I am going to buy a Tormach sometime before summer, not sure which yet.
Most of my work is going to be small parts for bicycles, in AL, and TI. But there are some large molds that I want to machine as well. Probably in AL jig plate. I have made smaller molds in UHMW polyethylene. Its very good material for doing composite work.
Size of the part is an issue, but it could be machined as smaller sections and joined. Slide is of a prototype rear end mold, bottom half. Not shown are bolt holes, or resin channels. The mold has to withstand internal pressure in the 150 lb+, but below 200 psi. UHMW is out for heat cure carbon fiber fabric, but I could continue to use wet layups, and no heat cure.
Opinions please, which one, keep in mind I will want to use the machine to mill UHMW molds that are smaller than the one shown. 770, or the 1100?
[IMG] btm mld by oknups, on Flickr[/IMG]