[Sleve_Hope]

What cutting area suits your needs and space best.?

This can be either a Router or Mill type machine. So here's a few questions.

#1 Machine type, Mill or Router (no lathes)
#2 Cutting area X, Y, Z
#3 Ideal overall footprint size W,D,H (or space to fit into)
#4 Floor standing or benchtop.
#5 Material most likely to be cut.

Thanks.

[Jim Dawson]

That's a pretty open ended question given that everyone's needs are different.

For my purposes:
#1 Mill
#2 about 40x14x18 inches
#3 I have plenty of shop space, so a full enclosure for flood coolant. Footprint about 10x7x8 feet
#4 Definitely floor standing
#5 Mostly aluminum, some plastic, and stainless steel.

[warrenb]

The one I don't have when I need that extra inch or two!

[deadlykitten]

hello, i just discovered this thread like someone said : ' always one size too small '

sometimes it may be needed just a bit of more travel, and that may be solved by using a custom tool&holder

maybe is needed to modify the tailstock as a steady rest, remove the right cover, and voila, you can rough longer parts

put a big orizontal 4th axis inside a vmc, and voila, you can mill a bigger part, by indexing the rotary axis

a while ago we discused the option to machine a bigger part on a cnc lathe, by raising the spindle using a cast iron plate

today we discused the option to machine a huge size part by using an horizontal rotary axis ( comanded from the mill ) near the lathe, using the y turret in an interpolated manned, because it is not vertical; even more intersting if we could use the rotary axis vertical, thus using the cnc turret to cut on a part that is not rotated by main spindle .... oh, i almost forgot, also today we discussed about using a more powerfull part ejector inside the 2nd spindle, that should eject the parts directly to the customer door

things can be done, especially if there are veterans ( machine level +5000 experience ) in your shop there are also others that prefer to get their nails done, so ...

if you wish, check this video :

Pushing the Okuma to the Limit - The Set Up. - YouTube