New Tormach makes my first part!

[Sp-4renegade]

I ordered, controller, mach 3 computer, sprut cam, alibrie, power drawbar, tts touch tool dig ind, 5" tormach vise, tts cnc oprerations set deluxe. Few other things, and the hat. My allowance stopped me at 14k. I am making my own stand, I have a full manual shop and fab/welding. Besides, Stainless steel is easer to clean. Next is the 8" 4th axis. Going to put in over time, cuz I gotta have that ATC. I dont need it now but it looks so cool.

[Bob La Londe]

What's special about the Tormach vise?

[shred]

Get the 6" 4th or the tilting one that goes on the other side of the table if you really need the 8" size. Otherwise you can't put long tools in the ATC.

[Sp-4renegade]

My 6" Kirt vises are a bit heavy to lug around, Plus my vises are all keyed for my XLO and Brown and Sharp mills all diffrent. and I needed a cnc vise, the main reason is that the Tormach vise is already keyed for the machine and it is tapped for a trunion. And when I get a second vise it will match. No real reason, never check prices.

[Sp-4renegade]

Gear cutting is why I was looking at the 8" 4th. I never noticed that the tilting one mounts on the the other side. Thanks. I can always block up the 6" If I need to.

[cheetahcnc]

What's special about the Tormach vise?

The Tormach vise locates exactly at the spindle side of the table without reducing Y axis travel. I have four of the Kurt D675's, and still got the Tormach vise for this reason.

I ordered, controller, mach 3 computer, sprut cam, alibrie, power drawbar, tts touch tool dig ind, 5" tormach vise, tts cnc oprerations set deluxe. Few other things, and the hat. My allowance stopped me at 14k. I am making my own stand, I have a full manual shop and fab/welding. Besides, Stainless steel is easer to clean. Next is the 8" 4th axis. Going to put in over time, cuz I gotta have that ATC. I dont need it now but it looks so cool.

Sounds like a great setup right from the start. I'm also looking into getting the SprutCam sometime soon.

Jim

[dak1]

MIDI is great. Just tell it where to go.... I haven't quite been able to justify an MPG pendant just yet, but it may be the ticket for manual positioning. I use my computer keyboard like a pendant all the time though for zeroing to a work piece.

I'm trying to envision how the keyboard simulates a pendant. Can you elaborate? (Arrow keys)????

[Bob La Londe]

I'm trying to envision how the keyboard simulates a pendant. Can you elaborate? (Arrow keys)????

Yeah basically. LOL.

[dak1]

Yeah basically. LOL.

Bob,

I'm sorry that may be a silly question. But, I'm just learning about all these small CNC's on this forum & thinking about something for home. All the CNC's I've dealt with here over the past 25 years have all had integral controls with pendants (which I'm reliant on for manual mode). Just trying to understand something I've had no exposure to.

Dave

[Bob La Londe]

Bob,

I'm sorry that may be a silly question. But, I'm just learning about all these small CNC's on this forum & thinking about something for home. All the CNC's I've dealt with here over the past 25 years have all had integral controls with pendants (which I'm reliant on for manual mode). Just trying to understand something I've had no exposure to.

Dave

I have My PCs and several other bits and peices of my systems in a communication rack/cabinet between my two small CNC mills. I routinely pick up one of the keyborads and hold it wedged against my belly to operate the keys with one hand to position the mill. I thought I was clever for about a tenth of a second when I first thought of it, and then I went, "DOH! That's freaking obvious." Its not an ideal solution, but it works. Since I manually position once, and often run jobs that last many hours the convenience of a pendant hasn't really over ridden the cost for me yet. I will probably put a pendant on the Hurco when I get it finished though just because its so big (compared to my mini machines not compared to really big machines) that it won't be quite as practical to use the PC keyboard in this manner.

[Gerry Sweetland]

When I purchased my 770 I included this in the package...
30552-OUTLET - Jog Pendant
It was a lot cheaper than the jog pendant and I see now it is on sale. It works good for me for manual stuff like facing a work piece for set up or for positioning my touch probe for finding corner of vice or work pc. using Mack3 wizards.
Gerry

[philbur]

That keypad is as about as useful as the latest sale price implies. It must be Tormachs' first sale. I have one collecting dust under my work bench for the past 5 years.

I have found one of these (P3 pendant) works well for me, at a good price.

Link: vistaCNC

Phil

PS: I'm surprised that Tormach doesn't offer a decent pendant.