Looking for advice

[nee2]

Hi All,

I am looking to buy one of the smaller CNC machines for use in my garage. I have quite a bit of experience on the larger 'older' Hurco KMB-1 but I obveously need something much smaller for home use. So far I have looked at:

1. Tormach PCNC 770 and 1100
2. Talon CNC 1240 Bed Mill
3. CNC Masters: CNC Jr.
4. CNC Express, Express SQ and Express XL

Does anyone have any advice on which of the smaller machines are the best.

Thanks.

[GLCarlson]

"It depends". What are you going to use it for, how big is your space, how comfortable are you being millwright, programmer, electrician/electronics tech, what's your spending limit, etc?

My process was to read this board and others that talked about machines I was considering. Completely (it was easier a few years ago). Anecdotal, I know, but it gave me a very good sense of both machines and companies.

I bought a Tormach 1100.

I have never regretted buying the best quality, biggest, most capable tool I could afford (somehow, my projects never get smaller. I have never regretted purchasing from the company with the best possible reputation. Tormach's support and customer service have been superb.

Incidentally. A quick test I have used (and did in this case): what's the availability on the used market? Lots to choose from, or gone in a flash? Never did find a used Tormach for sale (it does happen, now and again- but they don't stay on the market long).

Ultimately, I think you're asking for an answer to an imponderable- only you can make the decision.

[Don Clement]

HEAD KNIGHT: We are the keepers of the sacred words: Ni, Peng, and Neee-wom!
RANDOM: Neee-wom!
ARTHUR: Those who hear them seldom live to tell the tale!

[philbur]

HEAD KNIGHT: We are the keepers of the sacred words: Ni, Peng, and Neee-wom!
RANDOM: Neee-wom!
ARTHUR: Those who hear them seldom live to tell the tale!

+1. But how will this help me improve my productivity.

Phil

[Don Clement]

+1. But how will this help me improve my productivity.

Phil

HEAD KNIGHT: The Knights Who Say 'Ni' demand a sacrifice!


ARTHUR: Well, what is it you want?
HEAD KNIGHT: We want... a shrubbery!

[David Bord]

My process was to read this board and others that talked about machines I was considering. Completely (it was easier a few years ago). Anecdotal, I know, but it gave me a very good sense of both machines and companies.

I bought a Tormach 1100.

I have never regretted buying the best quality, biggest, most capable tool I could afford (somehow, my projects never get smaller. I have never regretted purchasing from the company with the best possible reputation. Tormach's support and customer service have been superb.

Incidentally. A quick test I have used (and did in this case): what's the availability on the used market? Lots to choose from, or gone in a flash? Never did find a used Tormach for sale (it does happen, now and again- but they don't stay on the market long).

Ultimately, I think you're asking for an answer to an imponderable- only you can make the decision.

+1

Going on 5 years on my 1100. I love it!

David

[zephyr9900]

The great majority of what I machine is smaller than 6" on the biggest dimension and for most, .250" is a large roughing bit. I bought my 1100 in October 2006 and am very enthusiastic about it, but today I would buy the 770 for the 10krpm spindle and easily live with the smaller working envelope. The feedrate on almost all of my machining is spindle RPM limited so the 770 would let me machine almost all of what I do twice as fast.

Randy

[philbur]

But of course they did. The trouble is they were looking for one that was nice but not to expensive. Isn't that always the way?

However Arther still wants to know if it will improve his productivity, but the Knights don't seem to know.

Phil

HEAD KNIGHT: The Knights Who Say 'Ni' demand a sacrifice!


ARTHUR: Well, what is it you want?
HEAD KNIGHT: We want... a shrubbery!

[philbur]

Forget 3. and 4. Round column with limited Z, on the quill (a definite no no) or converted RF45 with a noisy gear gearbox and again only 5" on the Z, via the quill (again, no no). Both have very limited spindle RPM. They are both dinosaurs. That leaves two and this is a Tormach forum so what do you think the collective answer is.

Phil

[zephyr9900]

And between the 1100 and the 770, nee2's statement

I am looking to buy one of the smaller CNC machines

unambiguously indicates the 770! Case closed!

Randy

[C*H*U*D]

I have the 770 in my basement and love it...no regrets at all (except for getting it down the stairs)

One of the things that made me pull the trigger on it, was the number of people that are always viewing this forum compared to others. It seemed the Tormach section was the most active, and probably the easiest to get help on.

[Jaynboom]

Like other folks, I checked the forums before buying. On the Tormach forum, you see many questions like "How do I make this, change this, do this?", not my machine is not working, and I can't get a return-call from the seller. It's usually about projects, enclosures and help understanding Mach3.

I've had my 770 for two weeks, and I'm pretty impressed. You definitely want the TTS tool system. It makes tool changes MUCH faster than R8. I built an enclosure with parts from a Craigslist-found pharmaceutical-hood to contain the the slinging coolant and chips.

No, it's not as fast as the big VMCs I used, but it's decent. You'll notice the biggest difference in the rapids.

Feel free to PM me, if you have questions.

Roy

ETA: The two times I called tech-support, they picked up on the first ring. Both times, it was my mistake, not the machine. They didn't care who's mistake it was. They were great to deal with.