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General Mach Discussion / Re: Cannot wait to start !!!!
« on: August 18, 2006, 01:08:15 PM »
Hi Andrew,
This is the reason I asked about your use parameters. I am assuming full size engine parts and probably old 4 cylinders??
I would have to agree with Brian here that bigger is better, if, there is any chance you will actually mill the aluminum parts from billet. Let's start with; Are you intending to use a metal milling machine and retrofit it to cnc? This is absolutely the path I would take if you are intending to mill blocks of al. Now this is not to say that you can't build a machine heavy enough and stiff enough to do the job, but you can't do it as inexpensively as you can retrofit a milling machine. Again, depending on your answer, the advice from em or anyone else could be quite a bit different.
Mike
This is the reason I asked about your use parameters. I am assuming full size engine parts and probably old 4 cylinders??
I would have to agree with Brian here that bigger is better, if, there is any chance you will actually mill the aluminum parts from billet. Let's start with; Are you intending to use a metal milling machine and retrofit it to cnc? This is absolutely the path I would take if you are intending to mill blocks of al. Now this is not to say that you can't build a machine heavy enough and stiff enough to do the job, but you can't do it as inexpensively as you can retrofit a milling machine. Again, depending on your answer, the advice from em or anyone else could be quite a bit different.
Mike