Buying a CNC Mill

[Cognisant]

Which do you think I should go with?

Spoiler

https://www.bilbycnc.com.au/DispCat.asp?CatID=10&SubCatID=90
Good range, Australian company, reasonable prices.

http://romaxxcncrouters.com/store#!/~/product/category=2549172&id=10142335
Can be bundled with "Mach 3" CAM software, good technical support.

https://www.inventables.com/technologies/desktop-cnc-mill-kit-shapeoko-2
Cheap and large, but assembly required and uses open source software which can cause problems.

https://www.buildyourcnc.com/blackToothLaserCutterAndEngraver.aspx
Mill and laser cutter in one, great price, assembly required, open source software, all in all it's a good deal but what would I use the laser for?

https://www.buildyourcnc.com/blueChickVersion42CNCMachineKit.aspx
Good price but not great, made of wood, meh.

http://www.zenbotcnc.com/all-products/zenbot-4848
It's HUGE, reasonably priced and can be bundled with "Mach 3" software.

http://www.veloxcnc.com/vr1414x_cnc_router_14_x_14_14-inch_x_14-inch.asp
A bit expensive, well made though.

Also here's a great list of 3D printers by price, I figured it was worth sharing.
Particularly take note of the SLA printers they have amazing accuracy.
http://www.3ders.org/pricecompare/3dprinters/

 

[Cognisant]

Also for anyone else that's interested in this sort of thing here's a few more resources:

http://www.smooth-on.com/
They well all kinds of premix plastic, foams, rubber, silicones, etc.

http://www.plastimake.com/
Awesome stuff, I use it for everything.

 

[Duxwing]

Get the zenbot: big, cheap, good software.

-Duxwing

 

[Kuu]

Nice 3d printer list. I've been thinking of getting one for meself (if only I weren't broke).

What would you use a laser for? wtf..... you disappoint, Cog.

 

[Architect]

Nice 3d printer list.

Those aren't 3D printers, but CNC routers, and they're not mills.

Milling is a fun hobby. I'll admit that the sight of machine aluminum gets me excited ... at work we have a engineering shop that we can use after taking some classes. Great fun, we've got one of the beautiful old Bridgeports, a sheet metal brake, bender, lathe, hole punching up to 2" and the like.

Of course the question with all this is what is your purpose and what are your tolerances and project dimensional requirements? Are you having fun or accomplishing a specific job? If you do CNC you're just being a programmer, and you have to understand how to mill/route in the first place to some degree, do you have those skills?

This is obviously something that gets very expensive very quick. Many of my engineer friends have got the bug. One has a Drill-Mill in his garage, another actually has a smaller Bridgeport in his living room (he's not married, and if you care about tolerances why in the living room for gods sake?)

Milling takes a lot of time, just doing one piece requires getting all the materials, planning how you do it, then doing it, then doing it again as you make mistakes. Not interested anymore, but back when I was into the idea I looked at getting a Grizzly. Here's a Drill-mill-lathe combo for $1600

http://www.grizzly.com/products/8-x-16-Lathe-with-Milling-Head/G0769

Their stuff is cheap but functional. Don't ask for too much with tolerances. I think they have some CNC options too.

By the way Gabe (what's his name, the CEO of Steam) said that he bought a million dollar CNC as a relaxing hobby from work, only to find out that the problem of milling was no different than getting surfaces to turn out right in a video game. So much for getting away from work.

 

[Happy]

I'm curious - what do you intend to do with a CNC router?

Edit: This should be your answer - http://www.wikihouse.cc

Edit2: Just realised Architect already asked this question...

 

[Cognisant]

Of course the question with all this is what is your purpose and what are your tolerances and project dimensional requirements? Are you having fun or accomplishing a specific job?

I want to mill machinable wax and other light materials to make molds for casting larger & more complex forms, initially from premix plastics but I also intend to contact a local foundary for lost wax casting metal parts, continuing from that probably my most ambitious goal is to make a injection molding machine and make metal molds for it.

All for prototyping & small run production.

I could use a 3D printer but I'll get much better results with a mill, unless it's a SLA 3D printer but they cost a lot and only make very small things which is impractical for my purposes.

By the way Gabe (what's his name, the CEO of Steam) said that he bought a million dollar CNC as a relaxing hobby from work, only to find out that the problem of milling was no different than getting surfaces to turn out right in a video game. So much for getting away from work.

Oh that's cruel what does a million dollar mill even look like?

 

[Cognisant]

One idea of mine is to make a valve based drink mixer, a very common hobbyist project, except mine will be inside a hollow iron statue electroplated with nickel which when fired and polished will look like gold.

Like this, but golden.

I won't pretend that it's real gold, I won't have to, even if the golden sheen is fake it'll still be a damn fine mixer and who wouldn't want their drinks from a life sized shining nymph?
It's the stuff of legend

Of course I'm no artist, any 3D modellers here?
You'll get a royalty on every statue sold.

And that's just one idea, I've got an unlimited supply of ideas, I'm going to take over the world! (eventually)

 

[Kuu]

Those aren't 3D printers, but CNC routers

I think you might need to read the OP thoroughly before commenting...