Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Mill Opinions & CNC simulators

yahoo@... wrote:

> Thanks for the pointer to the $45 program - I will take a look at it
> soon.
>
> Good points on why someone would spend that much - I guess I was
> looking with blinders on - I am new to CAM - all I want to do is draw
> in autocad and see how it's going to cut - initial learning of CNC,
> if you will, before I have a machine. For that I can not see paying
> more than $100 - I suspect there are plenty of people who also would
> appreciate such a learning tool for free?.
>
> To be honest though - 2 months of homework has me depressed enough to
> forget about a mill. There are the sherlines that cut wax, and the
> CNC'd bridgeports that cost $20,000+ - apparently there is nothing in
> between except 'used'. I don't buy used.

No offense intended, but you're crazy! I just about ONLY buy used!
But, I won't buy sight unseen, especially a macine tool. I just can't see
what is wrong with used machine tools. A used car has had a substantial
part of its total sevice life consumed, and can hide wear and tear
fairly well. A machine tool's basic iron has a vast amount of usable
life, and most wear and tear is easily visible to the barely experienced
eye. There ARE new machines in intermediate size and price ranges,
ie. Grizzley, MaxNC, etc. I would much rather have a 40+ year old
Bridgeport (I actually have a 1938 Bridgeport converted to CNC)
than one of these small, light machines.

Jon