I have had a Jet 920 lathe and a large generic "cheap" mill for over=20 10 years now. The lathe is about as big as can be handled by me. It is definitely the=20 most bang for the buck. The mill is a monster. It weighs about 700 pounds. It is not super=20 accurate without a lot of set up time but has permitted me to repair=20 things and make parts that would otherwise be show stoppers. Both machines are on casters. All imported tools require some TLC before they are satisfactory. Check=20 Enco for prices & info as well. Work holding, small holes and tooling in general are the next challenges. John Ferrell W8CCW A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate=20 their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from=20 the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good=20 government. Thomas Jefferson=20 On 8/20/2010 4:12 PM, Jesse Lackey wrote: > Hi! Thanks for the tips. I'm looking around at various lathe/mill > combos, and will likely get something when I reach the point of wanting > to replace slapped-together R&D wood with proper aluminum/steel > attachments and frame etc. etc. > > I'm sorry you're not happy with the Grizzly, it certainly looks pretty > capable, but I'm a total newbie! I'll drop you a line down the road to > get your 2c when I'm ready to spend $. :) > > Thanks- > J > > > doug metzler wrote: >> no recommendation on books, but I would strongly recommend that you go o= ut >> and get yourself a combination lathe/mill, like this one: >> >> http://www.grizzly.com/products/Combo-Lathe-Mill/G4015Z (example only, >> currently I'm not very happy with Grizzly) >> >> and immediately put a DRO on it This is the one I got and I am pretty h= appy >> with it: >> >> http://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=3D2665 >> >> Of course get the biggest one you can afford/have space for. I found on= ce I >> had one of these my mechanical capabilities increased 100-fold - I am ab= le >> to make parts and prototype ideas where before I could only do off-the-s= helf >> components. >> >> then just use TAP for prototyping plastic (or get machinist's wax), get = raw >> materials from McMaster and your local aluminum distributor and you can = do >> damn near any small part. >> >> DougM >> >> On Wed, Aug 18, 2010 at 10:56 AM, Jesse Lackeywrote: >> >>> Hello all, after 8 years of EE-only I'm finally getting into motor >>> control and 'mechatronics' in general, and I'm looking for a good book >>> on the subject. >>> >>> I have reasonably good EE skills, but no direct experience with motor >>> control circuity and algorithms, and zero metal fabrication knowledge o= r >>> tools. I'd like a book with an emphasis toward real world designs and >>> problem-solving, vs. mathematics theory behind control loops, say. I >>> want to successfully build my DIY pick&place vs. write a thesis on >>> boundary-condition stability of exotic control algorithms. >>> >>> Beginner level stuff for fabrication is probably a good idea, but for >>> everything EE related it should be at least intermediate level. >>> Something like "mechatronics for EEs" is the best angle. >>> >>> Any suggestions? >>> >>> I'm quite serious about the DIY pick&place, I've spent some solid $ on >>> linear rails, servo motors, glass linear encoders, vision, etc. and pla= n >>> a x/y/z (no rotate or vacuum yet) slap-together for initial testing >>> within a month (time is very hard to come by), but it is a bit of an >>> ebay hodge-podge R&D prototype, and having some solid pros/cons of the = 5 >>> ways to do 50 different aspects of the design would be great to have in >>> my head. >>> >>> Thanks all- >>> J >>> -- >>> http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ& list archive >>> View/change your membership options at >>> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist >>> --=20 http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .