Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Expectations, bridgeport

Hi John:
With all due respect, I don't think it's bollocks at all.
Remember, the "poor little lad" has no machinery or tools to speak of yet;
this is going to be his first machinery purchase.
Do you really believe that a big old beater CNC mill is the best tool to
start his home shop with?
Especially since his mother is aghast at the thought, and he's going to be
trying to convince her to house it in her place? And get 3 phase power in to
run it?
Somehow, it just doesn't have the smell of success about it to me.
I just went through the costs of setting up for a second CNC. It IS
expensive, far more so than tooling up for a kneemill.
Even with all the stuff I can make, just the tooling for the Haas still cost
more than my whole Bridgeport clone with DRO and everything.
As you said, John (the wee one) is looking for a hobby machine.
I think he can do a lot better than a 4000 pound retrofit special when he
doesn't even have the gear yet, to fix it.
Notice, I'm not excluding the purchase of a kneemill; I think they are by
far the best way to go for manual milling. But something a bit more compact
like the Myford I was on about, is a great machine and plenty of capacity
for 99% of what a home shop guy is ever likely to do.
(20 pound block and all that)
So that's my rant, and I'm sticking to it!! :)
Cheers

Marcus

Oh yeah, before I forget; I use my turntables a lot, on both my CNC
machines.
All my 4th axis work gets the turntable treatment. Stuff like gears, fluted
caps, various electrodes, model radial aircraft engine cases; the list goes
on and on. Haven't played records on them yet though.

MC

-----Original Message-----
From: John Stevenson <machines@...>
To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Thursday, August 23, 2001 5:48 AM
Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Expectations, bridgeport

>Marcus, with all due respect this is a lot of bollocks. <g>
>Don't frighten the poor little lad off.
>True tooling does mount up but a vise well suited to a big knee mill in a
>HOBBY environment can be bought new for about 100 pounds. Secondhand they
>are about 40.
>Collet chucks new from J&L are 35 pounds each, collets are 10 pounds each
>and you need 4.
>Why do you need a turntable on a CNC? - play records ??
>Cost of power, coolant and chip disposal is directly proportionate to use,
>don't use it much and you wont have much waste etc.
>True big machines can hold a big block on the table but you may not need to
>hold one. You can do smallish work on a big knee mill as well.
>I run three knee mills, a Beaver 10 x 54 and Bridgeport series 1 and a
>massive Acton 12 x 58 with a 8" quill travel. This beast weighs in at
>around 4 ton. In the time I've been running these I have never had a single
>part heavier than about 20 lbs on the bed.
>John is looking for a hobby machine, OK so it's a bit big but it's still
>hobby and not commercial.
>
>John Stevenson
>--
>
>Regards,
>John Stevenson
>Nottingham, England
>
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