Looking at IH CNC mill

[jeremy13]

Black Moons response to a another post got me itching for a new machine to play with. And since I have a friend that wants to get a small CNC mill so he can see if he wants to pursue this as a curer. The IH CNC looks to be about right for a test machine. Are there any other machines like this out there. It seams that it is not a chine's mill converted to CNC in the states. But more of a purpose built machine. What is he getting with the bed extension option. Is this a good machine can it handle steel as good as it handles aluminum. Or use the 10grand on a down payment on a real milling center.
http://www.ihcnc.com/pages/cnc-mill.php

[Doozer]

Just be aware of the issue of table support from the saddle.
The Bridgeport has small saddle support of the table.
Some actually prefer the older 36" table for this reason.
If you notice, the Bridgeport CNC mills (Boss and such) have a larger saddle.
Ordering the IH mill with an even longer table just adds to the wear problem.
This means that the middle of the table wears in the middle, and the ends get tight.
I do like the looks of the IH machine.
Just be aware that it was not designed from the ground up as a CNC mill.
I'm not saying that it is bad, just be aware what you are looking at.

--Doozer

[philbur]

The IH mill is a Chinese mill converted to CNC in the USA. IH sell the manual machine also.

The Tormach and the Mikini 1610L are alternative candidates.

CNCzone has forums for both the IH mill and the Tormach, I'm not sure about the Mikini.

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=284

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=323

Phil

Black Moons response to a another post got me itching for a new machine to play with. And since I have a friend that wants to get a small CNC mill so he can see if he wants to pursue this as a curer. The IH CNC looks to be about right for a test machine. Are there any other machines like this out there. It seams that it is not a chine's mill converted to CNC in the states. But more of a purpose built machine. What is he getting with the bed extension option. Is this a good machine can it handle steel as good as it handles aluminum. Or use the 10grand on a down payment on a real milling center.
http://www.ihcnc.com/pages/cnc-mill.php

[beanbag]

For that amount of money, I'd get a Tormach. But think also about what makes a Tormach different from a big boy CNC machine, and whether you'd want that in the future:

Faster spindle speed
Faster rapid traverse
Even more rigid
Automatic tool changer

IMO, a tormach is about as good as you'd want to get for a hobby machine, but not fast enough for production work.

[Black_Moons]

The IH mil can easily handle steel/stainless yes, even tool steels with the right cutters/feeds/etc.

The IH price for the CNC option is rather expensive IMO... the base mill is what I think is the real steal for the price at $2399 (In canada theres a place that sells the same mill for $2099 CND)

You can likey gather your own CNC kit togethor for cheaper then the IH cnc kit. But it will take more time/effort.

[Davo J]

I am not 100% sure, but from what I have read, the table extentions are blocks of aluminium to space the lead screws out further on the ends so the standard table travels in more.
I agree with Doozer about wear and also over hang.
My mill has a 1000mm table with 600mm travel and it has 400 supported from the saddle at all times. With the IH mill it looks to have only 254mm wide saddle support for it's 1016mm table and then they are adding blocks to come in more.
Dave

[Black_Moons]

I though the blocks just spaced the CNC servos and stuff so they did'nt hit the base so you got full manual travel.

[psomero]

You can likey gather your own CNC kit togethor for cheaper then the IH cnc kit. But it will take more time/effort.

i will have something in the works shortly...

[jeremy13]

As with every thing I did find pros and cons to both machines. The Tormach has a faster spindle speed (400rpm faster). And might be more ridged but it is a smaller machine. It uses steppers instead of servos and has less torque in the X and Y movement. And has a max of 65ipm instead of 100ipm. The IH has a gear drive spindle with might make it louder but has more torque. I haven't found much on the table extensions and what they do. As far as the closed loupe or open loupe encoders. I haven't found out what is what. I do see on his conversion kit it comes with encoders like you would use on a DRO.

[BobWarfield]

I've got an IH CNC built from their "mechanicals only" kit. It's very nice. It would be hard to get it done much cheaper if they'll sell you a mechanicals only kit. Not clear they do anymore, though.

OTOH, if you're not handy with electronics, get an assembled controller.

The kit goes together very easily.

It's all documented on my site along with a number of upgrades I've made along the way:

http://www.cnccookbook.com/CCMillCNCHome.html

It would not be hard to fabricate your own kit either if you're a decent machinist.

There was also an excellent thread about the Tormach vs the IH on Practical Machinist recently. I think they're pretty comparable and each has its following.

I think you'll outgrow either one before wear of the ways becomes an issue too. A real VMC is just a lot more capable. With that said, they're great hobby and learning tools and would be fine to start up a small business with. You'll learn a lot and be a lot better prepared to deal with a used VMC if you've done a conversion on one of these mills or a knee.

Cheers,

BW