Advice on choosing a desktop livingroom based CNC

Autotank · Oct 18, 2020

Hello dear Machinists. I have a tough question. I want to make pretty precise steam and gas engines. Something like this Making a 4 Stroke Engine. Episode 6 - Final Assembly and First Run - YouTube
This guy uses Sherline CNC Mill and Lathe. https://www.sherline.com/product/8658/
I almost ordered them but came across Pocket NC 5 Axis Desktop CNC Mill. Pocket NC V2-10 Desktop 5-axis CNC Milling Machine
It looks... Well wow... Pocket NC Kickstarter Video - YouTube It even cheaper. And I manage to use only one machine... But there are many questions that have been arisen around it.
It sure doesn't have a history like Sherline. So the situation with https://www.kickstarter.com/project...e-mill-turn-center-for-your-machine-sho/posts could be repeated.
It looked nice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5zsQ5irMsg but failed.
After some thinking, I decided to ask more experienced people (my experience is only about manual devices)
What do you think about Pocket NC - is it capable to perform all the machining: crankshafts, rods, cylinders and pistons, valves etc?
Is it worth buying one CNC Mill instead of conventional lathe+mill?
Maybe you can suggest other brands for such projects?

addition.

Yes, I'm not sure about tolerances on Pocket NC. I checked this guy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oWfmJ1nBZw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlDyKL7LhVc and asked him. It looks nice but you know when it comes to crankshaft or piston/cylinder clearance it should be like it's drilled and reamed. Sure I know that it was made on manual lathes and mills but for model engineering (models are about 5-10 cm long) it really matters. Still don't know what to choose...

Mtndew · Oct 19, 2020

Bye Felicia.

ChipSplitter · Oct 19, 2020

Autotank said:
Hello dear Machinists. I have a tough question.

<snip>

Is it worth buying one CNC Mill instead of conventional lathe+mill?
Maybe you can suggest other brands for such projects?

I was going to say Makino or Kern for the mill, maybe Integrex for the "lathe+mill"........................... :popcorn:

Hardplates · Oct 19, 2020

You can never go wrong with a Yasda

TeachMePlease · Oct 19, 2020

I'll sell you a Swissmak for 1/4 the price of the Sherline. PM me for address, I take cash, check, money order.

Volitan · Oct 19, 2020

How big is your living room?

Vancbiker · Oct 19, 2020

Autotank said:
Hello dear Machinists. .......Still don't know what to choose...

If you haven't figured it out from the responses above, you are in the wrong forum. You need to find a hobby CNC targeted forum.

jhruska · Oct 20, 2020

Basic educational:
$5,700 Leading Edge Industrial Shop: HX8610 Vertical Machining Center
$5,000 Leading Edge Industrial Shop: HX8610 Vertical Machining Center

memphisjed · Oct 20, 2020

take the sherline and don't look back. or integrex am....because why not have it all. really just open the doors on it and it makes a nice tv stand when not using it, so not taking up to much living room space.

DDoug · Oct 20, 2020

Make sure you the optional "ceiling mount", that way chip evac is much easier.....
"livingroom based CNC"....why not "Florida Room based CNC" ????

Cole2534 · Oct 20, 2020

Hardplates said:
You can never go wrong with a Yasda

Their Vi40 would be a great living room mill.

Camputer · Oct 20, 2020

You could not have picked a better title to get roasted for. Love it.

Scottl · Oct 20, 2020

Have you any machining experience?

While CNC makes it easier to mill complex shapes you still need to have an understanding of the basics as removing metal is not quite as "plug and play" as 3D printing.

Gobo · Oct 20, 2020

Sounds more like a job for an NTX. Or DIXI

Camputer · Oct 20, 2020

WFL for the lathe, no question. How big is your living room?

gustafson · Oct 20, 2020

My living room is 18x24 with an 11 foot ceiling, so, I mean, pallet pool here I come

Hardplates · Oct 20, 2020

gustafson said:
My living room is 18x24 with an 11 foot ceiling, so, I mean, pallet pool here I come

Thats not a very big pallet pool, more like a pallet pond

litlerob1 · Oct 20, 2020

Back in the old days Practical Machinist blah, blah, blah. I check in about once a week these days. This is what I see. The end is nigh.

R

DDoug · Oct 20, 2020

gustafson said:
My living room is 18x24 with an 11 foot ceiling, so, I mean, pallet pool here I come

...and here it is...

It has that "Pit" for vehicle maintenance as well..... :skep:

EDIT: note how the "pit" section carpeting looks very much like "pool table felt" …..

couch · Oct 21, 2020

Autotank said:
Hello dear Machinists. I have a tough question. I want to make pretty precise steam and gas engines.

What do you think about Pocket NC - is it capable to perform all the machining: crankshafts, rods, cylinders and pistons, valves etc?

Is it worth buying one CNC Mill instead of conventional lathe+mill?

Maybe you can suggest other brands for such projects?

Your best bet for benchtop machines, for what you're planning on making, is going to be Sherline. I'd suggest going with their newer ballscrew machines. You'll need a mill and a lathe. I'd add a 4th axis to the mill if its in your budget. The Sherlines, when configured with the handwheels outside of the motors, can be run manually as well.

I've had a pair of their CNC machines for a little over ten years and if I had to do it again, I'd go with the ones linked below. I love mine but they're on their lead screws. Get the ballscrew models, with high torque motors and you'll have a nice little setup. Give Sherline a call, they're pretty helpful over the phone. Great company to work with. They also have a cam grinding machine, although I don't have any personal experience with it.

12″ CNC Mill System w/Ball Screws – Sherline Products

https://www.sherline.com/product/17″-ball-screw-lathe-composite/

Check out the Craftsmanship Museum. Most of this stuff was made on Sherlines and is right up your alley.

Craftsmanship Museum

While the Pocket NC is a sweet little mill, it won't give you the capability of turning that you need. SwissMak never came thru, stay away.

Advice on choosing a desktop livingroom based CNC

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