that the Tormach male plug will fit into at just about any home store, I got one at Home Depot. It only cost 3 or 4 dollars if I recall. I attached a picture.
Thanks for the review, I always liked the way you set up your shop.
Gerry

Be sure to check your local codes. If I understand correctly what I was told, you can't put that 30amp plate on wires/boxes rated for 15-20amp. That's why I elected to change the Tormach plug as I did not think it would need 30amps unless I was really loading up the motor which I have no need to do. So far it has been fine. No blown fuses to date. And just for clarification my wiring will handle the 30amps, I just have an old fuse box that we try and keep at 15 amps.

[Magnum164]

That is a 20-amp outlet, Gerry, so make sure that it is fed by a 20A breaker and the wiring run will also support 20A loads. Equipment that needs 20A service has the special plug so it can't be plugged into a 15A circuit and overload it.

Not saying that you did, but someone who wires that outlet to a 15A circuit breaker is violating electrical code and their homeowner's insurance will also be invalid if a fire starts because of overheated wiring.

Randy

+1 You beat me too it

[Magnum164]

Christian,


Would you mind posting some pics of the PDA and it's mounting? Just curious how that is mounted as opposed to the plans. Which hopefully I will have in a day or two.

[Gerry Sweetland]

Thanks for the heads up fellas, it is a dedicated 20 amp circuit for the mill with a 20 amp breaker in the box and 12-2 wire (I think that all is req'ed in my area is 14-2 on a 20 amp run but I ran 12-2).
Here is a link to the outlet I bought, it's rated for 20 amps, not 30
Leviton 20 amp Duplex Outlet - R52-05352-0WS at The Home Depot
But good info for someone trying to wire their 770?
Gerry

[Magnum164]

Thanks for the heads up fellas, it is a dedicated 20 amp circuit for the mill with a 20 amp breaker in the box and 12-2 wire (I think that all is req'ed in my area is 14-2 on a 20 amp run but I ran 12-2).
Here is a link to the outlet I bought, it's rated for 20 amps, not 30
Leviton 20 amp Duplex Outlet - R52-05352-0WS at The Home Depot
But good info for someone trying to wire their 770?
Gerry

Definitely good info. Wish I had noticed the 770 had that plug before I bought, instead of running around trying to find one after the fact.

[concombrefrais]

Thank you Gerry for your suggestion, I wish I had known. I remember reading in the manual for the 770 that the plug was a standard american 110v before buying. I guess they should update that at some point.
Magnum, I will take a picture tomorrow and post it here but I may be able to find the dxf file, somewhere. I do have the g-code producing the plate, that could work for you. I'll get back to you later.
Christian

[photomankc]

Nice review, thanks for writing it up. One day, if I go further with some ideas I may be looking at a 770 or 1100 but for now I just have to look at other people's and drool. The only real drawback I see for me on the 770 is the small X axis travel. I like the 19" on my PM-25 and wish they would get the 770 at least 15 or 16. Otherwise it's a kick butt little machine with a 10K spindle which would be another world for me with small tools.