Table Top CNC machines - any good?

Because I just bought one for $250. CNC Masters "CNC Jr" - Still in production (and a $5k list price) so service & support is still around. It needs a axis motor, and its small (19" X 7" X 5" travel). I figure it might be nice to make some small test fixtures for the lab I'm opening in WA (and maybe some race parts, engine mounts, etc).

Click to see "Jr"

The CNC guys say its crap but for $250 I figure I can use it as a drill press & be fine (the included Kurt Vise probably covers most of the cost anyway).

So what small items should I think about making?

By the way, I also got a 300amp Millermatic MIG for $320

Kendall

I hate you.

I could use some trick mounts/brackets for ignition stuff/map sensors/control boxes.

Sounds like a shop bankruptcy auction- Need to keep eyes open for those.

is that in detroit and do they have more. and oh yeah. +1 on stroker...

want a CNC machine in your garage?

I know this guy from another forum - very standup guy. His stuff is just plain good, well thought out, and he uses his garage to put these kits together.

And some Video - Foundreaming Youtube Channel

crazy good stuff for not a lot of coin...

wow, i need to find a miller TIG for a deal like that.

For $250, that's a cool little machine.

I use a CNC router at work. Our machine itself isn't high dollar, unlike some of the accessories we have on it (vacuum hold down, high hp spindle, CAM software, etc). The stuff that makes them expensive is stuff that doesn't scale in cost very much with the change in size. For example if you need 3 or 4 stepper or servo motors for a 3 axis machine, you would need similar sizes for 4'x4' and a 5'x10' machines. The expensive ones usually have ball screws or planetary roller screws. Same deal, there isn't much price break on size.

The machine you have may not be a heavy duty machine, but it looks like you could make some really really cool stuff with it. I'd love to have something like that in my garage.

Now I'm seeing these being a requirement to win a challenge...

I'm all for it!

/tool geek

The machine it's based on is a so-so Chinese mill-drill. It's not terribly rigid or accurate.

On the other hand that Kurt vise is as good as they get. About $450 street price for a 6", more for the 4" 'cause they don't make many.

From the bit of reading I've done on the DIY forums, you can do a great deal of strengthening to those Chinese units by making parts with those units. They don't hit the same level as an expensive mill, but they get close enough for the price.

This was more of an impulse buy than anything - I put in the 1st bid & no-one else bid against me.

(Phil) - this was out in Kent WA, I was buying equipment for the new lab out there. Interesting, this company made nearly all of the plastic corks you put in wine bottles. Now out of business.

I'm a manual vertical mill guy thru&thru - I'll probably just use this one for goofing off & making step cuts. I barely have enough patience to set up (and level) a manual mill before use, the thought of making a 500 line program to make one bracket - yech.

KJ

I've got a chinese milldrill, I like it fine formy home hobby shop.

It is what it is, some mill is better than no mill and it's not like we're making parts for the space program here.

Shawn

I have that same CNC Jr at work. I just used it to cut out some British car badges.

For someone looking for a decent deal in CNC machines, the -Tormach 1100 CNC mill- is a very nice product.

I have two of them (paid $6500 new for each of them a few years ago). I use 'em every day.