[twocik]

Sounds like a lemon... As for purchasing a Tormach, hands down the best decision I've made. Tormach exceeded my expectations.

I had very similar issues like this before the Tormach, now I just worry about how fast can I cut this part out or if I make a fixture to increase my quantity. I just finished a 3 part run of 300 pcs (6061 AL 0.6" x 1-3/8" x 3.8") with no problems. It's a safe smart buy.



Here's a few pics to check out



Best finish I've gotten on my 1100

[Steve Seebold]

First, welcome to the group.

Second, as a former CNC shop owner (Haas and FADAL) I can tell you buying my PCNC1100 is the best thing I could have done.

I bought my PCNC1100 last July. Actually, it was a year old on July 13. (Friday the 13th, YUK!)

I run my machine 40 to 70 hours a week (depending on how ambitious I feel in any given week), and the ONLY problem I have had with it is some of the Bellville spring washers on the PDB broke. They were covered by the warrantee, so I got to take a couple of days off while I waited for them.

It took about 4 days for them to get here because I am in Southern California.

My shop is called Mid Day Machining because sometimes I start at 8:00 AM, but sometimes I start at 5:00 PM. Sometimes I'll quit at 5:00 PM, and sometimes I'll quit at 2:00 AM. Some days, I don't even turn the machine on.

Sometimes, I'll turn the machine on and spend more time watching Law and Order reruns or drag racing than I do making parts. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, I have a 37 inch LCD TV next to my machine.

I use my machine to make parts for gasoline powered remote control race boats and 1/5 scale gasoline powered cars, trucks and buggies.

I had GibbsCam in my shop and that's what I use to program my machine.

My PCNC 1100 will do ANYTHING my FADAL or my Haas would do, it just takes a little longer.

I just finished a run of 75 rudders for the boats, with total run time was about 18 minutes each and on the Haas, it was 14 minutes. That runtime included drilling a 1/8 inch diameter hole 4 1/2 inches deep in a piece of 3/16 thick 7075 aluminum. I drilled 130 pieces and not one piece had the hole break out the side.

14 minutes versus 18 minutes? $75,000.00 versus $15,000.00. You choose.

I feel confident enough in my Tormach PCNC 1100 that I would tell you, if you were close to me, to bring your part over and I'll run your part on my machine just to show you what the PCNC will do.

Bottom line, "YOU CAN'T GO WRONG WITH A TORMACH".

[jrm850]

Gorgeous finish! Can you share the setup?

Sounds like a lemon... As for purchasing a Tormach, hands down the best decision I've made. Tormach exceeded my expectations.

I had very similar issues like this before the Tormach, now I just worry about how fast can I cut this part out or if I make a fixture to increase my quantity. I just finished a 3 part run of 300 pcs (6061 AL 0.6" x 1-3/8" x 3.8") with no problems. It's a safe smart buy.

[usarty1]

Thank you for the help twocik, I have not heard too much bad things at all, you seem to be making some good sized parts, what is the depth of cut you can make with a 1/2" 2fl end mill? Have you had any problems with the bearings not holding up or excessive vibration? I am going to post the part photos and see what everyone thinks!
Best Regards

[usarty1]

These parts take four operations, I am wondering what the hog process will be like with the 1100, I thought I read that someone mentioned the machine can only cut .15 with a 1/2" End Mill? Thank you everyone for the help making the correct choice.


http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/a...SuperMini2.jpg

[TXFred]

Nice tattoo machine. I am a machine builder too (see my website.). If you get one of the 17mm carbide insert mills, you will see an impressive material removal rate on aluminum. Chips fly like they do on a VMC.

Frederic

[usarty1]

Hi Frederic,
I have been building machines for 30 years started with Big Joe Kaplan and many more big named guys in the business; I have mainly worked towards the medical and cosmetic side of manufacturing and have several patents on designs such as this one. Check out the medical and tattoo history I did on a wounded veteran from desert storm three weeks ago. Look me up at Art Joe’s on Face book. I am a retired Marine of 23 years. I will tell more when time permits but enjoy what you see it has never been done before if you read the entire case. Thanks for all the help!
John

[usarty1]

I have been looking over Tormach's website and cannot find what I am looking for in the information. They mention G code editing but what I am looking to find out is does the processor for the machine read standard G Code, I think using Mastercam will let me speed up things over using Bob Cad 25. As anyone can see the part had tool marks from chatter. The bearings on the CNC Masters Baron XL are tapered bearings but have no grease seals and continually loose the grease in minutes and then there is too much play in the quill, the list with this machine as long and unfortunately out of character I got sucked in big time!
I appreciate everyone’s honesty and help, just cannot make any more stupid mistakes and want to make a good informed decision; so far I have not seen anything negative except hogging a part out at .15
I have watch a series of videos from one guy on YouTube and many more and everything looks to work very well for a lower cost machine. It is a shame nothing is made in the US anymore but I guess that is the risk when buying these days.
Thanks for everyone’s help, I am becoming more convinced this might be the correct choice; I used to make these parts all by hand controlled milling!

[TXFred]

what I am looking to find out is does the processor for the machine read standard G Code, I think using Mastercam will let me speed up things over using Bob Cad 25.

Yes, it can handle mastercam output. I have used gcode from a Haas post and it has worked perfectly.

Frederic

[philbur]

I am wondering what the hog process will be like with the 1100, I thought I read that someone mentioned the machine can only cut .15 with a 1/2" End Mill?

Roughing video:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnOdXxklWqk&list=PLD30BEC599D6128AE&index= 2&feature=plpp_video]Cutting 1" bar of 6061 Aluminum - Tormach CNC Application - YouTube[/ame]

Phil

[Wog]

That's the exact video I was going to post Phil! Haven't seen it in a few years.
My Series 1 machine sees almost daily use for hours on end. I'm so happy with it, I just purchased another (Series II) and it's in the back of a Penske truck sitting outside my shop as I type!!:banana:
As others have stated, Tormach is wonderful company to deal with, before, during and after the sale.