I am considering buying a small mill for making aluminum molds; 7075, QC-10, Alumold, Fortal. The molds are for making short run injection molded production plastic parts. Probably the largest piece would be in the range of 10 x 10".
I want to minimize the finishing required for the mold. Machining speed is not the issue as a lot of the time it would sit idle waiting for instructions; it is really to reduce the turnaround time and control costs for the molds. Having said that, I want to be smart about my purchase and make sure I get the right machine for the job. And I am torn between buying a good used machine or opening my wallet further for a new machine.
Quite frankly the shear volume of information and available machines is a little overwhelming. Hence, I am looking for some recommendations/guidance on purchasing a machine. This my first CNC machine purchase and I want to get it right. I will hire an operator but most around here are not used to making molds and I do not trust their opinion to get it right. Any takers?