anyone know anything about the EMCO e25 cnc machine?

**Jesse Dishno** · 07-05-2009 09:43 PM

Now before you even post anything, i dont want anyone posting things saying "Oh you dont know anything about cnc machines so who are you to talk about making trucks" or "if you dont know what machine you want to buy, dont buy any". Im asking in this thread if This would be a good CNC machine. Im really starting to get into making speedboarding products, and i am really starting to want this to be my main Career. heres a short video of the cnc machine that i am asking about if you dont know which one it is already.

YouTube - EMCO E25 CNC Drehmaschine

**snozzboarder55** · 07-05-2009 11:43 PM

just wondering, what is your knowledge of CNC? if your looking to learn more about it, i know cal poly slo has a great program, which is "sponsored" by HAAS machines. HAAS is what i have experience with and they are great machines, unfortunately they are the only ones i know about. so i cant help you out too much with this machine.

But that video doesnt look like it would be useful in making trucks because the part is spinning rather than the cutter. i didnt watch too carefully tho so i could be wrong.

**streetheap** · 07-06-2009 08:42 AM

At first I thought it was simply a CNC lathe, but it looks like it has a 3d spindle as well, though they didn't show the arm or turret or how it works. Looks like it would cut a truck though.

I'd PM Dave Cindrich (Sandwich). He knows CNCs pretty well.

**Jesse Dishno** · 07-06-2009 11:06 AM

Thanks streetheap, i was actually talking to him about the cindrich 3 piece XD but yea ill pm him for sure. I was also looking at some Datron CNCs, most likely the M8. It looks like it could cut out trucks a little better.

But could someone explain the difference between an haas machine and a cnc machine, cuz they both look exactly the same to me haha

**neuros** · 07-06-2009 11:41 AM

Haas is an automation company. They make CNC machines...
The lathe you put up... Er, the CNC you put up is a lathe. As streetheap mentioned it looks like it does have a 2-axis (maybe 3? I'd need to see more) spindle which can do a lot of things when attached to a lathe...
But for trucks I'd look at CNC mills, a lathe will limit you to rotationally symmetrical objects... I.E. Not hangars.

I'd also look into taking a basic machining course as Snozz said, because no offense... it seems like your level of knowledge is far from where you'd want to be to even consider plonking down $$$ on one, and equally far from where you'd need to be to program it decently.
I spent a solid semester plus learning manual milling (with Digital Numerical Controls) on a vertical mill before ever touching anything with Computerized NC... That in itself is a decently large step IMO

**Qoose** · 07-06-2009 12:04 PM

I agree with the guys above. Machining is a pretty huge game, and manual machining is already a pretty hefty task. Youtube is a cool place to see these things do their magic, but not a place to shop for CNCs. I'm also curious what fabricating experience you have. Do you have a CNC or at least a machine shop that you have access to? I've had a lot of fun machining by hand, and barebones exposure to CNC. But if I was shopping for a machine (dreaming of that day), I'd go with whatever I had learned on, knew I could trust, and was comfortable using. Which for lathes, is the Harrison line.

It sounds like, but I highly doubt, that you want to just go straight out and buy one of these machines? In which case if you do, can you spare a small chunk of the $40,000 - $100,000+ cost of one of these things and buy me a new complete? Or a mini lathe?

If you are lucky enough to have access to these machines and raw stock, get someone that can show you enough to not break anything, and hours of free time, then feel free to start making things.

**Sandwich** · 07-07-2009 07:46 AM

That machine looks like a three axis lathe. It has an X axis, a Z axis, and a C axis (which is the spindle, being able to rotate and position its self). It doesn't look like it has a Y axis, if it does its a four axis machine, and is probably pretty good for making trucks and stuff like that. I think that machine is probably best suited for making axles and things like that, but I think you would be pretty hard pressed to make a hanger on it.
It sounds like what you need is a 3 axis machine, with X Y and Z axis. What kind of software have you got to program your machine if you get one? Good software is a must to program anything now days, and if you got some four axis machine you really need some good software.

Anyway its a good skill to have, people with machining ability are in higher demand than many other jobs now days.