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<blockquote data-quote="OldMachinist" data-source="post: 12378" data-attributes="member: 437"><p>I have watched the CNC machines grow up from the first machines with thumb wheels that you spun for your coordinates and took days to program to the newest conversational machines that you just download your CAD developed solid model into and set your tools and go. I've programmed more different types of controls than I can remember and still do write some programs at home for a couple of shops.</p><p> </p><p>The problem with CNC machines is their lifespan is not the same as the conventional machine shop equipment. In 5 years a CNC machine has been typically been run nearly 20 hours a day 5 days a week so would have more than 20,000 hours on it. Even a 30-year-old conventional machine wouldn't have that many hours. Now don't get me wrong I love the CNC machines for production work but for the home machinist the maintenance and repair costs are going to be hard to justify. After a machine is 7 years old the manufacturers don't have to stock parts for them any more and that's when things start getting real pricey because their business goal is to sell you a new machine every 5 years. And don't forget that unless it's conversational control you'll need CAD-CAM software to write programs to run it. For years some manufacturers have been toying with the idea of making machines controlled by a personal computer but until that happens you're at their mercy if something goes wrong with the control. I've seen shops sink thousands of dollars into a used machine trying to get it running only to give up and pass it along to the next sucker. I could go for hours here telling the horror stories of buying used CNC machines but I think you get the idea.</p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">I'll climb down from my soapbox now and see what hornets nest I've stirred this time.</span>.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="OldMachinist, post: 12378, member: 437"] I have watched the CNC machines grow up from the first machines with thumb wheels that you spun for your coordinates and took days to program to the newest conversational machines that you just download your CAD developed solid model into and set your tools and go. I’ve programmed more different types of controls than I can remember and still do write some programs at home for a couple of shops. The problem with CNC machines is their lifespan is not the same as the conventional machine shop equipment. In 5 years a CNC machine has been typically been run nearly 20 hours a day 5 days a week so would have more than 20,000 hours on it. Even a 30-year-old conventional machine wouldn't have that many hours. Now don't get me wrong I love the CNC machines for production work but for the home machinist the maintenance and repair costs are going to be hard to justify. After a machine is 7 years old the manufacturers don't have to stock parts for them any more and that’s when things start getting real pricey because their business goal is to sell you a new machine every 5 years. And don't forget that unless it's conversational control you'll need CAD-CAM software to write programs to run it. For years some manufacturers have been toying with the idea of making machines controlled by a personal computer but until that happens you’re at their mercy if something goes wrong with the control. I've seen shops sink thousands of dollars into a used machine trying to get it running only to give up and pass it along to the next sucker. I could go for hours here telling the horror stories of buying used CNC machines but I think you get the idea. [FONT=Times New Roman]I'll climb down from my soapbox now and see what hornets nest I've stirred this time.[/FONT]. [/QUOTE]
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