Re: get tormachs $2100 4th axis for $700
Originally Posted by
daniellyall
there are a couple of good Chinese out fit out there you just struck a good one you are more than likely correct about tormach buying from the same place but work out your time for striping cleaning rebuilding the table it will probably work out the same as buying one with a guarntee
I am with acannell on this one.
Tormach's 4th axis' are overpriced by about 100%, as the conversion is pretty easy to accomplish. It would be one thing if there was unique engineering involved in the manufacturing, and the basic products weren't available elsewhere or if Tormach was selling a device built from the ground up as a high precision cnc component. But ALL of their 4th axis are readily available everywhere, with the basic (non-cnc) unit selling for about 30% of their price. Throwing on a stepper, mounting bracket, and flexible shaft coupling shouldn't add $500-1000.
6" Tormach super spacer: $1425
Same super-spacer from utoole: $445
6" Tormach rotary table: $834
6" phase 2 rotary table from Enco: $317 (although you see these on sale for $260 all the time)
I think Tormach's mill and lathe are good values, as they are built from the ground up to be cnc machines, and there is limited competition (all of which is similarly priced). But their price for a converted non-cnc component is a bit over the top.
Originally Posted by
mioduz
But you could, if daring, supply another and run 5axis. I wouldn't know how to program it, but it would be cool.
And there in lies the problem.
Price of tilting 6" table: $475
Price to convert it to cnc (4th + 5th axis), including drivers: $500
Price of CAM software to actually spit out 5th axis g-code: priceless (ok, just $12k, but might as well be priceless)
Tim
Tormach 1100-3, Grizzly G0709 lathe, Clausing 8520 mill, SolidWorks, HSMWorks.