I am looking for something with a high speed spindle and a little more rigidty than the average gantry machines. So far the Syil Speedmasters look good with a modestly heavy base, mill type construction and spindle speeds upto 24000 or optional (no extra cost) 35000 RPM. They would do about 80% of the work I do now, and the price is in the ballpark I might be able to afford. BUT, the work envelope is just a tiny bit small for the other 20%, and I would like to expand the work I do with the larger work envelope requirements. It doesn't have to be hugely larger, but larger none the less. Is there anything else out there that I should be looking at with comparable spindle speeds and a decent base machine? I like the Novakons and the Tormachs as alternatives, but the 770 from Tormach is the fastest and it only turns 10,000 RPM. A lot of the fine detail work I do really benefits from a faster spindle. I am using wood routers at 28K and 34K respectivley as spindles on my starter machines, but I really want to move up to something better.
Super high rapid speeds are not as important as good torque on the axis, machine rigidty, and spindle speed, although the Syil isn't horrible for rapids at 165 IPM.
The one thing I particulary don't like about the Speedmasters is that there is not an ability to setup a tool holder or quick change system on it that I can easily pre index. The spindle is an ER 11 with a max shank size of 1/4". 1/4" is plenty, but swapping cutters and re-zeroing with ER collets is pretty slow. I can live with it if I have to though. I spend hours machining and only minutes changing cutters.
Like I said though. Work envelope, rigidity, spindle speed are first considerations. Those are my key items. Price and rapid speed are considerations. Higher end machines (Haas, Fadal, etc) are out of the question. I am not crazy about importing a fixed gantry machine from China, but its not out of the question as it does have the work envelope and better rigidity than the average moving gantry machine. I had considered building one, but my day job has started to pick up and I would rather spend my limited shop time machining parts than building machines.
I don't have any issue with running Mach or LinuxCNC as my control.
Super high rapid speeds are not as important as good torque on the axis, machine rigidty, and spindle speed, although the Syil isn't horrible for rapids at 165 IPM.
The one thing I particulary don't like about the Speedmasters is that there is not an ability to setup a tool holder or quick change system on it that I can easily pre index. The spindle is an ER 11 with a max shank size of 1/4". 1/4" is plenty, but swapping cutters and re-zeroing with ER collets is pretty slow. I can live with it if I have to though. I spend hours machining and only minutes changing cutters.
Like I said though. Work envelope, rigidity, spindle speed are first considerations. Those are my key items. Price and rapid speed are considerations. Higher end machines (Haas, Fadal, etc) are out of the question. I am not crazy about importing a fixed gantry machine from China, but its not out of the question as it does have the work envelope and better rigidity than the average moving gantry machine. I had considered building one, but my day job has started to pick up and I would rather spend my limited shop time machining parts than building machines.
I don't have any issue with running Mach or LinuxCNC as my control.