Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Desktop CNC Machines?

Brian,

Try www.mdaprecision.com they sell smaller cnc mills
from Germany
that arent quite as big as as the chinise mills. They
don't take up much space which often can be an issue.

Mark


--- Keith Clark <mail@...> wrote:

> Brian,
>
> I would second Ron's comments about the choice of a
> Bridgeport. He
> has done a beautiful job retrofitting his mill. I
> found a Boss 6
> controlled machine and would never go to a manual
> one after using the
> CNC for several years. I have garage business and
> make basically
> simple parts, but it is amazing what can be done
> with today's CAD/CAM
> or even writing G codes. If you are not familiar, G
> codes are
> written to tell the machine how to move and are
> quite easy to learn
> especially with your background. The cost is
> relatively low to put
> in a new controller etc. and with an electronics
> background will not
> be very difficult. There is a lot of help to be
> found on this
> forum. Again, with a Bridgeport you will not be
> limited as you would
> be with a desktop machine. Remember, once you get
> going, you will
> more than likely want to do more on the CNC than you
> imagine now.
> Good luck
>
> Keith Clark
>
> --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, R Rogers
> <rogersmach@y...>
> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > canadabrianb11 wrote:
> >
> > >Firstly, I would like to introduce myself. My
> name is Brian
> Buchan,
> > >and I live in Kamloops BC Canada. I own a small
> manufacturing
> > >business. I have an electronics background
> focusing on industrial
> > >robotics, so CNC is not totally new to me. I look
> forward to being
> a
> > >member of this group.
> > >
> > >We are starting to do more and more custom work,
> and my bills at
> the
> > >local CNC shop are killing me.
> > >
> > >Most of my CNC requirements are for small pieces
> machined of
> Delrin
> > >or 6061 aluminum, and maybe the occasional piece
> of 12L14 steel.
> Lot
> > >size is typically 10 to 50 pieces. The biggest
> piece we would do
> > >would be about 7 x 1 x 1 inches, mostly quite a
> bit smaller.
> > >
> > >I'm thinking about buying (or building?) a small
> desktop CNC
> machine
> > >and starting to do this work in house. I've spent
> a bit of time
> > >looking at some of the available machines, but
> it's gotten a
> little
> > >overwhelming. At the absolute high end of my
> budget, the CNC Jr.
> > >seems a little big (read "expensive") for my
> requirements, but I'm
> > >not really sure if the smaller machines (ie
> MaxNC, etc.) are up to
> my
> > >needs. I don't think I need to wring every last
> second of machine
> > >time out of whatever I buy to make this a cost
> effective thing to
> do.
> > >
> > >
> > Hey Brian
> >
> > Welcome to the group. Owning a machine shop
> myself the last
> thing I should be doing is helping you move your
> manufacturing in
> house. Anyways, My advice would be to just clean out
> a corner and
> find yourselves a good used Bridgeport manual or CNC
> with an
> antiquated control and retrofit. If you go with a
> desktop machine you
> wouldn't be saving any money or time. The tooling
> deflection on a
> small machine is a nightmare working with steel.
> There are so many
> used Bridgeports available and the economy the way
> it is, they are
> pretty cheap. Look for them at auctions and sales or
> just call some
> local machine shops and ask them if they have any
> they would like to
> get rid of. It requires virtually the same
> electronics to power a
> benchtop as it does a Bridgeport. And requires the
> same amount of
> effort to retrofit. Ballscrews, servo mounts, etc.
> are much more
> readily available. Look in any tooling catalog and
> you'll see that
> everything is aimed at the Bridgeport. They are
> undoubtedly one of
> > the most reliable products the USA has to offer.
> They run for
> years with minimal maintainence and care. 12L14 is
> "leaded" stock and
> machines like butter and well within the scope and
> capabilities of a
> Bridgeport. A good configuration: PC with Mach2
> software, Bob
> Campbells Mach2 Breakout board, Gecko 320 Servo
> drives and DC brush
> servos. Email me at rogersmach@y... and I will send
> you a pic of my
> retrofitted Bridgeport for ideas.
> >
> > Ron
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Addresses:
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