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Old 01-14-2013, 01:05 AM
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Default Re: Sherlie /Taig /Maxnc or bench top router ???

I don't know about open or closed loop but this is what I can share. The biggest factor to me when choosing a small mill was the machinable area. This is what I have come across. I am just a beginner here when it comes to machining and CNC. So I don't have much to input but I have a manual taig that I'm in the process of converting to CNC. Waiting on parts from taig to complete. I also am in a small basement suite with not much room at all. I can say a few things about the taig mill. Its a great little mill. X axis travel is 12", Y travel is 5.5" and the Z travel is 6". I thought this was pretty good. Not bad of a work area except the Z axis only being 6 inches. Try putting a rotary table with chuck on there and there is very little room to work with. This is really the only problem I have found with taig. To help remedy this when I turn it CNC. I'll just be bolting my lathe chuck right to the table. Taig has an adapter for this. Overall the size and power is plenty for now. If there is a part too big for the mill, which I know I have later on, I'll just do one section at a time. When I get a bigger place I'll be looking at getting a seig X3 or a BF20 mill for cnc.

If your looking for a closed loop system have you looked at MAXNC? I dont know anything about their mills but they offer a closed loop package. I like the machinable area on their maxnc15. 12" of X, 7" of Y, 9" of Z. Its around your price limit. Lots of Z and Y. http://www.maxnc.net/

Sherline mills I have never used or seen in person but I saw a picture of one sitting next to a taig mill it looks tiny compared to taig. Considering its machinable area its not that bad. 9" of X, 5" of Y, 6.25" of Z. For the 5400 model. Not that far behind taig but still watch out for that short Z axis. Only expect to use short endmills or drill bits if mounting parts on a chuck and or rotary table.

Sieg mini mill clone. Again I have no experience but machinable area, littlemachineshop, 11.8" of X, 5.1" of Y, and 9" of Z. Plenty of Z travel. If I knew back when I bought my taig, how much 6" really was of Z. First time buying a mill or using one. Then I may actually have gone with the Seig. If you decided to go this route then here's some links on the seig. Decent write up of a cnc conversion. http://zarthcode.com/zarthmill-my-si...cnc-mini-mill/ Also check out http://www.hossmachine.info/

Hope this helps
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