Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] New to list (Maxnc, Taig, Sherline?)

I have both the MAX-NC (at work), and a TAIG mill (at home). I bought the
CNC ready TAIG and put the motors on and used Dan Mauch's driver board
(excellent driver board by the way). The main disadvantage of the MAX-NC is
their driver is not step-direction but is done in software--thus you are
kind of stuck using their software. You can get step-direction software
from MAX-NC but then you'd have to put a different controller on their mill.
Overall-the MAX-NC looks nicer, is quicker to get up and running, and is
certainly a good mill but I've found the TAIG to be a better buy for the
money--a little bigger and quite a bit more flexible as to choice of
software. Either would be a good buy for someone getting started.

----- Original Message -----
From: <e.heritage@...>
To: <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, February 17, 2001 10:02 AM
Subject: Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] New to list (Maxnc, Taig, Sherline?)


> Thanks Marcus,
>
> I've been reading things on the Sherline page now for a good hour or
> two. I planned, with this vast some of money I hope to make, to buy a very
> simple mill, a TIG set and Plasma cutter from ESAB. I already have a VERY
> simple (Clarke) mig set and oxy/acet torch (Harris, cost a lot!) but I was
> going to pack them in for TIG and Plasma. It depends how much the monsters
> at ASDA will pay me to put Kit-Kat's on the shelves for two months every
> night of the week. After cruising through the Sherline page for all this
> time I was thinking though. I thought ealier that I could pay for the mill
> by selling small machined bits to people who couldn't afford to go to a
> larger metal working shop. So I thought that with such small precision
bits
> there would be quite a calling for a TIG set to weld togther small
> essemblies, and I adore welding. If I don't get enough from ASDA I will
> leave the cutter though and buy a much better mill with the fourth axis
and
> four extra dimensions on the Sherline 2000, plus the TIG set. The other
> option would be to leave both the TIG and Plasma cutter and get the 2000,
a
> Sherline lathe and a nice bench. The only criticism I have with Sherline
is
> their page is just SO big! It's too much to handle for more than thirty
> minutes straight without some type of cafine. And that they don't supply
the
> CNC kits directly. I've found pages that will sell the 5400 CNC kits but
non
> that will do the 2000. I've written to one asking if the 5400 will operate
> the 2000. Non of them seem to have controllers that will take the forth
axis
> stepper. Anyone know where might? I've tried Flashcut and a number of
> others. I've also seen Sherline gantry mills (I don't plan to buy one),
are
> these their own or bought in from someone else? Finally, where abouts is
San
> Diago? Because my family and I are planning to visit the US this year but
I
> have no idea where San Diago is. And since the Sherline factory is there I
> could go for a free tour if we were near-by.
>
> Regards,
> John
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Marcus & Eva" <implmex@...>
> To: <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Saturday, February 17, 2001 5:44 PM
> Subject: Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] New to list (Maxnc, Taig, Sherline?)
>
>
> > Hi John:
> > I think it's marvellous that you have a strong interest in this
stuff.
> > You almost can't go wrong pursuing it either as a hobby or as a career.
> > I financed a whole professional degree working summers as a toolmaker,
and
> > came out of university totally debt-free.
> > I now have a great career doing design and prototyping for a whole bunch
> of
> > really interesting customers, and it's largely because I know how to
make
> > stuff.
> > With regards to your specific questions re CNC mills; I've always been a
> > Sherline fan.
> > They have enough beef that you can actually make something on them.
> > I've heard reasonable things about Taig too; the biggest criticism seems
> to
> > be wimpy horsepower and short stroke in Z (up and down).
> > This becomes a pain whenever you want to do something that uses up a lot
> of
> > stroke (like drill a hole.)
> > I've heard rather uncomplimentary things about MaxNC.
> > No idea if they're true or not.
> > Welcome to the list
> >
> > Cheers
> >
> > Marcus
> >
> > PS: Cooling the cutter on an unenclosed machine is a helluva mess.
> > Most guys use a bit of lubricant to keep the cutter from getting chips
> > welded to it.
> > Put it on with a small squeeze bottle. Dristan bottles work well.
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: e.heritage@... <e.heritage@...>
> > To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>
> > Date: Saturday, February 17, 2001 5:30 AM
> > Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] New to list (Maxnc, Taig, Sherline?)
> >
> >
> > >Hello to the list,
> > >
> > > It was suggested by a friend from the casting news group that I
come
> > here to discuss home CNC. I took the time to read the letter you send
out
> to
> > new subscribers and I'm not 17 until September, but I assume you really
> mean
> > that you want people who can be careful and have enough time to listen.
> > > I don't have the money in hand now but I hope that over the summer
I
> > will earn enough to buy a desktop CNC metal working mill (I LOVE
anything
> to
> > do with metal work). I was looking at either the Taig or MAXNC 10-2 or
15
> > with the fourth axis upgrade as well. The Taig has the more powerful
> > steppers (By 55oz/in) but the MAXNC's use a 1/5 hp motor and the taig a
> 1/8
> > hp. The MAXNC looks much more enclosed as well so even though I'm being
> > tempted by the Taigs steppers I could really use something that uses the
> > least space for it's ability. I was a little disappointed that unless i
> > spend over $2500 I can't get anything with a bed movement over 5in by
8in,
> > it's not too bad though for what I have in mind for it.
> > > I'm unsure as to what this board is. Whether it's for people
> interested
> > in making their own CNC mills or buying desktop ones. One of my possible
> > goals with the mill would be to mill the peices for Kurt Schrecklings 64
> > turbine (I think it's 64, it's been a very long time since I read his
> > excellent book). What I'd like though is to hear from anyone who has
used
> > one of these two mills. Or anyone who can suggest one much like them.
I've
> > heared about the Sherline and the CNC upgrades but I'm not so sure about
> > them. Why do non of these three mills come with bit cooling? Doesn't it
> get
> > slightly warm milling metal? I saw a video of the Taig busy and it
really
> is
> > amazing to watch, I can't wait to get my hands on a mill!
> > >
> > >Thanks very much for any help at all,
> > >John Heritage
> > >
> > >
> > >[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> > >
> > >Welcome to CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@...,an unmoderated list for the
> > discussion of shop built systems, for CAD, CAM, EDM, and DRO.
> > >
> > >Addresses:
> > >Post message: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
> > >Subscribe: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > >Unsubscribe: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > >List owner: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-owner@yahoogroups.com, wanliker@...
> > >Moderator: jmelson@... timg@... [Moderator]
> > >URL to this page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO
> > >bill,
> > >List Manager
> > >
> > >FAQ: http://www.ktmarketing.com/faq.html
> >
> >
> > Welcome to CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@...,an unmoderated list for the
> discussion of shop built systems, for CAD, CAM, EDM, and DRO.
> >
> > Addresses:
> > Post message: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
> > Subscribe: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > Unsubscribe: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > List owner: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-owner@yahoogroups.com, wanliker@...
> > Moderator: jmelson@... timg@... [Moderator]
> > URL to this page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO
> > bill,
> > List Manager
> >
> > FAQ: http://www.ktmarketing.com/faq.html
> >
> >
>
>
> Welcome to CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@...,an unmoderated list for the
discussion of shop built systems, for CAD, CAM, EDM, and DRO.
>
> Addresses:
> Post message: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
> Subscribe: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
> Unsubscribe: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> List owner: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-owner@yahoogroups.com, wanliker@...
> Moderator: jmelson@... timg@... [Moderator]
> URL to this page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO
> bill,
> List Manager
>
> FAQ: http://www.ktmarketing.com/faq.html