Looking for advice on budget machine for watchmaking

[lanky_streak]

I also wondered if anybody had any experience of this type of Chinese machine: Ball Industrial CNC Slide Rail Guide Syetem Mill X-Y-Z Engraving machine Motor | eBay

...I've absolutely no intention of buying one as I don't want the risk involved with Chinese CNC quality control, but the size, component spec and claimed accuracy all look pretty good value for money. Coupled with a water-cooled spindle and decent electronics, it would make for quite a cheap build. I've searched the forums but couldn't find reference to this (only the 3020 / 6040 machines that are all over ebay) so wondered if anyone has any experience of these machines?

[GEOFFREY]

Unsupported rails, no end bearings - I don't think Jazz will be too impressed!!! G.

price is low , but I expect you get what ou pay for.

[lanky_streak]

Unsupported rails, no end bearings - I don't think Jazz will be too impressed!!! G.

price is low , but I expect you get what ou pay for.

Hmm - definetly need to do lots of reading up before embarking on this project, where's the 'Idiot's guide to CNC milling'?!

[JAZZCNC]

Unsupported rails, no end bearings - I don't think Jazz will be too impressed!!! G.

Too right.!!. . . . .There'd be more chance I'd advise him to Dip is balls in sulphuric acid than buy that. .

[EddyCurrent]

Any use ?

Denford Micro Mill Cnc Machine 3 Axis | eBay

[GEOFFREY]

The Denford micromill is basically a small Sherline mill cnc'd by Denford. When I suggested a Denford I was thinking of a heavier mill, something more like a Novamill/ starmill etc. or perhaps even a Triac. As Jazz has already stated, the limiting factor is likely to be slow spindle speed for engraving with very small diameter tooling. G.

[lanky_streak]

Thanks for the replies / suggestions. I've been having a look at the Denfords just to get an idea of what they're capable of - I was originally put off having seen them in many schools, but I've seen a few threads where the electronics have been upgraded, the enclosure ditched and Mach 3 installed & they appear to be quite sturdy / accurate machines for the money and relative ease to getting started. The Novamill on ebay looked interesting, but I wasn't (and am still not yet) decided on what it is I should really go for - plus the seller looked a bit dodgy (cheap motorbikes, Bentley wheel rims and a mill from a school!).

I hadn't realised the Denford was basically a Sherline mill; I know someone that recently bought a Taig mill converted to CNC with 4th axis, which was a comparible machine and seems to be serving well to do very similar type of work to me. The small diameter tooling doesn't worry me - most of the jobs I have in mind will be using sub 1mm end mills, and I'm aware I'm not going to end up with a machine that can do everything. A build from scratch does seem to be the way to get everything I'm after, but it's a bit daunting & small mills do appear to offer what I'm looking for.

Thanks again - the suggestions / comments are useful and very much appreciated.

[Jonathan]

I would be worried by the smaller diameter tooling. For less than 1mm endmills you really want a high speed spindle. One of the chinese 24000rpm spindles would probably be ideal. Maybe eventhe more expensive version with lower runout to get the required accuracy.