PM728VT Conversion vs Tormach

[dogma]

Another factor to consider is the cost / labor to construct an enclosure. I would consider an enclosure a hard requirement to run flood coolant. Even with MQL, aluminium chips, especially from finishing passes, can seems as if a child is throwing hands full of glitter around the machine.

 

[RJSakowski]

I have the flood coolant option but no enclosure. I have no problem with either flood coolant or chips. I use a flexible vinyl curtain held to the head with magnets which does a great job. The full enclosure came out after I bought my machine but I still wouldn't opt for it because it limits the work I can put on the machine. As commented earlier, I have run 10 ft. long pieces on my 770.

 

[dogma]

I also suggest generating some example CAM tool paths for the type of parts your interested in producing. My machine's spindle tops out at 8k RPM. I didn't appreciate in advance that this would virtually always be the limiting factor for cutting aluminum. It isn't a problem for my use case but having a 15k rpm spindle would basically double the allowable feed rates.

Something else to consider is that on a 4k rpm spindle a 0.25" endmill would have a sfpm of ~261. That is generally below the recommended sfpm range for carbide tooling. HSS endmills are still widely available but are actually starting to cost more than carbide as demand drops.

 

[dogma]

I have the flood coolant option but no enclosure. I have no problem with either flood coolant or chips. I use a flexible vinyl curtain held to the head with magnets which does a great job.

I have a shower curtain on top of my machine to keep flood coolant from hitting my 10' ceiling.

Here is a picture of 6061 chips stuck to flood coolant on the side window of machine.

 

[koenbro]

I made an enclosure from 8020 with polycarbonate front panels and generic transparent plastic side and back panels.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[dogma]

I made an enclosure from 8020 with polycarbonate front panels and generic transparent plastic side and back panels.

That looks great. Are your doors on slides? How do you keep coolant from getting dumped outside the enclosure when the doors open?

 

[dogma]

This video on constructing an [overkill] enclosure dropped yesterday and may be of interest:

 

[Boswell]

This video on constructing an [overkill] enclosure dropped yesterday and may be of interest

Wow, that enclosure could double as a fallout shelter in the event of nuclear war . Also that is an incredible 3-D printer that he uses toward the end.

 

[cjtoombs]

The choice really comes down to how much your time is worth and what your hobby is. If your hobby is working on machinery and your time is counted as 0, then the conversion is the obvious choice. If your hobby is something else and you just need a tool for your hobby, then you should count your time to be spent on the conversion the same as you make in your employment, at least. If you're retired, then what you would be making if you were still working. That will tilt the decision way in favor of the Tormach, I suspect. You might also see what you can find on the used market. If you are patient you may be able to find a used 770 or 1100 Tormach for what you would have to give for a new 440, possibly with some tooling thrown in. I bought my 1100 used quite some time ago and got it and the tooling with it for a considerable discount. I would also warn you that the time it will take to do the conversion will likely be more than you think.

 

[koenbro]

That looks great. Are your doors on slides? How do you keep coolant from getting dumped outside the enclosure when the doors open?

Yes they slide out. Each door rides on three sliders: top outside, bottom out- and inside.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro