Looking to buy CNC 2 or 3 axis router/milling machine

[Basstronics]

My lathe was the harbor freight one.

You would better served with good used imo.

those cheap machines are just cast iron. They are not machines very accurate either... I took measurements on mine and decided to sell it.


Good luck.with whatever you do

[egneg]

Yes and I'm pretty happy with this. I know it a lot to spend on a hobby but the orders and trips to lhs never having what I want we'll it will someday make up for it. I would like to take a local machineing class as there are many things I still have questions on.
Hey egneg, Im looking at getting a rotary table, if you have with experience with use would you mind if I asked some advise of you? (In future?)

Like I said I don't have any experience with the small machines but feel free to ask I will help in any way I can.

[Cooper]

Like I said I don't have any experience with the small machines but feel free to ask I will help in any way I can.

Will keep you in mind, thank you!

[antslake]

Heh cooper sounds like you and me are one about the level when it comes to this stuff. Also sounds like you did a good job on that shaft.

Yea I bought mine used. A lot of it was out of wack. I sort of trusted the guy I bought it from, since I know him a long time. Maybe he just didn't know any better. I still got like $1400 worth of stuff and a pile of books 2ft high for $600.

Basstronics, the harbor frieght mill is not good out of the box. But it can be tuned too work very well. Any machine needs to be set up anyway. This is what I have read about them. The good side of custom building up your machine is you will know it inside and out when you are done, and know how to keep it that way. I am still working on mine.

[Cooper]

Yes the one thing a friend told me that I'm thankful for was invest in a good set of measuring tools. Calipers, precise squares, dial gauges mics,,,,ect. And that is probably the one most important thing I was told, and learn how to use them! I bought the Unimat micro mill-lathe-saw thing and realized real quick how my work was going to turn out when it would take me 1/2 hour to get everything square even before I turned it on. That's why I ended up with a $1500 setup. Yes it took me several hours and making several test pieces but now I know that I will get the precise measurements on anything I make.

[Cooper]

As far as the op, I know that you can convert this to be used for computer milling, cnc. But that is as far as my knowledge goes. And I think Keith is right in the price range of a cnc mill, $1500 will be pretty cheap. I think you would have another $1500 or so in setting it up as a cnc mill. That is for just the mill not the combo mill/lathe. I don't know if you could convert the combo to run by computer? Never even looked into the cnc machines. Just the crank and clamp versions.

[Basstronics]

Basstronics, the harbor frieght mill is not good out of the box. But it can be tuned too work very well. Any machine needs to be set up anyway. This is what I have read about them. The good side of custom building up your machine is you will know it inside and out when you are done, and know how to keep it that way. I am still working on mine.

None of these cheap machines are good out the box. When you get a machine, new or used, it does need to be setup properly. Usually this means making adjustments that are built into the machine. These cheaper machines you will find issues that there are no adjustments for unless you re-machine them. Ive run machines since the mid 90's and done it all from the pretty small stuff to large boring mills where you ride with the head.

I would suggest trying to find a place where you could give the machine a test run before purchasing.

[keithbradley]

Something like this?

http://www.microproto.com/

[larryrose11]

Ever sonsider a Makers Guild?
I belong to on here in Detroit, and I love it. They have all the tools I would ever want to use, all for a monthly fee and basic training that they offer.
I learned sand blasting, powder coating, plan on picking up CNC mill to make plugs so I can vacuum bag carbon fiber:) , Yeah, they have all the equipment.
NOt sure what is avalanche in yore areas, but worth a look.