hello everyone! need help for buying micro cnc!

[martelmarkus]

okay my name is mark and i am an aircraft mechanic since 2000! im 28 years old! my friend is an electromechanic & electrician and some other diploma related to this! we want to begin a small side line for now(building aluminum parts for radio controlled gaz car/heli/boat. etc.and lots of other stuff later on! we are looking for a micro mill CNC 3 or 4 axis! we are willing to spend around 3000 to 4000$ for something that we wont have to change due to maybe mass productions! something with 0 backlash. good reputation, acces to parts and materials! i work at air canada so have access to lots of knowledge but in big ones! NEED HELP WANT TO BUY FAST TO BEGIN ASAP! we already have a good computer(THE ONLY ONE I FOUND YET IS THE TAIG micro mill 2000 with turn table)

p.s: we know that being a machinist is not easy but we have planned to take so courses, i do have a competant friend that is a machinist at my work! we are looking for something with lots of precision/good power and 0 BACK LASH!

[ycqay]

I would like to ask the same question as Mr. martelmarkus, although I have kind of different use for that machine.

[awerby]

The Taig is a good machine, but it does have a few thou of backlash. This can be dealt with to some extent through software compensation, though. Lots of people make very accurate parts with these mills.

Some mills in this price category claim zero backlash, but they lie. Basically, just a set of precision-ground ballscrews alone that will hold +/- .0005 tolerances are going to cost about what you're looking to spend. There are some small mills that use them, but (unsurprisingly) they cost a lot more.

You can find mills with spring-loaded nuts that compensate for backlash to some degree, but they tend to cut unevenly, and give it all back when they hit a tough area, or a corner, or try to plunge-cut.

You might be able to find a used industrial mill that originally sold for a lot more, and still is in good shape, although getting something like that is like getting a used car - you soon find out why the guy that sold it to you got sick of it...

Andrew Werby
www.computersculpture.com

[martelmarkus]

okay no one can answer my question here??????????????????????

[wwendorf]

For your price range, have you considered a Syil America X2 or X3???

www.syilamerica.com

Wade

[mactec54]

Hi martelmarkus
I think you will have to spend a little bit more to get what you will need that will last
you through to production I think a Tormach would be your best buy, If you are looking
for a smaller mill then a Emco PC50 But make sure it is complete as they can be a
problem if they are not running

[ivan_j]

http://www.accuratecnc.com/pdfs/ACCURATE350.pdf

[Crevice Reamer]

Hi martelmarkus. Welcome to the Zone!

Your dilemma is classic! If there WAS a perfect machine for under $4000, Then your question would be answered already. There are only three routes:

1. Buy a turnkey production machine--Spending the $20,000+ minimum.

2. Buy a "Hobby" turnkey machine like an IH or a Tormach.

3. Buy something like a Grizzly X3 and convert it yourself, using good components and upgrading its capability as you go. This eventually will get you a production machine for somewhat less than $20 K, but you will spend the money in time and lost production.

None of these options are cheap.

Things are changing though. The new Gecko 540 heralds a new, lower cost era for DIY CNC.

CR.

[Crevice Reamer]

Hi ycqay. Welcome to the Zone! Can you elaborate on YOUR needs?

CR.