Newbie- I am troubled by a Tree 325 bad review

[lavrgs]

I have been very seriously been considering buying a Tree 325 and while almost everybody I had talked to said they were a great product a machinist friend, who I consider to be very informed, gave Tree mills such a bad review that I must now reconsider my choice.

Where were the 325 Jouneymans made? I had thought they were US built
Are parts available?

I would like to hear the bad bad and ugly....

[elnerdo]

What did your machinist friend say was wrong with the Tree? I personally think the Journeyman is a pretty good machine, especially for an absolute beginner (like myself).

When I looked at the options for a "garage CNC mill" in the 3-6k price range that:

1. Had documentation still available for the control.
2. Had conversational g-code capability.
3. Was rigid enough to cut steel and aluminum parts.
4. Had post processor supported by a variety of CAM systems.

I couldn't find a whole lot available that I wasn't going to have to sink alot of time into. It also quickly became apparent that the control was every bit as important as the hunk of iron its attached to with these types of purchases.

I looked at the Hurco's in the same price range but didn't like the control hanging off the machine on that giant arm. I also looked at the Bridgeport Boss mills, but the the original Bridgeport control system seemed inferior to the Delta 20. My understanding is that the Bridgeports came with steppers for the axes and I prefer servo's.

On the negative side, I don't particularly like the way the Tree needs to be homed but have gotten accustomed to it, and..think the control cabinet could use better ventilation for the amount of heat that's generated inside of it, but overall its a pretty decent machine for what they cost.

[TurtleRacing]

I have an OLD 325, 89-90 range. Awesome machine! For the $$ can't be beat.

[sp4i6]

consider what the person said in the review and if the drawbacks would affect you.

[underthetire]

I worked for the the distributor of Tree on the west coast. (as applications and service). I sold one to my DAD!

Make sure its a dynapath ( a couple had Anilams ) Some were millinium machines.

Delta 10 or 20 is a good choice.

They were made in the Czek republic and usually wired in wisconsin.

They are, in my opinion, the best CNC knee mill built. If I had room, i'd buy one!

Tree, as you know i'm sure, is no longer in buisiness. Bob Norman from Tree can still get parts.

[lavrgs]

I got a really good deal on one, certainly a "risk" buy but I think the iron should be good to work with...the electrics are the big unknown with the machine I bought. Lately I had been focusing on a Supermax YCM-40 because I like the fact it has manual capability but opportunity knocked...