[Jewelry making - Article 00731] - Re: [Orchid] CNC Mill Preference

[Jeffrey Everett]

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Hi Richard

    4 axis mills come in a wide price range, with one of the main
    differences being in accuracy, meaning how closely the mill will come
    back to exactly the same point over and over and over again, it's
    called REPEATABILITY, and this is one of the main criteria you will
    want to keep in mind when assessing mills. 

    Taking mills from the lowest priced... 

    MaxNC, though most experienced machinists consider this mill a
    doorstop, I had the opportunity to try one today at the University of
    Iowa where I was giving a two day seminar to the Metal Arts Dept. on
    jewelry making technology. I have been helping the students there to
    learn Rhino for 3D jewelry design for the past few weeks, and today
    we milled one of their models on the MaxNC. I was pleasantly
    surprised to see a well cut model, and I didn't expect it! This model
    of the MaxNC has stepper motors set up with encoders for positional
    feedback, and it works fairly well. Point is, don't rule out the
    MaxNC if you are very short on funds. 

    MicroProto (the Taig mill) is a little like a MaxNC on steroids. The
    4 axis version can be had complete for under $3000! The specs it
    boasts are formidable which is interesting as this mill (and the
    MaxNC) both use dovetail ways instead of slides. The Microproto uses
    adjustable gibs, and I'm unsure if the MaxNC has adjustable gibs, but
    it might. 

    I haven't seen a Sherline yet nor heard any feedback, so I won't
    comment on it. 

    There is now a jump in price up toward $10,000 for mills with highly
    precise slides, both linear (more expensive, and standard (I forget
    what to call them...) 

    ModelMaster mills boast phenomenal repeatability, better than .01 mm
    and range in price from about $10,000 up to about $20,000. This is
    the mill I recommended the University purchase when they requested I
    suggest one. 

    There are quite a few tabletop mills, and I suggest you visit the
    site http://www.desktopcnc.com/mill_table.htm for a rather complete
    listing of price and capabilities. 

    Come to think of it, I should of just directed you there to begin
    with, so I'll stop at this point! 

    By the way, I'm still using the same 3 axis mill I bought 10 years
    ago, the Roland CAMM3 PNC-3000. It's a very well made little mill,
    but I'm in the market for a new 4 axis mill myself. I need better
    precision now (with 4th axis) that my models are becoming
    ridiculously complicated and detailed... :) 

Jeffrey Everett


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