Tumbler Build - For cleaning plasma cut parts.

seems like those run around $18,000 plus what ever freight would cost on something that big? i would think that part would not be cheap either. depends on the budget size for the task?

machinedude wrote: seems like those run around $18,000 plus what ever freight would cost on something that big? i would think that part would not be cheap either. depends on the budget size for the task?

Not as much as you think to Australia. Its only a 2 week voyage. I got some pricing on a very nice drilling and tapping machine from Hanover CNC in China.
The thought was to use a open top container (tarpaulin covered) to allow for the height. AUD $3k-$4k would pull it up and you could include a lathe in the container at the same time.

The ocean freight component on the last LCL (less than container load) shipment I got over earlier this month was USD $35 but the total bill was about $1700 mostly road shipping at both ends.

I had seen some small cast milling frames but tonight that all I could find. Pretty serious! Its probably not a bad idea really, You would get a fairly cheap machine but retain the ability to set it up the way you wanted. And maintain it!

i would think on something like that you would have the shipping cost to get it into country then possibly freight from port to your shop then some rigging company to actually set the frame in the shop on top of everything?

something this big is beyond the average fork lift you guys have to move sheet stock around or off trucks.

i think it would be cheaper to do something like this rather than spend a 150k or more on a finished machine but i could still see having 50k tied up in it too. we just had to replace a servo on one of the Mazak's at work i was curious to see how big the servo's were on the axis end of the machine and it was close to a 7 HP servo driving the axis

so big heavy cast iron is great on a machining center but they also take servo's on steroids to move that big heavy cast iron around. not cheap so electronic costs can add up fast on a machine this weight.

just something to keep in back of the noodle

My freight forwarder quotes all inclusive ex works in China to my door including all the customs clearances.. If necessary, they would also unstuff the container before delivery cos I don't really have a container set down area.

When I looked a bit further they did have smaller ones. I'd need a new warehouse just for it!

Yes agreed you would have it delivered on a truck with a crane and get a technician to level the machine.. But wouldn't you have fun afterwards!

I've been chatting to another member in New Zealand who has been doing some retrofits using servos costing USD $200 a piece so it might surprise you when you got into it it you bought it in with the spindle..

rodw wrote: Stefan, the other idea would be to just buy a cast iron frame and finish it off here. Something like this
www.alibaba.com/product-detail/CNC-machi...t.0.0.2a4240f04CPOy1

1200 x 700 x 600 high and 7.5 tonnes of cast iron...

I'd help you with the shipping (well my freight forwarder would)

Thanks for the link and offer Rod,

My issue is the weight. Our largest forklift is rated at 5 ton so a 7.5 ton machine is our of my range.

I am sure I could make something under 4.5 ton and keep it under my $20k budget with everything. Only thing that will blow out will most likely be my time spent on the project. Which the way I look at it is a learning experience. I want to come up with a decent design that is easy and quick to make and that one day I might be able to put into production.

the machine i am working on is far less than 4.5 ton even. i think i'm around 4200lbs once i get the table top on. probably around 2100lbs is E.G. weight. what i built cut aluminum decent before the E.G. but should do a lot better now. around 2mm of step over it was stating to vibrate the spindle had no trouble with 3mm of step over on the cuts but the table was the weak link at that stage so i am curious to see how well it does now? cutting steel will be less aggressive i am thinking but it should still work with mild steel i think. i am welll under 20k but these machines still are not cheap to build regardless. precision adds extra cost for sure.

trying to keep a 5' x 10' foot print machine flat within .001 or .002 is easier said than done with limited equipment.squareness was not so bad to hold but flatness was a different story. once things start to get close then you can go a step further and working on getting the spindle trammed to the table.it alll takes time if your willing to work at it.