Planning a purchase

[mvtop]

Hi,
I’ve been looking at the PCNC 1100 for awhile and might be ready to get off the fence and make the purchase..

It seems tormach has added some new items and packages to buy since i last looked.
My question is, what items/packages would you buy again and what would you not buy again.

As for what is the machine is to be used for, well, mainly just tinkering and hobby stuff. That's why I’ve been on the fence so long; it’s hard to justify spending 10k to make a bolt I can order for 3 bucks. But where's the fun in that.

Any owners in or near Charlotte NC?

Thanks for any feedback.

Mvtop

[BSims66173]

Your plans for your PCNC1100 are the same as mine. I just wanted something to tinker with. I lucked out and found one on EBay for less than half price. It was an earlier model with no accessories but still a good deal for me. I purchased the deluxe stand from tormach and a few tool holders. I already had an old bridgeport with R8 tooling. Get a good vise. I bought a cheap one that has gotten hard to turn. I have a rotary table that I plan to convert at some point and am going to build a digitizing probe also. I have made many parts on mine for my tractors, bulldozer, golfcarts and other toys I have around here. Maybe when I retire in a few years I might try to make some side money with it, but for now I just tinker. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I enjoy mine. Best of luck.

Barry

[BlueFin]

Get a good vise. I bought a cheap one that has gotten hard to turn.

Barry

Yes, get a good vise, the vise is everything. I am about ready to pick up the TTS tool system and a new vise.

[justgary]

If I were buying again, I would not buy the complete TTS system. Instead, I would figure out what parts of it I want and just buy those.

For example, you get two small and two large chucks with the system. I can personally get by with one of each (and in fact I also bought the 5/8" chuck), so I could have left a few chucks out. For the price of the chucks, I could have bought a few more set screw holders. I doubt you can buy enough set screw holders.

I also bought a few extra ER collets, which are a good thing, but I didn't actually know how to forecast how I would use them. I would buy differently now that I know more. The collet holders are very useful for tooling under 3/8", although some tools work fine in 1/4" set screw holders. For under 1/4", you definitely want collets. Chances are, you can't buy enough collet holders, either.

You can make your own tray out of just about any hunk of material, so maybe the $20 for the TTS one could go into more holders or something. Mine came damaged due to poor packing, but I can still use it. I find that I lay the tools out during a job anyway, and the tray lives over in a corner. Thus, two trays would work well for me. I have several pieces of Oak that would work great for a tool tray, but I haven't made that second tray yet (I make short planks out of big trees after hurricanes; You can rip planks with a chainsaw, and you don't really need one of those fancy guides). The mill will work great on wood, and it's a great way to learn how your machine works.

Finally, several people have complained that the TTS measuring tool is not usable, but I found that I simply had to learn how to handle it to get very repeatable results. Indeed, if you know how to use a dial caliper or micrometer, you can get the same results without the granite base and vertical measuring tool (but you should still have the cylinder). Look around to see if you can find another tool that is a little better made, but if not, the TTS one does work. It's just a little fidgety, but it will give repeatable measurements to about 0.0003" or so once you tame it.

If you have specific questions about TTS or the PCNC1100, please ask.

Regards,

- Just Gary

[kevperro]

I'd get TTS but it is hard to know what tooling you will use, until your cutting parts. There is some wisdom in picking and choosing based upon your actual needs. Same with picking end-mills. There are sets available at reasonable prices, but most of those tools sit unused.

For me, I built my own stand and coolant tank. It took longer than expected, but I'm happy with the results. If I built it again I'd do a couple things differently (like most projects) but I'm happy with it. I also built my own computer, but I had one that was sitting here unused and I have a high comfort level with computer hardware. If you didn't have the equipment and the comfort level with computers, the Tormach computer is probably a wise buy.

I'd get the CNC Guard kit (30634) again. It isn't tall enough when your really spraying coolant and throwing chips but you can modify it for your needs. I plan to extend it upward to better contain chips/coolant but I'd still buy it again as it bolts nicely to the table.

I bought a Parlec vice through Enco ($385 shipped). It is a little bigger than the Tormach unit and you have to modify the Guard Kit for the handle (easy). I have no regrets, it is a fantastic vice with slightly larger opening than the Tormach and slightly heavier to lift and move when you pull it off the table. (pro & cons)

I tried to get around buying the lifting bar, and ended up ordering it once it was time to mount my machine. The bars through the base didn't work in sitting the machine down onto the stand due to clearance issues with the forks of my forklift. They also don't inspire much confidence while lifting your $8K purchase. Get the lifting bar as it is cheap insurance and easily allows you to move the machine from above with a rented cherry picker.

I also didn't get the Machine Arm (30286). It would be nice to have but I'm going to modify a bench right next to my mill for holding tooling, computer keyboard etc... It comes down to how you plan your work area. I'll probably be changing mine in a few months based upon work habits, but for now I'm doing without them.

I bought the Tormach small keyboard and wish I hadn't. My Dell monitor has USB plugs so that allows me to get away without USB access. I don't like the small keyboard. I like normal sized keyboards and they are so cheap, that if you get coolant, or damage due to shop operation, you throw them out and get another without loosing any sleep. I plan to build better protection for my computing station since spraying the monitor with coolant during a particularly messy operation.

I just bought the Duality Lathe with the tooling set, and the tension compression tapping head. I don't have any input on them yet because they are still on the UPS truck.

Hope this helps. I had the same worries when ordering my machine.

[mvtop]

Hi,

thanks for the feedback. It's really helpful to hear other opinions on what's useful and what sits.

Keep them coming.

thanks.
Mvtop

[benji2505]

Finally, several people have complained that the TTS measuring tool is not usable, but I found that I simply had to learn how to handle it to get very repeatable results. Indeed, if you know how to use a dial caliper or micrometer, you can get the same results without the granite base and vertical measuring tool (but you should still have the cylinder). Look around to see if you can find another tool that is a little better made, but if not, the TTS one does work. It's just a little fidgety, but it will give repeatable measurements to about 0.0003" or so once you tame it.

The measuring tool works, but I found that touching the tools off is more precise. I use an LED height gauge from one of the Internet suppliers for a couple of bucks.

Benji