I'd bet money there isn't a cnc mill in the world, at any price, that will give you .0001" part accuracy or part precision
Theoretical machine tolerances and actual part tolerances are different beasts.
I'll not be taking your bet.
Will this K2 CNC do the job? - cue making
- Thread starter natev
- Start date
Theoretical machine tolerances and actual part tolerances are different beasts.
I'll not be taking your bet.
I'd bet money there isn't a cnc mill in the world, at any price, that will give you .0001" part accuracy or part precision
Thats not even very accurate..... An accurate machine will do much better.
I think you should go with the HAAS linked above starting at 28K. You might even want to go with a larger size, as the 30" travel might be tight, especially if you want to get into longer cues. You'll have all the rigidity and accuracy you can dream of.
You will also want a CAM package, maybe MasterCAM. I think thats about 5K a seat.
You might as well get a CAD package too. I'm a mechanical engineer in my day job, and my favorite CAD package is Pro/Engineer. Its about 10K a seat. Oh, both programs will also offer you a maintenance fee of a couple grand a year, if you want to go that route. This way, you can always have the latest version without putting up the 10K again.
Also, you might need the local electric company to run a 3 phase line to your shop. I don't know if a phase converter will be enough to run this machine.
Also, you might need a bigger shop to fit the HAAS.
You will also need professional riggers to bring the machine to your shop. I had to pay riggers to get a Bridgeport knee mill and a lathe $100 an hour including travel time to get the machines into my garage workshop. They unloaded them off their 18 wheeler and brought them into my garage with a forklift.
You will need training to use the software. I can put you in touch with professional companies that offer training for Pro/E and MasterCam. I've had lots of training for Proe over the 10 years I've been using it professionally, but I can tell you, there is absolutely no substitute for using it every day to design parts for production.
You will also need to learn how to machine manually, before a cnc will be of any use to you. I recommend trying to get a job in a real machine shop, if they will have you. I got super lucky years ago and worked in a machine shop with several toolmakers for a couple of years. Learned so much. They only took me however, because I was already there as an engineering intern, and they knew I had been working with tools and machines since I was 5.
Of course, you can save the 200K or higher expense above and just buy a 2K lathe from one of the cue specific companies that sell them. Then, if its not for you, just offer it for sale for 1000, and it will be sold in 5 minutes.
Good luck!
:grin-square::grin-square::grin-square::grin-square:
You will also want a CAM package, maybe MasterCAM. I think thats about 5K a seat.
You might as well get a CAD package too. I'm a mechanical engineer in my day job, and my favorite CAD package is Pro/Engineer. Its about 10K a seat. Oh, both programs will also offer you a maintenance fee of a couple grand a year, if you want to go that route. This way, you can always have the latest version without putting up the 10K again.
Also, you might need the local electric company to run a 3 phase line to your shop. I don't know if a phase converter will be enough to run this machine.
Also, you might need a bigger shop to fit the HAAS.
You will also need professional riggers to bring the machine to your shop. I had to pay riggers to get a Bridgeport knee mill and a lathe $100 an hour including travel time to get the machines into my garage workshop. They unloaded them off their 18 wheeler and brought them into my garage with a forklift.
You will need training to use the software. I can put you in touch with professional companies that offer training for Pro/E and MasterCam. I've had lots of training for Proe over the 10 years I've been using it professionally, but I can tell you, there is absolutely no substitute for using it every day to design parts for production.
You will also need to learn how to machine manually, before a cnc will be of any use to you. I recommend trying to get a job in a real machine shop, if they will have you. I got super lucky years ago and worked in a machine shop with several toolmakers for a couple of years. Learned so much. They only took me however, because I was already there as an engineering intern, and they knew I had been working with tools and machines since I was 5.
Of course, you can save the 200K or higher expense above and just buy a 2K lathe from one of the cue specific companies that sell them. Then, if its not for you, just offer it for sale for 1000, and it will be sold in 5 minutes.
Good luck!
:grin-square::grin-square::grin-square::grin-square:
Sounds like a plan.
Used cue making equipment is always a welcome sight here.
Sewing machine turner are the funniest ones.
With that set up and a 4 axis capable of up to 1500 rpm, you can then make almost what ever you want.
And yes you could make a setup to do tip installs if you wanted to.
You can even make an adapter and put the turning tools on the Z axis, effective giving you control of the cl height of the turning tools, what would be on a CNC lathe the Y option.
With the 4th axis, tailstock to chuck would be in the X axis on the machine, (usually Z on a lathe) and the Y axis of the mill will be the cross travel ,(usually X on a lathe).
You can manually move the axis around etc from a multi axis pendant as opposed to the standard pendants that require selecting each axis. A multi, allows you to move two axis at the same time, just like using a manual machine.
There are lots of programming options, but an easy one to learn with very good results is the use of a cad program like Solid works, and then using HSM works from within to creat the Gcode. They have lots of post options and have a very good suppport for people getting into it.
But in short, yes that machine with a 4th axis can be used to make pool cues with.
And yes you could make a setup to do tip installs if you wanted to.
You can even make an adapter and put the turning tools on the Z axis, effective giving you control of the cl height of the turning tools, what would be on a CNC lathe the Y option.
With the 4th axis, tailstock to chuck would be in the X axis on the machine, (usually Z on a lathe) and the Y axis of the mill will be the cross travel ,(usually X on a lathe).
You can manually move the axis around etc from a multi axis pendant as opposed to the standard pendants that require selecting each axis. A multi, allows you to move two axis at the same time, just like using a manual machine.
There are lots of programming options, but an easy one to learn with very good results is the use of a cad program like Solid works, and then using HSM works from within to creat the Gcode. They have lots of post options and have a very good suppport for people getting into it.
But in short, yes that machine with a 4th axis can be used to make pool cues with.