AXMINSTER CNC TECHNOLOGY IKX1 MILL

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AXMINSTER CNC TECHNOLOGY IKX1 MILL

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  • #226468
    Dave C
    Participant
      @davec87625

      Hi and I am just throwing this out there in case anybody has any knowledge about or experience with the above CNC mill. This is something I am interested in getting into.

      Due to the cost of importing a torchmach mill I would be interested to find out if there is any major differences or quality issues worth knowing about.

      A note of thanks to Bob Rodgerson who kindly spent an evening with me a short while ago demonstrating his Tormach mill.

      Many thanks

      Dave

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      #15091
      Dave C
      Participant
        @davec87625

        Information please

        #226477
        Bob Rodgerson
        Participant
          @bobrodgerson97362

          Hi Dave,

          I did look at these when I was looking for a CNC Mill but decided against it. I am not sure but I think they are more or less the same as the seig mill. If they are you might just as well go for one of ARC Euro models.

          #226483
          Barnaby Wilde
          Participant
            @barnabywilde70941

            I was in a very similar predicament 10yrs ago when looking for my first CNC mill.

            At that time there were only a handful of Tormachs in the UK but I was happy that spending the £10k ish to get one over here would have been a good move. Instead I opted for a Syil SX3 for £3.5k.. My reason was that if my particular project failed then I'd rather be failing with £3.5k than £10k+ invested in a lump of metal.

            Alas, my project was so phenomenally successful that all of my CNC manufacturing is now farmed out. The Syil is used only for R&D and only then when the 3d printer simply won't do a sturdy prototype.

            That Axminster machine will not remove any more metal any more quicker than my Syil SX3. The limiting factors are the HP from the motor & the rigidity of the whole machine.

            You could have a similar machine to mine in your workshop tommorrow for less than £5k but you won't have the option for ATC.

            ATC is very desirable if you're looking to make £money (like me) but if you're just a hobbyist then is the doubling in cost worthwhile?

            If you're a hobbyist then go for something from Arc Euro, if you're a wealthy hobbyist then sit down with Ketan & trust him to spend your extra on much improved quality & tooling.

            If you're looking to make £money then a Tormach (IMO) is the minimum entry point..

            P.S. My Syil might be up for sale soon . . . . I'm looking to upgrade to a Tormach !

            #226503
            John Haine
            Participant
              @johnhaine32865

              Or you might look at a Denford, but would have to be second hand.

              #226550
              Dave C
              Participant
                @davec87625

                Thanks very much for the advice.

                Food for thought.

                #226566
                Another JohnS
                Participant
                  @anotherjohns

                  Dave – random comments:

                  0) congratulations on making the plunge, not all will. And, planning on making the plunge, and asking questions.

                  1) Would have loved a Tormach PCNC 770, but did not have the vertical height to get one on its' supplied base.

                  2) Do have a KX1, running LinuxCNC (as does Tormach now, abeit with their own interface), and it is a great little machine. Both of my LinuxCNC machines are incredibly reliable. (the KX1 came without the electronics controller that the Arc Eurotrade one does, and I think you are stuck with Windows and Mach3 on the Arc one, which if true, would not interest me, but that is just *my* thoughts and I'm sure the Arc offering is well thought out)

                  3) do have a larger CNC conversion (G0704-style) but better would have been the Tormach 770… (sigh) (should have raised the house or lowered the basement floor…)

                  4) tool changer – not of interest to me. Maybe on a lathe, but on a mill, I just change tools, and re-set the Z (sometimes with a touch plate, which makes it almost automatic)

                  5) I do wish for an enclosure, and coolant. (I do use compressed air to clear away the chips, but many of these do end up on the floor, despite the chip tray)

                  6) You can use the Tormach Tooling System, if you do want something more like an ATC, but without the cost, the speed, or…

                  Just random comments. Whatever you do purchase, learn to use it, and you'll be ahead of the game.

                  John.

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