Re: Stand alone Mill or combined Mill and Lathe
hi tfoster, i just googled those :
... bf20lv : 1750
... bf20av : 800
... combi package tu-2506v-20m : 2700
i have worked on such a lathe ( simple, not with the milling head ), and it is a simple small machine ... i have also worked with machines with bigger chucks, but, even if it seems little to me, it may be enough for your needs; just try to find somewhere arround you a lathe with 100-125chuck + ?electronic variable rpm; we use such small lathes to debur/chamfer parts, or, ocasionally, to craft small parts
I am trying to find specs that indicate how well it will perform on steel using very small diameter bits 1--5mm range
small diameters require high rpms, and the lathe outputs 2500, and the mill 3000, and if you keep the motors running at those max rpms, you will feel like "forcing" a little those tiny machines ... maybe i repeat my self, but try to find a similar machine arround you, and do a trial cut, so to have a clue
adding some adornments to the steel surface (engraving)
engraving requires cnc and engraving bits require rpm ... no, you won't be able to engrave with those machines well, you may use some attachments, etc
however I can get a combined
combined units are versatile, but limited to specific parts : there are parts that deserve being machined on a combined unit, because is faster than machining them on 2 separate machines
of course, an obvious question is " do you have such specific parts to get a combined unit " ?
ok, if you get a combined unit, like the one that you shared, and you change your mind, i believe that is possible to remove the "milling head" from it, and buy later a "milling table", so to get 2 machines ... sounds cool
however, in cnc domain, there are persons that bought combined ( multitasking ) machines and they couldn't keep them running at full potential / kindly
Ladyhawke - My Delirium, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_bFO1SNRZg