Cnc mill under 4000????

[riverotter]

I got a cnc router. Im wanting something to cut out aluminum molds, and knife blanks. Is there a mill new or used that would work. I see the tormach 440 new is almost in my range but not quite after ya add tooling and everything. Anyone got any ideas.

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[awerby]

You don't say what size these things are, but the US-made Taig mills we sell fit in your price range, with plenty left over for tooling. If these projects fit in its work envelope (12"X x 4.5"Y x 6"Z) one of them would be worth considering.

Andrew Werby
Computersculpture.com

[riverotter]

The travel is close on the tiag. But i really need something thats gonna be a little faster. I would love one just to make liner lock parts on tho. But i cant afford two machines at the moment.

[Jim Dawson]

Start looking for a used CNC knee mill, Bridgeport size. There are some deals out there.

[riverotter]

Start looking for a used CNC knee mill, Bridgeport size. There are some deals out there.

I have seen a few of them on the bay. I was wondering how good they would work. I don't know anything about the old programming or what would be required to update them. Or if there good enough like they are. If anyone has a link to something that could work please post it..

[Jim Dawson]

Upgrading the controls if needed is not that big of a deal if you you have some basic electrical skills and confidence in your abilities. There is plenty of help on the forums. What you really want is a machine that is in good mechanical condition, broken computers are the cheap part to fix.

I use Search Tempest https://www.searchtempest.com/ to search nationwide. Searches all of Craigslist, Ebay, and Amazon with one click. Below are a few that I located quickly. I was surprised there were none on the west coast. I typed in CNC Milling Machine for search terms, other search terms like CNC Mill might produce different results.

https://wichita.craigslist.org/tls/d...423870265.html




https://wichita.craigslist.org/tls/d...403728894.html




https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/c...418485319.html




https://milwaukee.craigslist.org/tls...420965052.html


https://altoona.craigslist.org/tls/d...453787134.html




https://altoona.craigslist.org/tls/d...453787134.html


https://newhaven.craigslist.org/tls/...442663769.html


https://providence.craigslist.org/tl...446212372.html




https://www.ebay.com/itm/Supermax-Su...25.m3641.l6368


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hurco-KM3-C....c100338.m3726


https://www.ebay.com/itm/MHP-S-24-CN....c100338.m3726


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Acroloc-AS2....c100338.m3726


https://www.ebay.com/itm/1997-HURCO-....c100338.m3726

[KH0UJ]

Well if it`s just aluminum molds I guess you can utilize your CNC router question is that if you want the output product to be finished very fast then you need a CNC mill, but if it`s just for prototyping molds then I guess the router can do the job but not really as fast as the mill, I also make steel molds for casting aluminum using only a router

[riverotter]

ty very much that helps a ton. i always wondered if there was a way to search all of craigslist. thats awesome.

[riverotter]

yea it could do it i guess. i got a kress spindle on mine but it would be terribly slow.

[riverotter]

im wondering why stuff like this is so cheap. im guess there is something i don't know about them. https://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/t...474445578.html

[Jim Dawson]

That's a good question and the answer is: It varies. The machine could be worn out or giving problems, they bought a new machine and need the room, sometimes there good business / tax reasons to sell cheap

I bought my near new mechanical condition 10x54 machine with a failing controller for $1000. It was sold by a large local manufacturer out of their protype shop. They just wanted it off the books. Cost me $30 for a new PC power supply

Another example is the CNC lathe I picked up for $9000, that price was about $15K under average market. They bought a new machine for tax reasons and needed the room. The ''unicorn'' machines are out there but sometimes you have to wait to find a deal.

The larger VMCs many times go relatively low prices because there is really not much market for them. The big commercial shops are going to buy new machines, and not too many hobbyists have the room or power for the big machines.

[riverotter]

power could be a problem. im guessing most of them run off 440 and thats probably not a option for me.

[Jim Dawson]

The really big stuff might be 460V only, the smaller machines can normally be wired for 230V. All are 3 phase. 3 phase is normally not a problem for a small / home shop as long as the power requirement in not too great, there are a couple different ways to get there. For under 5HP, VFDs work well, over that a rotary phase converter is the prefered method.

[riverotter]

this seems like it might would work??? . https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hardinge-cn....c100005.m1851

[Jim Dawson]

Yeah, looks like an OK deal. I would seriously concider it if I needed one.

[riverotter]

ty i may get it. im still undecided on what route to go. http://eastcoastspeed.com/images/F70721108 thats similar to what im mainly wanting this for. i would think that should be no problem cutting it from aluminum.

[Jim Dawson]

Like any machine tool, you need to personally inspect it before you buy. Look for wear on the ways, check for backlash, and all the normal checks. In this case the seller states that the machine is in good condition, and based on the rest of the ad I believe that..........But ''Trust but verify''

When I bought my CNC lathe, I hung a trailer on the back of the truck and drove 1700 miles down to Oklahoma to go get it. I had a very good feeling about the seller and his honesty, but I was fully ready to walk away from it subject to inspection. I had 2 other lathes spotted that I was prepared to go look at if the first one didn't pan out.

[warrenb]

Where do you live? I'm in Oregon and have one that might fit your needs.

[riverotter]

Where do you live? I'm in Oregon and have one that might fit your needs.

Im in ky but ill drive for the right deal.

[awerby]

That sounds like a long drive... Looking in Craigslist, there's a used CNC Bridgeport a lot closer to you: https://louisville.craigslist.org/bf...458629550.html It sounds like they might accept less money if you could move it out quickly.