[Smertrios]

Fadec UMC10 CNC Milling Center | eBay

The computer monitor and z travel of only 8.5 inches helps put its size into perspective. Just thought others might like a look at what I saw on eBay.

[Smertrios]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISzkthutKnA]Scratch Built mini version of Fadal's VMC 15 - YouTube[/ame]

Video putting its capabilities into perspective. I sucked air (mentally) when I saw the fly cutter =)

[fizzissist]

Bought a 4020 almost 10 years ago... Great machine!

It'll be interesting to see if these take off.

[691175002]

It looks like a great mill, but for perspective a haas tm-1 is 29K:
Haas TM-1 | Haas Automation, Inc. | CNC Machine Tools

[fizzissist]

It looks like a great mill, but for perspective a haas tm-1 is 29K:
Haas TM-1 | Haas Automation, Inc. | CNC Machine Tools

Pound for pound, the Haas is a better deal, but it's also a much bigger machine, and the 40 taper means more expensive tooling, and Haas is an all extras are extras company.

Given the size and capability, the Fadal offspring isn't a bad idea.. even if the tool change will put you to sleep.

[Smertrios]

It looks like a great mill, but for perspective a haas tm-1 is 29K:
Haas TM-1 | Haas Automation, Inc. | CNC Machine Tools

The TM-1P has a 10 tool carousel and is $36,000 (61% more $$$) I dont think the TM-1 has a tool changer.

[wizard]

Fadec UMC10 CNC Milling Center | eBay

The computer monitor and z travel of only 8.5 inches helps put its size into perspective. Just thought others might like a look at what I saw on eBay.

Thanks for the post, unfortunately it is out of my personal price range. I worry a bit about that Z travel but I'm not sure how that is measured.

If Dave could get a bit more exposure I'm certain he could sell more than a few of these machines. It is a nice little machine that could serve small job shops well.

[Smertrios]

Here is a machine with a similar price but with a BT30 spindle and 220 3-phase power.

Bolton Tools 3 Axis CNC Milling Machine Mill Drill with 10 Position Tool Changer | eBay

[aarongough]

I personally think there's a market for really small machines, in terms of footprint, weight and power requirements.

My main evidence for that thought is that personally I am limited on all 3 fronts and yet I still have a concrete use for a small CNC mill.

If I could get a machine with a work area of 12x6x3 that was sturdy, had an ATC and could cut steel all day I would do it. Then I would spend my weekends and evenings CNC machining custom knives and probably pay for the machine in less than a year.

Something like the UMC10 is definitely more likely to find it's way into my shop than a full-size VMC, or even the other 'mini' VMCs!

[TiagoSantos]

If there was an abundance of such machines and they were as cheap as we would all like them to be, then "everyone" would be making knives and you might have a hard time paying for the machine anyway

[aarongough]

If there was an abundance of such machines and they were as cheap as we would all like them to be, then "everyone" would be making knives and you might have a hard time paying for the machine anyway

And the world would be a better place for it!

[wizard]

If there was an abundance of such machines and they were as cheap as we would all like them to be, then "everyone" would be making knives and you might have a hard time paying for the machine anyway

I work in a very large plant and frankly you don't have a thing to worry about. Stupid out weighs capable by at least a 100 to 1!

[underthetire]

How the hell do you use a ATC with R8 collets. And the spindle has drive dogs. Somthin fishy there. Other than that, not a bad deal. Hass tm1 is over 30k with a toolchanger now. He made fadal work, so don't see why it won't take off.

[TechGuy5002]

How the hell do you use a ATC with R8 collets. And the spindle has drive dogs. Somthin fishy there. Other than that, not a bad deal. Hass tm1 is over 30k with a toolchanger now. He made fadal work, so don't see why it won't take off.

I believe either its a modifed R8 spindle to work with retention knobs, or its uses an R8 pneumatic drawbar.

[underthetire]

I believe either its a modifed R8 spindle to work with retention knobs, or its uses an R8 pneumatic drawbar.

No way. i think who ever wrote the listing is wrong. look at the hole size in the spindle, and the ATC pockets. I'm betting its a CT30. Would be WAAAY more work to modify a R8 than to simply install a CT spindle.

[DareBee]

No way. i think who ever wrote the listing is wrong. look at the hole size in the spindle, and the ATC pockets. I'm betting its a CT30. Would be WAAAY more work to modify a R8 than to simply install a CT spindle.

It definitely appears this way. The opening looks large and there are drive dogs.

[vmax549]

It uses a special CT/R8 tool holder. Basically a CT30 holder reground to R8 taper.

It also uses a gripper system like most larger machines.

Modern VMC in mini form. Perfect in many ways.

Just a thought, (;-) TP

[wizard]

No way. i think who ever wrote the listing is wrong. look at the hole size in the spindle, and the ATC pockets. I'm betting its a CT30. Would be WAAAY more work to modify a R8 than to simply install a CT spindle.

I'm not sure what that spindle is but I thought I saw someplace that it was a modified R8. The use of a custom taper would be interesting though, I would imagine the reason to do so would be cost control. If one has access to a CNC lathe it should't be a huge deal as you can DIY the too holders.

As a side note, after sometime searching for his web site I finally found it: Web. FADEC is an unfortunate name in the web world because searches for it turn up thousands of sites for FADEC as in Full Authority Digital Engine Control. In any event it is stated that the spindle has an R8 taper however form the photos and so forth it doesn't appear to be a standard nose outside of the bore. Frankly I don't see this as a problem. I do wonder about the stiffness of the tool holder and what its limitations are but to be honest it looks good in the videos.

[DareBee]

IMO Spindle taper is the number one area of stupidity in ALL the small CNC (Fadec, Tormach, Novakon, Syil, ETC).
To use a VMC as a money maker you need to be able to install preset length tools at very minimum and should be viable for an ATC.
R8 is absolutely NOT suirable (Dont start a "what about the TTS system" argument here - this is crap in the real world).
There is no reason why all this machines couldnt come with a BT30 for very much the same money.

[TechGuy5002]

IMO Spindle taper is the number one area of stupidity in ALL the small CNC (Fadec, Tormach, Novakon, Syil, ETC).
To use a VMC as a money maker you need to be able to install preset length tools at very minimum and should be viable for an ATC.
R8 is absolutely NOT suirable (Dont start a "what about the TTS system" argument here - this is crap in the real world).
There is no reason why all this machines couldnt come with a BT30 for very much the same money.

FYI: Tormach offers BT30 spindles as an option:
PCNC 1100 CNC Milling Machine Specifications
BT30 Spindle Cartridge | Tormach LLC providers of personal small CNC machines, CNC tooling, and many more CNC items.

Although I don't know if the BT30 spindle will work with thier ATC.