Milling Machine Advice

[njhussey]

Hi All,
.
My router is running OK at the moment (shortly about to convert a rotary table and tail stock/chuck into a 4th axis), but I find myself looking to do some steel parts for various projects.
.
What I am thinking of is a milling machine, which looking around for "bang for buck" is boiling down to these two:
.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AMADEAL-AM...-/360422555676
.
http://www.warco.co.uk/milling-machi...g-machine.html
.
Both are roughly similar in travel, spindle HP etc. and both would be MT3 variants (I have a fair few MT2/3 bits from my lathe) but the Warco from the limited views looks to be a bit more sturdily constructed.
.
Has anybody got experience of converting these to CNC and if I got another set of 3NM Nema 23 steppers, would they be up to the job or am I really looking at 34's? I can of course cut motor mounts etc. using my router and will probably use a box containing a pulley/belt for that purpose.
.
Also I have seen various posts talking of epoxy/aggregate mix to essentially make a milling bed and I'm wondering whether this might be a cheaper alternative to a conversion - I'm thinking 3 slabs in essence with ground linear guides/rails; 1 for the base, 1 for the X and 1 for the Y - Z I haven't considered yet.
.
In terms of timing its not urgent, so likely towards the back end of this year for either option, but obviously the conversion will be quicker in theory to complete.
.
Opinions?
.
Cheers
.
.
Chris
.
PS. I forgot to mention if I can get away with Nema 23's then I could use my existing control box - just swap the XLR connectors before using each machine (and make the necessary changes in MACH of course).

Hi Chris,

I've just got the WARCO Major GH Milling machine and so far I think it's great, done a few little jobs on it....admittedly I've nothing to compare it against as I've never had a milling machine before!! I'll be converting it to CNC in the near future, the only real challenge I think will be the Z axis...still looking at that to see how it can be done without too much cutting and carving!