Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Machine base question

Bob Muse wrote:

> NC Circuit board drills were at one time and possibly still are built this way. A few years back there were an abundance of these machines around for dirt cheap or free.

They cost $100,000 in the 1970's, no idea what they cost now.
People who are giving them away want to get rid of them, and
that means you have to take ALL of it. That includes the main
table, which is 5' x 5' by 8" thick granite. That weighs at
least 7000 Lbs. The "legs" are 3' x 3' x 5" blocks that weigh
nearly a ton each. There's one beam glued to the main table,
the other beam floats on air bearings as the 2nd axis. The
drilling table floats on a "cross" joining these two axes.
The drilling heads mount on a granite beam over the main table.

These things were built heavier than any army tank! You won't
be able to put one in your garage, it would collapse the floor
slab. They are a darn fine mechanism, but not portable! I have
the lighter guts out of one installed as a retrofit on my
Bridgeport.

Jon