[cpkids]

I need a light production cnc with 20" travel in X. I will be doing a lot of drilling in light aluminum so decent rapid moves would cut down cycle times. Other runs are some aluminum billet machining, no real tough materials.

I would like to spend $10000+- but need an easy turnkey. I like Microkinetics cnc express, IH turnkey, and smithy 1240 bed mills.

http://www.ihcnc.com/pages/cnc-mill.php
http://www.microkinetics.com/express/
http://www.smithy.com/products.php?cid=11

Any info to steer me would be appreciated.

[CROSSHATCH]

If looking at the Smithy, look to Novakon instead. Same machine, but I hear there is more support from them. If you are a student they also give a 15% discount so you save a few thousand dollars.


-Jason

[Crevice Reamer]

Hi CPK. Welcome to the Zone!

If looking at the Smithy, look to Novakon instead. Same machine, but I hear there is more support from them. If you are a student they also give a 15% discount so you save a few thousand dollars.-Jason

Good choice Jason, but that will not give him 20 inches X travel.

Now I would build that with an X3 head/column mated to a Grizzly G1006 base and table--23 inches of X, but you need a turnkey.

Even the Tormach 1100 won't have 20 inches of X.

Looks to me like the IH would be the best bet:

http://www.ihcnc.com/pages/cnc-mill.php

CR.

[SCzEngrgGroup]

If you can get by with just a little less than 20" X travel, I'd take a serious look at the Mikini Mechatronics 1620L. It looks like a *really* nice machine for the money, and will save you the trouble and expense of building an enclosure, electronics, etc., etc.. Just pluig it in and get right to work.

Regards,
Ray L.

[rowbare]

The Novakon NM 200 claims 24" X travel so would cover that aspect. Rapids are only about 100 ipm so that might not be optimal.

[Crevice Reamer]

If you can get by with just a little less than 20" X travel, I'd take a serious look at the Mikini Mechatronics 1620L. It looks like a *really* nice machine for the money, and will save you the trouble and expense of building an enclosure, electronics, etc., etc.. Just pluig it in and get right to work.

Regards,
Ray L.

Looks like a nice machine all right, but only 16 inches X. Is this even available yet?

http://www.prlog.org/10217120-mikini...operation.html

CR.

[Crevice Reamer]

The Novakon NM 200 claims 24" X travel so would cover that aspect. Rapids are only about 100 ipm so that might not be optimal.

Oops! Forgot about the Novakon 200. Sorry Jason, you were right.

CR.

[cpkids]

The Mikini is my first choice. I even called them, but then realized I needed more travel. I could get by with 19 minimum, so I am looking for second best.

[SCzEngrgGroup]

Looks like a nice machine all right, but only 16 inches X. Is this even available yet?

http://www.prlog.org/10217120-mikini...operation.html

CR.

I don't know for certain, but they're website certainly makes it seem that it is. They're just down the road from me. I'll have to go visit them sometime. Were I buying a machine right now, that's the one I'd be looking at, even though it's smaller than my knee mill, it would do 99% of what I need, and looks to be a very nice machine.

Regards,
Ray L.

[Crevice Reamer]

...and looks to be a very nice machine.
Ray L.

Indeed!

CR.

[cpkids]

Any info on the microkinetics?

[hoss2006]

Here's a new mill to take a look at, the BobMill 2300-MK 2 turnkey.
Hoss

[SCzEngrgGroup]

Any info on the microkinetics?

The 1600 RPM max. spindle speed will absolutely kill you working in aluminum. I would consider 5K an absolute minimum. Mine runs 8200RPM, and that still limits how fast I can go with anything but larger cutters (1/2" and larger).

Regards,
Ray L.

[cpkids]

Here's a new mill to take a look at, the BobMill 2300-MK 2 turnkey.
Hoss

Wow! what a great machine. It would be great but at $14999 it is 50% over budget. Now I am going to hate whatever I get as inadequate.

[Crevice Reamer]

Here's a benchtop mill comparison chart:

http://novakon.net/resources/NM-200+Compare.pdf

The Novakon NM-200 does look like the most economical choice:

http://novakon.net/3.html

CR.

[CROSSHATCH]

Personally the Novakon is going to be my choice when it comes to a new mill. It also has a very nice Y travel that all other mills in this category lack.

Don't worry CR!

-Jason

[cpkids]

The novakon has a bad rep from another thread on this forum. Makes me a little gun shy. Seems like you can't use the speed because it is not solid enough.

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showth...t=78418&page=2

"the column is not completely stable. Don't get me wrong, it's a fantastic mill for the price range, but when going to feed rates above around 10 or 15 and when there is a lot of rapid x and/or y movement"

[cpkids]

I submitted a request for the Bobmill 2300MK2 as a dream request. Approved. I get it all. $15845 to my door.

[hoss2006]

Maybe they'll take $10,000 down and $20 a month.
Do they offer leasing?
Hoss

[cpkids]

A big thanks to Hoss for pointing out the Bobmill 2300 system. It is new on the market, but seems to fit my needs well. It is a little more than I initially wanted, but 3 times the machine.

We are just writing a check. Don't think they offer financing. If you want to call them talk to Al. He helped me.

I will post some pics when I get the box.