Subject: Re: CAM

From: [email-masked]
Date: 4 Dec 1996 18:33:03 GMT

In article <[email-masked]>, Mark Winlund
<[email-masked]> writes:

>This would be a good subject for a thread... What makes a good CNC mill,
and
>what 
>should you pay?

Sounds dangerous to me.

Peter
Still patching bullet holes and attending to 3rd degree burns in places it
was thought  flames could never reach after a round or two on low-end CNC.

---

From: [email-masked]
Date: 2 Dec 1996 22:44:06 GMT

Can a plasma cutter effectively cut steel tubing?  I cut a lot of 1" od,
.095 wall steel tubing with my old chop saw but would be interested in a
cleaner, faster way.

Also, when cutting with a plasma cutter on sheet or plate steel, can the
plasma cutter start a cut in the middle of the piece without a pilot hole?

Thanks for any help.

Chuck

---

From: Mark Winlund <[email-masked]>
Date: 4 Dec 1996 03:26:18 GMT

GD <[email-masked]> wrote:
>I am thinking of adding a computer controled mill to my home shop and
>was wonder if anyone had and ideas on what to look for and also I am
>looking for any good reading material on the same. I am loking for
>something under 20,000 dollars U.S. I am another guy who would rather
>drive a 1,000 dollar car and run a 20,000 dollar mill. Or as I like to
>say if I have to explain it you wouldn't understand! Any thoughts would
>be greatly appreciated.
>                           GD

Very little to read out there. For twenty thousand, you can get a fairly good ready 
to run, Bridgeport clone with CNC.  (note: watch out for limited Z axis travels!) I 
have the Centroid controller in mine, and like it. Others are probably just as good. 
 The problem with this field is that there is so little literature or books out 
there. What exists is hopelessly outdated. You just about have to hold your nose and 
jump in. Try you local community college first. They may be able to educate you 
enough to be able to ask the right questions. This area of machining is changing so 
rapidly that the literature is obsolete before it is printed!

This would be a good subject for a thread... What makes a good CNC mill, and what 
should you pay?

Regards, Mark

---

From: [email-masked] (Brian Fairey)
Date: Fri, 06 Dec 1996 15:24:32 GMT

>say if I have to explain it you wouldn't understand! Any thoughts would

Get a used Bridgeport type mill and buy a package from AHHA for less
than 20K OR 
get a smaller Taiwanese knee type mill and a different package from
AHHA for less than 10K.
Brian, Ont, Can
I took the second route.

---

From: [email-masked]
Date: 11 Dec 1996 00:06:51 GMT

It'll cut it like a Stihl chain saw cuts rotten balsa. 
The plasma will "peck" through the piece. Start it on the scrap side.