Retrofits

There has often posts on this list about retro fits to manual machines to
convert to CNC.
Quite a few people are also moving up in terms of machine sizes.
I was also going to do this. I had an Elliott Sturdymill manual machine out
on loan to a guy who had just set up. I was going to fetch this back and
fit ball screws, steppers and an Ahha conversion. I costed all this out and
even got some of the parts.
In the meanwhile I went to an auction just to look at what CNC stuff went
for and came away with a Beaver NC5 complete in very good condition [ ex
college ] for 1155.00 UKP [ $1850 ]
I then sold the Elliott to the guy who had it for 1500.00 UKp and so
basically swopped machines. The upside of this was that I didn't have to do
any of the conversion work and actually got a better machine for the job.

Just recently I have been looking for another machine. At the same time a
neighbour at firm down the road was looking for another Bridgeport for his
toolmaking concern. As we weren't in competition we were sharing leads.
What basically it came too was that for a decent manual machine he was
having to pay out 3 to 4 times more than getting a decent CNC machine.
In fact he is looking for twice the money for his old tired Bridgy than a
decent CNC.

The reason this has come about is that to remain competitive a firm needs
the fastest machine going, read latest here. If they don't their competitor
will steal all the work on cost alone.
This means that CNC's have a shorter working life against manuals.
When they buy a new machine the dealer doesn't want the old machine as he
knows it's obsolete in terms of earning money so they refuse to take them
and lumber the place up. With the price of scrap as it is it's not worth
the scrappies efforts to move heavy machines for a small return, so they
sit there.
Anybody going along with pound notes and offering to ship away will get a
very cheap machine with a lot of life still in it.

I was talking to a guy on Friday who buys old CNC's at auction just to
scrap for spares. His limit on any CNC that this list is interested in is
500 UKP [$750 ]
He won't pay any more than that and he's inundated with them.
Most go for about 200UKP [$300 ] because of the cost of shipping.

So basically what I am saying is if you have a manual machine and are
thinking of a refit, look at what you can sell your manual for and buy the
genuine article. This doesn't apply to the desktop mill/drills etc as there
is no commercial equivalent
--

Regards,
John Stevenson
Nottingham, England