06-03-2015, 06:54 PM
Welcome, Thumb!
There's a lot of options out there. Much depends upon budget of course, but also how much room you have, the range of workpiece sizes you may handle and most importantly how much you've put aside to tool it up. It's not unusual to spend 2 to 4 times the purchase price of the machine in adding the cutting tools, measuring tools, work holding and more. Basic vise, collet set and a few cutting tools are needed right up front, most other stuff added as needed.
I'd always be the type to prefer a decent used Bridgeport or Taiwanese Bridgeport clone over a new but less rigid Asian import of 3/4 size. I've seen enough people upgrade from the latter to the former and my own experience is a good teacher. What to watch out for, simply, is worn out machines. Those are discovered when you have the table in the middle of the travels (both X and Y) and tug on the longer X axis handle. A lot of backlash (more than a 3rd of a turn, perhaps) in the screws at those points is another red flag. Testing a machine under power is ideal so you can run through the speeds, forward and reverse, check power feed on the quill and table (if any.) If it sounds like crap it probably is crap.
That said, the most skilled machinist can make awesome parts on a clapped out POS machine. I still wouldn't buy one. What are you finding appeals to you so far?
There's a lot of options out there. Much depends upon budget of course, but also how much room you have, the range of workpiece sizes you may handle and most importantly how much you've put aside to tool it up. It's not unusual to spend 2 to 4 times the purchase price of the machine in adding the cutting tools, measuring tools, work holding and more. Basic vise, collet set and a few cutting tools are needed right up front, most other stuff added as needed.
I'd always be the type to prefer a decent used Bridgeport or Taiwanese Bridgeport clone over a new but less rigid Asian import of 3/4 size. I've seen enough people upgrade from the latter to the former and my own experience is a good teacher. What to watch out for, simply, is worn out machines. Those are discovered when you have the table in the middle of the travels (both X and Y) and tug on the longer X axis handle. A lot of backlash (more than a 3rd of a turn, perhaps) in the screws at those points is another red flag. Testing a machine under power is ideal so you can run through the speeds, forward and reverse, check power feed on the quill and table (if any.) If it sounds like crap it probably is crap.
That said, the most skilled machinist can make awesome parts on a clapped out POS machine. I still wouldn't buy one. What are you finding appeals to you so far?