Pictures of first attempts at cutting metal on the Tormach.

[Bob RodgersonParticipant @bobrodgerson97362]

[Bob RodgersonParticipant @bobrodgerson97362]

Here are a few shots of the part after bailing out the coolant.

[Bob RodgersonParticipant @bobrodgerson97362]

Here is another bit of video showing the ATC in operation and a bit of Peck Drilling.

Edited By Bob Rodgerson on 12/05/2015 17:13:42

Edited By Bob Rodgerson on 12/05/2015 17:29:38

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Looks absolutely amazing, but does it not kinda take the fun out of making your own bits

Loved the tool changer. Press start, then go down to the pub and get hammered

So what are you making with it? Flat out you could make a 5" loco from scratch in how much time?

2 weeks? 3?

Tornach now need to make a CNC boiler builder

Edited By Ady1 on 12/05/2015 21:03:18

[Michael CheckleyParticipant @michaelcheckley34085]

………….Just scan in the drawings and press go

Awesome! very jealous. 4th and 5th axis next.

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Nice Bob,

Kinda gives you a nice warm feeling that the journey was worth it but more to the point it now opens up a whole not new but different way of approaching a problem

[Marcus BowmanParticipant @marcusbowman28936]

Excellent. I'm very interested in this.

Which model is this?

Can you comment on the experience of ordering and getting this shipped to the UK?

Did you have it shipped from Wisconsin or from Quingdao Port, China?

Are you running the new Path Pilot software, or the older software?

Lots of questions…

Marcus

[Bob RodgersonParticipant @bobrodgerson97362]

Marcus,

Hi Marcus The model is the PCNC 1100 series 3 mill. Shipping to the UK was no problem whatever. I used the same company that Andy Johnson used (AAC). They were a pleasure to deal with and know the ropes when it comes to importing things into the country. The machine was shipped from the USA.

At the moment I still have Mach 3 installed but I do have the card and software to run path pilot but I am sticking with it until I get more confidence with the machine.

Tormach have been great with service too after I had a couple of problems, they sorted things pretty quickly.

I would recommend anybody who is considering buying one of these mills to go with Tormach's own tooling system and buy as many holders as they can afford. I reckon the mill was about the same price as the cost of the accessories. I went with their own controller and Sprutcam + Iron Cad software.

If you are anywhere near the South Manchester area you would be welcome to come and take a look.

[Bob RodgersonParticipant @bobrodgerson97362]

Hi John,

it was good to meet you at the Model Engineering show on Saturday. You are right about the nice warm feeling the journey was well worth it. I still have a long way to go. When I look back to just over a year ago I would never have thought that I would be drawing in 3D and converting these drawings into code for a machine to make things for me.

[Bob RodgersonParticipant @bobrodgerson97362]

Ady,

I still have manual machines which I use a lot. The fun is in drawing a component and getting the machine to make them. I am not there yet with it but will be soon. The aim is to make some of my own design four stroke diesel model aero engines.

[Bob RodgersonParticipant @bobrodgerson97362]

Michael,

I have got a 4th Axis as well as the duality lathe. I don't think a 5th axis will be an option with this machine.

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Will be wonderful for repetition work on big projects

Gerald Smiths 18 cylinder twin row radial consumed about 6 years of his life

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Knock out a complete set of machined loco wheels…

from the solid…

in a single afternoon…

[Author]

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