"Steve Lusardi" wrote in message
...
I have been impressed by your efforts with your CNC mill. I would very
much like a similar machine, but I am not at all sure a similar effort is
financially viable. So, the question is; Have you done a cost analysis of
your project? If so, would you mind posting your material/equipment costs
and your hours.
Thanks in advance,
Steve

My 2¢.

Also, it depends on what you want to do, and how much of it you want to do
....

.... and how much of it you really do.

If you just want to cut 2-3 small parts a year and maybe engrave a half
dozen things. You pretty much can't beat a MaxNC5 from Deepgroove1 (Paul
Henrick) for under a grand for price. The new ones have ACME screws and
anti backlash nuts from Max NC. I would double check that the one's Paul
buys from them are assembled the same, but I like the Gecko controller he
provides much better than the Max NC controller. (Mine was a clapped out 10
year (atleast) old machine that I retrofit.) I like the construction and
alignment of the MaxNC machines better than the Taig mills even though the
MaxNC is all hard anodized aluminum with no iron parts.

I am doing about 10-15 times as much work on my mini mill(s) as I originally
planned to do. Its one reason why I have experimented with multiple
spindles, bigger motors, high speed spindles etc. Its also why I picked up
the used Hurco. I hope I can get it going and set it up to cut 4-5 complex
parts in a run... or more just by removing finished parts and replacing them
with blanks while it cuts the next one. As far as the cutting time... I
don't think it will be any faster. You can only push a .039" cutter just so
fast.

I really like Iggy's setup. If I had it to do over again paired with all
the hard won knowledge and experience I would probably still have started
with a "turnkey" (note the quotes) mini machine. However, I would also have
immediately started shopping for a good big machine to retrofit or repair.
The mini machine is awesome for making parts for the bigger machines. It is
possible to have everything you need to start cutting parts with a mini
pretty cheap.

My next experiment is a laser / camera scanner to generate point clouds ...
Yeah right. In about 5 years the way projects are stacking up. LOL.
Fortunately there are lots of DIYers who have already done it.

Part of amount of work though is that I have found making chips is almost as
enjoyable to me as fishing.