Re: HELP - about to buy Matsuura MC-500V

I'm planning on making (to pay the finance bills):

small desktop robot kits
molds for a medical device proto (which will take at least 5x to get
right)
load cells for stepper motor load monitoring

I have no customers as of yet, but am hoping that I may be able to
get some work here and there via the web?

My other choice is a desktop CNC (roland PNC-300). Totally
different ball game. Cost is $2500 and no worries about bailing out
if I went that way, but I am really hoping that I can find some
design (I am mechanical engineer and run Pro/E and mastercam daily)
that I can sell for enough to make a small sideline paycheck.

Mark

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Jon Elson <elson@p...> wrote:
>
>
> none listed wrote:
>
> >Just about to purchse a Matsuura MC-500V - one of the smaller
vmcs
> >with a changer. I'm about to pay $5500 for it, delivered with a
> >phase convertor, tool holders and some tooling.
> >
> >Is this a good deal?
> >
> It makes me want to pound nails into my head! You have to
ask????!!!
>
> >
> >Do you think that I can make $250 a month with it so it can pay
for
> >itself?
> >
> >I want to do proto machining for my ideas, but also want to have
it
> >pay for itself ($250/mo).
> >
> >
> >
> Only you can answer this. Do you have a product now, and customers
> ready to buy? Then the answer is yes. Are you going to set up a
part-time
> job shop? The answer could be a strong no, if you don't already
have a
> good network of contracts. Also, do you know how to diagnose and
> fix problems in this machine? If you have to call the service rep
in
> your area, it could cost you more than $5500 to just get him on
site!
> I'm not saying it is unreliable, but things do break, and CNC
service
> seems to run about the same $/Hr rate as open heart surgery!
>
> (I know Bill is going to be all over me for even answering this
post.
> So, maybe tell us something about your shop, what you plan to make
> with it, etc.)
>
> Jon