Monticello
Aluminum
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2021
- Location
- Houston, Texas USA
Hello to the group,
I recently retired early and I’m in the process of deciding on what tools and equipment to buy to get my dream home machine shop setup. My budget for the first year is $75,000. I need some help with what equipment will be optimal to get me started. I want to make tools for my metal studio, accessories and select parts for my Ferrari and SonderKlasse Benz and various things for our home that we are currently remodelling.
Ever since I was a wee lad in middle school, I have wanted to have a machine shop. I’ve spent most of my life in insurance/real estate sales (20 years) and as a professional full-time studio woodturner (20 more years). Since I retired, I have decided to chart a new course with metal turning/milling and fabrication, instead of woodworking.
Whilst I have loved my two decades standing behind my beloved Oneway 2436 wood lathe and turning pieces up to 48” in diameter, the time is right for me to complete a goal I have had since I was 14 years old... To setup a machine shop and learn to be a machinist. I have always loved math, producing things myself and the science of precision metrology.
I have been researching tools and equipment for the last couple of years and my initial thought is to buy a new Precision Matthews 1640 TL 3ph Ultra Precision lathe (Taiwan not mainland China) ($~15k with basic tooling, power feeds etc.) and a new PM 1054TS 3ph Ultra Precision Vertical Mill (Taiwan) (~$10- $12k) with basic equipment instead of getting used equipment and restoring it. Any thoughts on the PM equipment that’s made in Taiwan? Other manufacturers to consider with my budget?
Whilst I have a fully equipped wood turning studio ($65k in equipment and tools), I do not have any equipment restoration experience. Also, I need running tools to be able to rebuild/restore older equipment that I purchase in the future, like a surface grinder, Deckel universal grinder, vertical bandsaw, etc.
So, here’s my initial budget: $75,000 all in first year...
Lathe and Mill plus basic tooling, rotary phase converter and rigging/transport cost:
$40,000 give or take a few thou...
That leaves $35,000 left for assorted tools, milling cutters, boring bars, collets, jigs, a good supply of various metals and metrology related equipment. I already have a bit of Mitutoyo things like three digital mics and a two column height gauge. I also have a black granite surface plate (grade A) coming (18” x 24 x 3”) on the way.
What I need help with is jigs and fixtures like a rotary table, dividing head, hold down jigs, additional measuring equipment, a high precision collet set, ultra precision chucks, a digital boring head and kit for insert tooling. I prefer ultra high precision equipment over lesser quality equipment. Any favourite brands that I should look at?
So, if you had a lathe and a mill with only the basic equipment from the equipment manufacturer, how would you spend $35k on for all of the rest of the equipment you need to hit the ground running? I will be doing various work (including making accessories/parts for the Ferrari and Benz), so a broad bit of kit will be needed to cover my bases. I know this endeavour is none too cheap and I’m willing to pay for high quality equipment and tools. Buy the best and cry once!
I have some limited metal turning and milling experience (as a teenager), as well as welding experience with stick, Mig and Tig. I also routinely wrench on my cars and have a broad experience with remodelling homes. I have extensive experience with sharpening systems (I have eight different systems - four dry grinders and four wet grinders). I also have tons of tools for many other things, but alas not much for a machine shop. I would greatly appreciate your advice to point me in the right direction for some of the supplemental bits of tools and related kit. My plan is to add a CNC lathe and mill next year to expand my capabilities.
Thanks and Cheers!
I recently retired early and I’m in the process of deciding on what tools and equipment to buy to get my dream home machine shop setup. My budget for the first year is $75,000. I need some help with what equipment will be optimal to get me started. I want to make tools for my metal studio, accessories and select parts for my Ferrari and SonderKlasse Benz and various things for our home that we are currently remodelling.
Ever since I was a wee lad in middle school, I have wanted to have a machine shop. I’ve spent most of my life in insurance/real estate sales (20 years) and as a professional full-time studio woodturner (20 more years). Since I retired, I have decided to chart a new course with metal turning/milling and fabrication, instead of woodworking.
Whilst I have loved my two decades standing behind my beloved Oneway 2436 wood lathe and turning pieces up to 48” in diameter, the time is right for me to complete a goal I have had since I was 14 years old... To setup a machine shop and learn to be a machinist. I have always loved math, producing things myself and the science of precision metrology.
I have been researching tools and equipment for the last couple of years and my initial thought is to buy a new Precision Matthews 1640 TL 3ph Ultra Precision lathe (Taiwan not mainland China) ($~15k with basic tooling, power feeds etc.) and a new PM 1054TS 3ph Ultra Precision Vertical Mill (Taiwan) (~$10- $12k) with basic equipment instead of getting used equipment and restoring it. Any thoughts on the PM equipment that’s made in Taiwan? Other manufacturers to consider with my budget?
Whilst I have a fully equipped wood turning studio ($65k in equipment and tools), I do not have any equipment restoration experience. Also, I need running tools to be able to rebuild/restore older equipment that I purchase in the future, like a surface grinder, Deckel universal grinder, vertical bandsaw, etc.
So, here’s my initial budget: $75,000 all in first year...
Lathe and Mill plus basic tooling, rotary phase converter and rigging/transport cost:
$40,000 give or take a few thou...
That leaves $35,000 left for assorted tools, milling cutters, boring bars, collets, jigs, a good supply of various metals and metrology related equipment. I already have a bit of Mitutoyo things like three digital mics and a two column height gauge. I also have a black granite surface plate (grade A) coming (18” x 24 x 3”) on the way.
What I need help with is jigs and fixtures like a rotary table, dividing head, hold down jigs, additional measuring equipment, a high precision collet set, ultra precision chucks, a digital boring head and kit for insert tooling. I prefer ultra high precision equipment over lesser quality equipment. Any favourite brands that I should look at?
So, if you had a lathe and a mill with only the basic equipment from the equipment manufacturer, how would you spend $35k on for all of the rest of the equipment you need to hit the ground running? I will be doing various work (including making accessories/parts for the Ferrari and Benz), so a broad bit of kit will be needed to cover my bases. I know this endeavour is none too cheap and I’m willing to pay for high quality equipment and tools. Buy the best and cry once!
I have some limited metal turning and milling experience (as a teenager), as well as welding experience with stick, Mig and Tig. I also routinely wrench on my cars and have a broad experience with remodelling homes. I have extensive experience with sharpening systems (I have eight different systems - four dry grinders and four wet grinders). I also have tons of tools for many other things, but alas not much for a machine shop. I would greatly appreciate your advice to point me in the right direction for some of the supplemental bits of tools and related kit. My plan is to add a CNC lathe and mill next year to expand my capabilities.
Thanks and Cheers!