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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2018
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    Default CNC Purchase advice Tormach or...???

    I'm after a CNC for working with plastic, aluminium, perhaps a little steel.

    People have suggested a Tormach, it's a little out my budget. Well lot out of it actually, but I want something decent.

    Any suggestions? I was looking at a tormach 440.
    Originally I was looking at some sort of cnc kit from China however I don't want to spend the next 12 months screwing around to get it working well. I want to make stuff!

    Open to second hand stuff if anyone has something suitable

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
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    Melbourne
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    CNC is pretty much a pay to play kind of arena. Either go the home hobby route and cobble something together, or pony up. There isn't really a middle ground afaik.

    You could grab an early 80s machine like an Okuma and Howa or other older iron. The controls are surprisingly well thought out even on ancient stuff. But the problem is they need real air, real power and real rigging to move them. Followed by real patience and reading the documentation about 30 times.

    Not long back a friend was looking what it would cost to get an essentially free DMG home and it gets really expensive really fast.

    There are cheaper Asian tormach competitors like syil etc but the controls are pretty patchy and support is non existent here.

  3. #3
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    Sep 2006
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    Australind , WA
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    Default

    I assume you are familar with the workings of CNC?
    I mean, you are not a complete novice?

    How much do you want to spend?
    What sort of cutting area do you want?

  4. #4
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by caskwarrior View Post
    CNC is pretty much a pay to play kind of arena. Either go the home hobby route and cobble something together, or pony up. There isn't really a middle ground afaik.
    This

    It's the eternal "I want quality but can't afford it" thing, I see the same question on the woodwork forum all the time and the answer is the same: If you don't have the skills and/or time do build one yourself, you gotta pay for someone who does.

  5. #5
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    Default

    I'm not a total novice, but far from an expert.
    I've done a bit of work on lathes, and I'm pretty good with Fusion360 designing stuff from scratch and 3D printing it. I'm aware of the differences of subtractive processes as apposed to additive.

    I've pretty much totally rebuilt my 3D printer (Aldi cocoon touch / wanhao rebrand) there isn't much left that is original parts on that. It now prints really really good, and currently upgrading parts of it again so I can print in nylon too.

    So that's where I'm coming from.

    As far as work area goes, 15" x 15" x 5" should be plenty for what I have in mind at the moment.

    Thanks for your responses so far.

    Oh an budget would be nice around $4k to 8k.. But I understand you get what you pay for...

  6. #6
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    Jul 2016
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    Default

    Personally I'd look at a second hand behemoth. It's the only chance you have of getting something capable in your budget. You'll still blow the budget by miles but it'll happen over time rather than all at once.

  7. #7
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    Syil actually are distributed locally now https://au.syil.com/mini-cnc-mill , still gonna be over budget though

    If you don't want to/can't go giant size, maybe look at the stuff aimed at the hobby woodworkers:
    https://www.machines4u.com.au/view/a...RS6090/175998/
    https://www.machines4u.com.au/view/a...00x900/461766/
    https://www.machines4u.com.au/view/a...achine/295389/

    You won't be chasing microns with them, but you'll get your work area and then some. You also won't be able to do anything ferrous; plastic, brass and aluminium only.

  8. #8
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    Default

    @caskwarrior had a look for a behemoth, couldn't really find anything? Do you have a link?

  9. #9
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    Oh no I just meant something ancient and enormous.

  10. #10
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by caskwarrior View Post
    Oh no I just meant something ancient and enormous.

    Haha that's what I thought, but I googled it just in case and there were quite a few DIY creations that people had called "behemoth"

  11. #11
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    If you are only going to do plastic and Al, have a look on ebay for CNC routers. They will probably do the job. If you are a you tube fan, then look up the videos by "this old tony". He has a CNC router (home made-ish) and I think he has (very carefully) even used it on steel.

    Michael

  12. #12
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  13. #13
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    You wally @elanjacobs They wouldn't fit in my suburb, let alone my house.

  14. #14
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    Thanks MICHAEL, great recommendation!
    I've been watching "this old Tony" for ages. He's probably the main raeason I haven't totally written off DIY CNC

  15. #15
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    Mar 2014
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    I wouldn't bother with a industrial second hand machine on that budget. If a board or power supply goes in the control you will spend your budget again on parts.

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