Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] What to buy me, oh my

Les, and others,

1. Don't buy too small. Do it like most people buy
houses, just a bit above what they can really
afford.

2. Try to buy older American iron perferably an
old tracer mill as they are more likely to have
ball screws already installed.

My first mill was a mill/drill, There is a good
reason for the mill/drill articles in HSM. It
needs a lot of little upgrades just to come close
to the goodies on any (real ) mill. My second
mill was a hor. bed mill at a price I just
couldn't pass up. Big, tough, not very flexible.
My 3rd mill was an old tracer with the tracer
stuff gone. A community college had done a cnc
package on it which I am completely refitting. I
paid less (at auction) for the tracer than I paid
for the mill drill(new). Could not beiieve how
smooth and repeatable it was after using the
mill/drill. Much stiffer, the knee was a dream
after fighting resetting the head height on the
mill drill. Especially if you are in the
manufacturering belt of the US there is real
access to old iron. This list provides lots of
help to those refitting old iron of one kind or
another. Best of Luck.

Note: nomex suit on. :-)

Dave