My time for an 1100

[Rendrog18]

Well, just wanted to let everyone know that I too will be purchasing an 1100 for a small business. Ive been reading these forums since 2010 and finally have the opportunity to take the step. I'm sure I'll be back regularly for questions and help, which seems to be very easy to find around here. This is one of the(if not the) best online communities I've ever been a member at and love reading the content on here. Ive been on 2 different atv forums, 3 street bike forums, 3 rc car forums, too many firearm related forums, and another big name machining forum(i wont mention any names since they dont allow it there). All of which don't compare to the community here in the Tormach forum. You guys are great and I look forward to participating and learning more.

That being said, I'm not a machinist, nor will I claim to be. Ive ran a manual machine before and understand many of the concepts and ideas, but this is a new ball park. I've learned from reading on here and soon will start the CNC Handbook. I'm very crafty with my hands and expect to do well learning and making parts with this machine.

Hope to talk(type?) with all of you more in the coming months and years! Thanks for all the great info thus far and hopefully I'm not on here too soon with questions

PS - I cannot wait to get this thing in my door!!!

[Gerry Sweetland]

Welcome to the group Rendrog18.
Don't be afraid to ask questions, you'll get plenty of help here.


Gerry

[tbaker2500]

Congratulations! For me the CNC cookbook website and G-Wizard have been invaluable tools to help learn.

[Rendrog18]

Ive been to cookbook and used the trial version of G-Wizard. I think that the software is great and look forward to using it.

[David Bord]

Welcome and congrats !!

Looks like we have very similiar interests and backgrounds.

I had never CNC machined, and did little manual milling but tons of mechanical stuff. Building cars, fabricating etc. Getting my PCNC was one of the single best investments Ive made in myself. While its been a reasonably steep learning curve, It couldnt have been more fun or rewarding to dream up, design and turn it into a physical part for one of my projects.

Looking forward to hear about your progress !

After telling co-workers about my mill several years ago, they decided to purchase a new Tormach for a lab here in Intel. Man, Im green with envy... what a beautiful machine the version 3 is. I love my mill, but the new machines are a level above. You picked a good time to purchase.

David

[Rendrog18]

David,

Thank you for the encouraging words! I was/am nervous about it, its a lot of money for something that may not turn a profit on anytime soon. The mill is primarily for a firearms business I co-operate with a great friend at first. I'll be starting my own business and hope to pick up side work or full time work, but I don't want to get my expectations too high yet.

I'm just finishing up a computer science degree, primarily programming based, and while it should help with the CAD/CAM work, I feel it will leave a lot of the number crunching to be learned. Computers have always come naturally to me, not as much as some of my class mates, but more so than the average person. I've also been building things and fabricating since I can remember, my brother and I used to carve boats out of scrap wood laying around to race down the creek. I've built many custom things for different toys, rebuilt my four wheeler motor, and always fix my own vehicles.

Hopefully all this tech and mechanical background and fascination helps lessen the learning curve!

Again, thank you for the encouraging words and support.

[David Bord]

Oh... and you're a computer geek to boot?? haha... Im a 18 year veteran at Intel. Servers are my specialty.

On thing that may save you time... spend the money on Bob Warfields G-Wizard. It helps trememdously with feeds and speeds. Honestly, I probably ruined 2x the $ in tools in the first month by being too much of a wimp with my cpt and rubbed all my tools dull. It took me 4 years to smarten up and spend the money on the calculator when I started cutting properly. Cut lots of air, wood, etc to get the feel of it. Use softjaws and keep your hand on the e-stop the first time you run a program so you dont take your table out etc. I never machine close to the table and try to have something/distance between it and my work to prevent machine damage. Id rather hit a fixture, vise or snap a tool before making contact with the table

There is lots to learn, and you'll make mistakes. Just take your time and double check stuff... dont do what I do and play with the mill when you are tired, or scattered(if you ever get that way). I generally make mistakes when I work feeling that way.

I never bought the mill to make $ but Im sure Ive paid for it over the last 5 years. I just make stuff to solve problems or make something better in my builds and many times people have found a need for what Ive created and paid me a reasonable amount for them.

Regardless, dont worry about making money in the beginning, you have LOTS to learn like I did. Hopefully you get the same satisfaction and joy that I have learning to CNC mill.

Heres a thread at a Forum I frequent documenting a bit of my CNC journey. Hopefully you find it entertaining

Home CNC Tech - Corner-Carvers Forums

David

[Rendrog18]

Haha, sure am, almost even have a piece of paper to prove it ;-)

I planned on getting G-Wiz. I've tried the trial version just to play with it and it seems like a great piece of software. I saw Glacern had their vises on sale and ordered one. It appears to be better quality and about $100 cheaper than Tormach's when not on sale. I'll either pick up a set or make a set of soft jaws, may be an easy first project(after foam and wood). Also just saw the thread on the cutting board tool holder. That looks like a great first project too!

I do often find myself scatter brained a little, hard not to be cooped up in a building with just a computer all day long :-p I'll try to avoid temptations during this state of mind.

Just read over the link you provided, looks like some great work not too long after getting the machine! I can only hope for the same. Your first part looks like it turned out great.

[davidperry3]

I recommend just buying a few sizes of end mills to start with maybe 1/8 1/4 1/2.
It's better to have six of each of these than a set of with only one of each size.

Get ER 20s for each and two drill holders one will allways have a spot drill in it.
When I bought my machine I got every option and los of "sets" of tools, all in I spent close to $20K
Now I would still be hard pressed to give up any of the options but there are some that I have never really used after 3.5 years.
If I had learned only three sizes of end mills in the beginning I would have saved a fortune in broken tools. I think my mistake was trying to be prepared to make "anything" regardless of if it would be practical.

[Rendrog18]

Thanks perry! We began looking at this machine in early 2011. Thus giving me much time to study these message boards and think of what we may need. I think initially I could utilize one of each 1/8, 1/4 and 1/2 end mills, along with a 1/4 or 1/2 ball end mill and a drill set. Tapping will probably be necessary at some point but for learning purposes I don't anticipate needing more than a handful of cutters.

[Steve Seebold]

Rendrog18,

Welcome to the group. There are a lot of people here who can lead you down the right path. You need only to ask.

You'll be amazed at how many cutters you'll need. One thing you will soon learn, "THE BEST WAY TO INSURE THAT YOU WILL BREAK A SMALL DRILL, TAP OR END MILL IS TO BUY JUST ONE".

I have had my PCNC1100since July 2011. I was sitting in my chair on a Sunday afternoon and my wife came to me and said, "if you'll wear a suit to my niece's wedding next month, I pull some money out and get you the machine you want". I stood up and said, "let's go buy a suit".

Four days later, my machine arrived.

I am not one to even wear long pants. I hadn't worn long pants in the last 12 or 13 years and I saw no reason to start now. But her offer was too good to refuse.

Now I call myself Mid Day Machining, because I NEVER start working before 11:00 AM. Quitting time? That depends on what's on TV that night. Sometimes I will quit at 2:00 PM, but sometimes I will quit at 10:00 PM.

I use my machine to manufacture a line of running gear for remote control gasoline powered model race boats.

[Rendrog18]

Funny story Steve, made me laugh when I read it. I would agree that the offer was unrefusable. Congrats on the machine! Its very reassuring having people tell you they love the machines and how well they work. Some of the "problems" threads paint a pretty dark picture in my imagination. Sounds like you've got the machine and a system figured out. I've seen some of your other posts of your work and it looks great!