Machining tools

[bollero]

Do u have links to who sells them? i would not mind spending 25k for a very large CNC machine .

[eaglemike]

Do u have links to who sells them? i would not mind spending 25k for a very large CNC machine .

I didn't say very large, but you could likely find one...... if you look hard enough.

You can find a used Haas or Fadal for that money, in good shape. Envelope 30 X 20 X 16. Thsi should be big enough for pretty much all gun stuff. If you get a smaller machine for the same price it will be newer or in a little better shape. You can get a VF-2 in good shape about 10 years old. I like the Haas stuff as it's very easy to run and the service is outstanding. I bought one of my machines here:

http://www.universalmachinery.com/

I worked at a place that had a lot of Fanuc stuff and it wasn't near as reliable as my Haas stuff has been. I've been very happy with the reliability of my Anilam controls too, but we don't see much of them on machining centers. Lots of them on knee mills. Some people like Fadal better (and I know of a couple of shops that wish they spent their money on Haas), but I'm happy enough with the Haas stuff I'm not even going to try it.

all the best,
Mike

[VictorFranko]

You can find a used Haas or Fadal for that money, in good shape.

Go with the Haas over the Fadal. I have been running Fadals for about 22 years and like them, but Fadal's future seems to be in question right now.
Fadal sold out to MAG last year, and now Mag seems to have dropped Fadal. Spare parts might become scarce in the future, whereas Haas still seems solid and they are located in California.
We still are running one of the very first Fadal's to come out of their old North Hollywood facility, serial number 4 if you can believe it. It still holds some pretty tight tolerances, close enough for military satellite work anyway!

I have found that the 3-in-1 machines I have played around with lacked the rigidity for heavy cuts or repeatable close tolerance work. Someone else mentioned weight, but it is the rigidity that is important, but I am splitting hairs here, because usually more weight equals more rigidity and more rigidity requires more weight.

Lots of machinery auctions out there with the economy being so bad.
Good luck.