[pstockley]

Just took delivery this morning. I opened the crate before going to work to check for damage. I haven't had a chance to have a really good look at it but from initial impressions, I am impressed. The quality looks good and the machine is very robust. I had a 6x26 VMC before and it is much more robust than this. Given that the 6x26 weighed around 900lbs with a cast iron base and this weighs over 1100lbs without a base it isn't surpising.

I will post to this thread my impressions as I get the thing going. I am welding up a table at the moment. By the time I get this done and powder coated it will probably be a month before the thing is operational.

[tyler774]

Hey What part of the country you in? If you are from Manitoba let me know as I'm considering getting myself one also.
I was watching an e-bay aution for a Prolight CNC mill, it's smaller but get this, it sold for $9500 CAN! The Tormach seems like a much greater deal for the $.
.
Looking forward to your future posts.

[pstockley]

I am in Toronto

[levelzero]

I'm in Vancouver and am also looking at the Tormach. I have yet to find anything even comparable to it in the same price range.

My biggest concern is with it's ease of use .. or and lack there of. I am new to machining so I am looking for something relativeley easy to run.

[pstockley]

Well ease of use is probably more to do with the software you run for machine control and CAM. I have a lot of experience using manual mills and lathes over the 15 or so years I have been involved in model engineering. Even so it is still quite a steep learning curve getting your head around G code and CAM and so on. However, its just a case of being patient and working your way methodically through it all. Mach seems pretty user friendly and the conversational wizards seem like a good way to learn the basics.

The biggest external factor is probably what you want to make? This has a lot to do with how complicated things get.

[levelzero]

Well to start I want to make flanges and other items along those lines. Nothing overly complicated. Maybe pick up some small run contracts.

I have never used a milling machine, manual or cnc. I'm more then comfortable with computers and CAD programs so I'm hoping for the parts I need it will be as simple as bolt some metal to the bed and press go.

How do you find the speed of the machine? What about the noise?

[DSpeck]

pstockley, I'm in T.O. as well. Would you consider letting me come over and have a look at the machine? I am looking around at small CNC mills, and this does sound like a winner so far... I don't think I could get it into my house, but you never know in the future...

[pstockley]

Sure, once its up and running in a month or so.

[DSpeck]

That's great - I'll look forward to seeing it. If I am a tinge green with envy, don't be too surprised, though...

[MeCnc]

I am looking into the tormach, also , and would be interested in finding out about it's capabilities. I , too, am considering putting one in my basement. ( new to cnczone and mini-milling).

[d2gdesign]

I am looking into the tormach, also , and would be interested in finding out about it's capabilities. I , too, am considering putting one in my basement. ( new to cnczone and mini-milling).

I am also new to the forum, (first post), interested in the tormach to start a side business, and work downtown T.O.

I would be intersted in seeing one of these machines run and just meet some people that use them. Pstockley, maybe you should be calling up the company for some referral commission or something! I'm very interested in seeing how you like it so far and some of the work you have done.

d.

[pstockley]

I wish I could show you what I have done with it. The truth is I am still finishing the stand. Its taken a lot longer than I had hoped to build. Don't want to make another one anytime soon!

[DSpeck]

Well, I (and it looks like others, too, now! ) am still looking forward to seeing the Tormach, hopefully in action too. Should we take it off-list to communicate, or is here OK?

[phil burman]

Please keep it here as I am also interested in this thread. My Tormach should be shipped next week.

Best Regards (chair)
Phil

Well, I (and it looks like others, too, now! ) am still looking forward to seeing the Tormach, hopefully in action too. Should we take it off-list to communicate, or is here OK?

[InspirationTool]

What Phil said. We want to see some Tool Porn (TM)!

-Jeff

[pstockley]

No need to worry, I'll keep everyone posted on progress.

The stand should be complete this week excluding painting. I am going to test the machine out on the stand before final painting just to make sure it doesn't need beefing up anymore. I will post pictures soon. I plan to do some experimental tests cutting aluminum first. The steel tests will have to wait until the stand is painted so I can use coolant.

Its been very frustrating not being able to use the machine. I would recommend anyone buying a PCNC 1100 look seriously at buying a stand also. It is far more work than you realize to make your own.

[BobWarfield]

Its been very frustrating not being able to use the machine. I would recommend anyone buying a PCNC 1100 look seriously at buying a stand also. It is far more work than you realize to make your own.

Amen!

My IH Mill "Christmas Present" sits on its pallet quietly mocking me while I go on about a stand. In my case, I am waiting for my contractor pal to hook up my 220V wiring so I can fire up my Tig welder and even get started. I've seriously considered buying a granite surface plate stand (they're strong and nearly the right size) or just pouring a concrete stand.

Best,

BW

[pstockley]

Just to prove I haven't been sitting on my rear, here are a couple of shots of the stand I am building.





Its welded up from 2"x4" and 2"x2" by 1/8" tubing. The sides and tray are made from 16g steel. I am kind of regretting not going to heavier gauge steel for the sheet stuff. The tray is pretty stiff but I am afraid it is going to ring like a bell. The problem I have is that I don't have much help to lift it around when welding and even 16g is pretty heavy (>100lbs). Anyway, time will tell once I give it a test run. I just have to finish grinding the spot welds down and weld on the plates for the 5 adjustable feet. Hopefully by the end of this weekend, I can think about how I am going to get the mill onto it!

[BobWarfield]

Nice stand!

One thing I wonder about with these machines is how much protection to provide from coolant spray. If you look at some CNC videos, such as the ones on the Industrial Hobbies site, there is so much coolant you'd have to put the whole machine in a box to keep it under control. OTOH, you look at something like a Haas TM-1, and it has almost no enclosure at all.

What's the story here? Do we need tons of coolant spraying everywhere, or is something a little less crazy in order?

It affects the design of the stand. BTW, I think you are covered either way if you had to build a plexi box atop that nice drip pan.

Best,

BW

[dammachines]

Wow! That is a nice looking stand. Wish I knew how to weld, though my wooden stand hasn't collapsed yet!

As far a coolant goes, I put a choped off 5 gallon bucket underneath my drain hole and found a "Universal pump" at Home Depot that from what I can tell is rated at 180 gal/hr. Well, after running through my 15 feet of hose, I timed it and I'm getting 1 gal / 9 minutes...

It certainly doesn't blow the chips away by any means, but when a 1/2" endmill is spinning at 3800 RPM in that coolant flow, spray starts flying about 4 feet in all directions... Definitely need to put some kind of guard on the front. It would be nice if Tormach sold just the table shield part of their stand as a separate item. Proably cheaper to build something myself. I do have some left over 80/20 quick frame here. Works well for we non-welders...

Dave.