Beginner looking for opinions on getting started

[wrmiller]

True, Bill, true ... we all have different needs.

I don't buy into the buy the biggest whatever thing, either. I think you should settle on a size that suits your current and projected needs, then buy the best one you can afford. I can afford to buy any lathe I want but I chose an Emco lathe and Sherline machines; in their respective classes they are very good machines.

Well, if you're ever feel like being generous to a poor guy, you could buy me a Hardinge and I'd offer you my 1340GT as a gift.

(just kidding...)

OP: sorry for getting off the rails a bit.

 

[Paintzapper]

Naw, derailments provide entertainment and insights ones general questions won't normally bring up. I encourage it!

I do have access to a lathe with more tools than I will ever need and someone who is skilled in using it, but all of my projects I wish to do have zero application on the lathe. I showed my friend who owns the lathe what I had drawn up and he said a 3 axis mill/CNC will be what I need but has very little experience with said equipment.

 

[C-Bag]

Welcome aboard. I commend you on your laying out parameters as that is so helpful. As you can see this is a very helpful and knowledgeable bunch. And they have laid out a very helpful path. I did a lot like you and tried to figure out the extent of my envelope and then look at what I could afford adding in the parameter x2 for tooling. Even though I wasn't starting from absolute 0 because of my background as a mechanic/welder/fabricator machining is a whole other frontier because of taking in all the branches. Like metrology. I personally couldn't make it work without buying used and that meant even more research. I wish I would have run across this site then.

I ended up with well used Enco and HF mill and lathe and with those have made each of them better over time along with some custom tools tailored to what I do. That's the beauty of the lathe and mill, the ability to make parts to repair themselves. This hobby does have a very expansive aspect in that you'll find you'll need a saw to cut up material, grinders for sharpening and shaping, benches and vises and on and on. Try as I might there is no way to confine this no matter the budget or space constraints.

 

[wrmiller]

Naw, derailments provide entertainment and insights ones general questions won't normally bring up. I encourage it!

I do have access to a lathe with more tools than I will ever need and someone who is skilled in using it, but all of my projects I wish to do have zero application on the lathe. I showed my friend who owns the lathe what I had drawn up and he said a 3 axis mill/CNC will be what I need but has very little experience with said equipment.

Sounds like a little Taig CNC tabletop might be in order?

There's some cnc folks around here that can probably help getting you started.

 

[Paintzapper]

Still debating on the CNC portion, It's kinda at the point of I want the capability but don't wish to have to learn yet another program/device.

Side note on CNCs, what is the primary differences/restrictions between something like a tabletop Mill with CNC upgrades and a CNC router? I think I understand that there is less z axis cutting room, looser tolerances and sometimes unable to cut metals. Am I correct in thinking this?

I personally couldn't make it work without buying used and that meant even more research. I wish I would have run across this site then.

Thank you for the welcome! I personally wouldn't have found myself over here without the direction from someone on one of my paintball forums. I love the wealth of informative stickies and all the suggestions that has been given not only on this thread but the other beginner threads as well!

 

[C-Bag]

Full disclosure, I don't work by plans so cnc isn't something I'd ever get into. It isn't just lazy or something, doing more than sketches somehow cross wires me and the whole thing stops. Weird, I know.

 

[wrmiller]

Full disclosure, I don't work by plans so cnc isn't something I'd ever get into. It isn't just lazy or something, doing more than sketches somehow cross wires me and the whole thing stops. Weird, I know.

Hah! And I thought I was the only one.

I keep a whiteboard on the wall between the lathe and mill for doodles and numbers. Otherwise I pretty much do everything in my head.

While I can program (spent 30 plus years designing and writing code/firmware), I don't have much use for cnc as most things I do are one-off or one piece at a time and dealing with a cnc would just slow me down.

 

[bill70j]

While I can program (spent 30 plus years designing and writing code/firmware), I don't have much use for cnc as most things I do are one-off or one piece at a time and dealing with a cnc would just slow me down.

Same here. I was pretty good at Fortran in the day. Some say they are paying Fortran coders big $$ these days to program in such an "obsolete" language.

 

[TerryH]

Same here. I was pretty good at Fortran in the day. Some say they are paying Fortran coders big $$ these days to program in such an "obsolete" language.

Fortran. Wow. Haven't heard that word in a good long while. I suddenly had flashbacks of shoe boxes full of punch cards.

 

[C-Bag]

Wow, I'm glad I'm not alone. I wish I had room on the wall for a white board. That's a great idea instead of writing on the bench in silver pencil like I do now

I can only do something if I've got it all worked out in my head. When I try to just go by a simple drawing without a clear picture in my head I always seem to forget like a setback or some crucial dimension is wrong. So trying to stop and work it out on a computer I'm sure would be even worse. I'm in awe of those who can go through the steep learning curve for these cad programs not to mention the learning the machines and their software. But I also like you guys am not punching out a bunch of the same thing. Different strokes.