From: none@none.com99   
      
   In the vein of Snag's tools for the new century post... Well the second   
   quarter of the new century.   
      
   Just think.  There are people old enough to be or starting as   
   professionals saying,"Wow! you were born before the turn of the century?"   
      
   I've shied away from the used market when it comes to machine tools.   
   That doesn't mean I haven't bought used stuff.  Just that if I need it   
   to just work a new import mill is less of a gamble than a used "American   
   iron" mill.  The import may have problems, but its unlikely to be worn   
   out or broken.   
      
   Yes, I bought the Hurco KIMB1 used, but it was so cheap I could have   
   scrapped it for more than I paid.  Probably even recouped my fuel for   
   the trip to go get it.  Yes, I have purchased two used benchtop mills, a   
   used small lathe, and a used turret lathe.  If the price is less than a   
   nice meal out its worth a look.   
      
   When I "needed" a lathe I bought a NEW Precision Mathews 14x40.  When I   
   decided I "needed" a manual knee mill I bought a NEW South Bend (Grizzly).   
      
   I always bristled when somebody who was not doing any real work or   
   trying to run a going concern business would lecture me to get a used   
   Bridgeport because there are so many "cheap" ones out there.  By bristle   
   I mean the hair on the back of my neck stood on end.  I know what you   
   can get buying a used machine, and while I have a bit of experience I am   
   no expert in that.  I can't afford to throw money away to often.   
      
   Recently I look at at a used Bridgeport.  I don't need another machine   
   "right now" but it seemed like it was worth a look.  They were in the   
   process of retrofitting a Series R2E3 from the old CNC controls to a   
   more modern PC based control.  Then they bought a Cincinnati VMC that   
   appears complete and functional.  They need the Bridgeport out of the way.   
      
   First thing I noticed is it has a Kwik 200 spindle.  The same tool   
   holders the Hurco KMB1 uses.  I have a bunch of those.  Enough to split   
   them between the two machines and run 95-99% of jobs, and I can always   
   move less often used tools back and forth between the two machines.   
   They had installed Gecko Drive servo controllers.  I hate those.  I   
   probably blew up a half dozen of them before I switched to DuGong   
   160-35s.  They advertised one price with the new controls, and a higher   
   price with the old controls.  I made them an offer with no controls.   
   They countered (closer to my number than theirs), and I accepted.  Since   
   I'm thinking about switching the Hurco over to some really heavy weight   
   closed loop steppers I may have "almost" everything I need to outfit the   
   Bridgeport.  Its in between the size of the Tormach (1100S3) and the   
   Hurco, but when I am done anything I have already coded for the Tormach   
   will run on it.  The Tormach(S3) is X-18 by Y-9.5 and the Bridgeport is   
   X-18 Y-12.  I think that is the envelope for a Tormach 1100M.  Nope the   
   110M is 18x11.  Anyway, Anything I have programmed for the S3 will fit   
   on the Bridgeport, and I am thinking I'll run the Bridgeport on LinuxCNC   
   (core of Tormach's PathPilot), so the code will be 100% cross compatible.   
      
   Okay, fine.  I broke down and bought a used Bridgeport.  Now shut up   
   already.  LOL.   
      
   FYI:  The Hurco is stock 24 x 14 (X,Y) and I have expended it to 26x   
   14y, but it currently has a 3600 RPM spindle.  Its one of the slowest   
   spindles int he shop.  I plan to change that, but for now the Tormach   
   runs jobs the Hurco doesn't due to the spindle speed difference.   
      
      
      
      
      
   --   
   Bob La Londe   
   CNC Molds N Stuff   
      
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