What is the Total Cost of Conversion (Excluding the Mill)

**dazp1976** · 21-01-2022

Originally Posted by JAZZCNC

I wouldn't spend £2k on a manual machine like the Amadeal or any other Chinese-based machine because it's like building on quicksand.? Like any good structure, the foundation is everything and if this is poor the whole thing is a pointless exercise that quickly becomes a money pit that is difficult to get out of without blowing lots of cash.
If you need a small mill then look for a good second-hand Denford or Boxford that has good quality bases and components.
However, £3.5K isn't enough to do this properly even if you go with the Chinese manual route. My advice is to save your money, add more to it and look for some old iron.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175030848...waAoMFEALw_wcB

3 phase though. Can't use it without ripping elecs out first and replacing spindle motor. Not a fan of that style Bport.
Seemed risky to me in case I didn't have the skills to build the mechanics.
Now, if I could've got a blown out Haas mini mill type thing that may have been a different story!.

TBH I started with getting to grips with cad/cam side of things before touching anything else (inhereted pc).
If you can't get your head round that then there's no point getting a machine to mess with.

I'm doing mine as a hobby just to see if I could.

Other than that, Jazz has a valid point. But it's all about your budget in the end.

And just to add, the Amadeal isn't a bad machine afaic.
My 25 isn't anyway. Quill style spindle lets it down imo. Handy for drilling but I wouldn't push it too hard.
Slower and deeper seems to give less vibration than faster and shallow. Has the torque to do it too.
Castings did need some minor tweeking but the carriage and table were straight.

**JAZZCNC** · 21-01-2022

Originally Posted by dazp1976

3 phase though. Can't use it without ripping elecs out first and replacing spindle motor.

Not the case because they will happily run from a 3 phase rotary converter. Yes, this up's the cost but this is offset because of not messing around with converting, etc plus you get a real CNC machine, not a Dinky toy.

Originally Posted by dazp1976

Not a fan of that style Bport.
Seemed risky to me in case I didn't have the skills to build the mechanics.
Now, if I could've got a blown out Haas mini mill type thing that may have been a different story!.

The mechanics are not much different from any other CNC machine, the principles are exactly the same the differences being they are stronger and better built with accurate datum edges, etc.

Given a choice between an old Bridgeport and a Haas Minimill I'd take the Bridgeport every time. The Haas is just a beefed-up Benchtop Minimill that sits on a steel frame.
The bridge port is one big lump of solid cast iron that will last forever and absorb vibrations like a sponge, it will give finishes and allow material removal rates the Haas Minimill could only dream about.

However, that was just one example and probably not the one I would go for either because there are better newer options if you watch for them, but the point is I wouldn't sink £3.5k which will quickly turn into £5k in all reality into a Chinese machine made from cast iron that is more brittle than a crunchy bar and about as stable as a quivers jelly when you can buy rock-solid old iron for not much more.

In all reality for someone wanting a small desktop machine then Denfords, Boxfords, Emco's, etc which are built from quality cast iron and with decent base components is probably the better way to go.
I'd just avoid converting a Chinese manual machine because it will always be a compromise at best and at worst it's a pig's ear that can't be turned into a silk purse no matter how much money you throw at it.!

**Monty_UK** · 21-01-2022

Originally Posted by dazp1976

3 phase though. Can't use it without ripping elecs out first and replacing spindle motor. Not a fan of that style Bport.
Seemed risky to me in case I didn't have the skills to build the mechanics.
Now, if I could've got a blown out Haas mini mill type thing that may have been a different story!.

TBH I started with getting to grips with cad/cam side of things before touching anything else (inhereted pc).
If you can't get your head round that then there's no point getting a machine to mess with.

I'm doing mine as a hobby just to see if I could.

Other than that, Jazz has a valid point. But it's all about your budget in the end.

And just to add, the Amadeal isn't a bad machine afaic.
My 25 isn't anyway. Quill style spindle lets it down imo. Handy for drilling but I wouldn't push it too hard.
Slower and deeper seems to give less vibration than faster and shallow. Has the torque to do it too.
Castings did need some minor tweeking but the carriage and table were straight.

Daz

What do you think to this model SIEG SX3.5ZP HiTorque Mill - more money ???