Now that I've had a year or so with a computer driven printer, wandering down to the old hand driven lathe and mill is feeling a bit limited and bulky.
So I've started looking around at maybe selling those and condensing into a single CNC 5 axis machine.
This guy threw up a video of exactly the kinda thing I want as a DIY but I haven't been able to find anything else about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTTpnNGzk4U" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Then there's the ubiquitous HY-3040, 5 axis version: http://www.ebay.com/itm/271434433386" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Plenty of these around, but usually (even with the 1500W motor) being pushed as an "engraver" and any videos of them seem a little, well, tentative when it comes to cutting into plastic, let alone aluminium.
So bearing in mind I'm not after a brand new $70,000 or more 5 axis workcentre and I don't have three phase, and knowing that I don't want to replace my basic but fairly rugged equipment with cheap crap that won't cut more than a couple of thou per pass without choking, are there any recommendations out there?
Or can someone put their hand on their heart and say the 3040 isn't as bad as it looks?
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
Mostly looking at building dive equipment parts for the moment which means delrin (POM), brass and aluminium mostly. But I'd like to be able to do the occasional piece in steel as well.