Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Retrofits

Just what I have been saying all along.
Darrell

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Stevenson" <machines@...>
To: <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@egroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, September 16, 2000 2:00 AM
Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] 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
>
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