Hi there...
I'm an apprenticing machinist in an Industrial shop in town where I live. We usually work with huge parts, have 3 massive Giddings & Lewis 4/5 axis boring mills, 4 large lathes, 1 CNC mill and one lathe, nothing small thou. I would like to start my own hobby/business outside of work as doing things in the shop can be in conflict of intrest, expecially if I profit from it =) then they'ld want me to pay engineering/milling time, and I feel I can do this entirely on my own... but I NEED a decent CNC mill with perhaps the option of a 4th axis. A mill that will hook to my computer, use G & M code produced by CAD programs, provide fairly precise machining/repeatability, handle decent sized peices, is well built and with proper care... will last a while.
I had a few mills I have looked into extensively... my budget is at MOST $8000.00 but I don't think I should have to spend this much. The machines I have looked into the most are CNC MASTERS Jr. CNC MILL/DRILL, Grizzly's G0519 & then adding a CNC conversion kit, and Tormach's P CNC 1100.
I'm not too keen on the CNC MASTERS jr. because it's a drill/mill conversion (sceptical about quality) and there's no dovetail on Z-Axis. The grizzle machine has a dovetail... but I would have to change screws and retro fit a CNC pkg myself... not that I probably am not capable... but I'm not that brave... The Tormach CNC 1100 I really like.... ball screws (good ones), large table size and weight cap., looks well made (iron casting solid frame), oiling system, R8 collar for tooling, and seems to handle a decent assortment of G & M codes & programs. I read some controversy over the motors they used.. but I'm not in a rush for jobs to be done... if my work load picks up... then I will think about upgrading.
I was hoping someone who HAS one of these mills, or has used a PCNC 1100 would give me some insight as to what I should expect.. the company looks relitively new (2002) and only offers a 6 month warranty. $6800.00 US is a lot of money considering I'm from CAN and that's about $8000.00 delivered to my door. It's like buying a car from a new car maker you know nothing about...
Thank you people, any help is appreciated.
Derek