Recommendations for smallish VMC?
Hey guys!
I'm getting to the point with my business where I think introducing CNC into my processes is a good idea. I'm not new to CNC personally, though I don't have one in the shop at the moment. My CNC experience has mainly been with routers, but I'm sure I'll pick up CNC milling quickly enough.
I'm looking for a smaller VMC that can fit through a 6x7' double door into my shop and not take up too much space once it's in there. The machine will mainly cut annealed tool steel and G10 composite, as well as making fixtures and jigs from aluminum. The machine will be doing small runs of parts in various materials. It's won't likely be run more than 16 hours per week.
The machine will be doing 3D contouring in G10, and mainly drilling/side milling on the tool steel.
I've considered a fully rigged out Tormach machine, but I'm worried that it may not last in the long run or be as capable as a proper small VMC. I've learnt my lesson about buying once, so I'm trying to do it properly now.
The machines I've looked at so far (online, not seen in person):
- HAAS mini-mill
- Kent USA KVR2418 (seems like a nice machine)
- Hurco VM1
- Sharp mini-mill
- Tormach PCNC1100 (with enclosure, toolchanger and so on)
KBC tools here in Canada have the Kent machine with a lease option for ~$1200 per month which would make life easier.
I'm also open to the idea of buying used, but it would have to be a solid machine in good shape as I'm not sure I want to spend a lot of time fixing something up. If an older VMC with an outdated control was available REALLY cheaply then that's something I'd consider. I'm comfortable with the electronics/programming side of things so retrofitting a machine to run EMC2 would be an option.
What do you guys recommend looking at? I'm after something that's going to last and produce a lot of trouble-free parts.
Gough Custom - http://goughcustom.com/