I am curious if you were to decide to get new equipment what would you buy?
Would definitely keep my planer for profiling and making blanks.
Then I'd get an even bigger one for the metal shop.
Would make some improvements to the rotary and set up features used on it, though.
Then, with one or the other planers, I'd make about a 6' or 7' long bed for all the Hardinge components currently used, so they would work inboard, outboard, and multiple components on the bed at the same time, instead of floating the short bed sections around on a I-beam as current.
Actually, i plan to do that anyway. After a long laundry list of other projects.
Anyone starting today better go cnc.
Wish i had time and talent to learn it.
Too busy twiddling dials to change, though.
I still have and use a 3D pantograph in the metal shop, but don't have a big interest in inlays on cues, myself. it's there if necessary.
smt