[Ben Colby]

Does anyone own or have any experience with a AJAXCNC DM45 toolroom mill?
I have been looking at one on EBAY for 14K. I run a very small job shop that
does shortruns and prototypes. I need another manual mill, but a small CNC
knee mill would also be OK. This mill is supposed to do both CNC and manual
operation and space is big consideration, because I'm almost out it inside my
shop. Any comments, suggestions etc. would be appreciated

Ben

[NC Cams]

THis reply is based upon my experiences dealing with "legacy machine tool" equipment. It may or may not be totally pertinent to this piece of equipment.

First, find out which AJAXCNC controller it is. If it is the DOS version, the controls are NO LONGER SERVICED according to my last discussion with Ajax. If the machine control isn't serviced by Ajax, the thing would be hardly worth $1000 - that's what a like new mill with DOA control was determined to be worth by a machine dealer in a recent thread on this site.

You might want to look around for a functioning DX-32 based Bridgeport Eztrak. There ALWAYS seems to be a market for this product, no matter the age. The DX-32 was PC based DOS operating system so you're looking at "computer geek" serviceable controls, not some proprietary control that you can't get service for. The only "proprietary" card is the BMDC card and these are serviced by EMI.

There are also a ton of ex-factory guys out there who service the Bridgeport iron. If you live within a reasonable distance of Chicago, there is a great guy there who serviced mine. There are several who frequent this site, too.

You might want to look a bit deeper into "tool room" mills. BRAND NEW tool room mills from Haas can be had for around $29k. If you contact them, they might have a refurb or trade in that could be had for less. They use essentially the same controls as their VMC's so they tend to be pretty nifty in their capabilities.

Buying for "price" can lead to some VERY frustrating experiences, be it from E-bay or from a machine liquidator or even from a private individual. If you need this to be a plug and run sort of deal, the last thing you want/need to get involved with is a science project with a legacy device which these can sometimes turn into.

Think and plan REAL hard before you buy. Once the cash gets exchanged, you ultimately have to make it go and keep it running. Buying a technological orphan can save you $$$ in the beginning but cost you dearly in the long run.

In short, an old/ancient control on a piece of imported iron that may no longer have a functioning service base is NOT something I'd get involved with nor would it be anything I'd recommend.

Caveat emptor is especially pertinent to some of the machinery being marketed on E-bay.

[AjaxCNC]

Ben,

Hello. For an honest review with good points and bad, please check out the link below. I think this is exactly what you are looking for.

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showth...threadid=20379

And to clear up any confusion about service, please allow me to explain. While it is true that our DOS software and ISA motion control cards are no longer being manufactured, and have been replaced by a Linux OS and PCI card, Centroid still services every single control they have made in the last 25+ years!

[NC Cams]

Frankly, that statement does NOT concur with what your phone sales rep told me when I asked about just that sort of a hypothetical situation.

It is also NOT what other members have reported about some early model controllers that they were looking for service help on - I'd post the thread but don't have the links handy at this time. If I recall, they couldn't even get documentation.

Technically, if a card or cards is/are no longer manufactured and you need something that isn't manufacture anymore to bring a system back to life, I'd strongly contend that "you don't service them anymore".

EDIT:

If the comment about "still servicing controllers for the past 25+ years" comment is in-fact valid, the member in the following thread would LOVE to hear from you about getting service for a circa 1997 machine:

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showth...entroid+router

END EDIT