Home Machine Shop

My friend Marc bought a milling machine the other day for his home shop. Being the ambitious type, he didn't settle for one of your little table top models they make for hobbyists. He got a used production CNC (Computerized Numerical Control) mill.

Marc's Giant CNC Matsuura Milling Machine

It's Matsuura MC-560V and it weighs five tons and measures about eight feet every which way. He still has to move it to his shop and it is going to cost more to move it ($650) than it cost to buy it. It was built in 1987 and probably cost a gazillion dollars when it was new. There is still the small matter of tooling (notice the twenty position tool cassette is all empty). The cost of cutters can add up quickly, but you don't have to buy them all at once. You only need to have the cutters you need for your current project. And then there is the matter of speed control for the cutting head. The current one is fried and will need to be replaced. The cutting motor runs on three phase current and the controller varies the frequency of this three phase current to control the speed. Sounds really specialized and really expensive, but it turns out to be a very common type of controller for these kinds of machines. Worst case it might double the cost of his investment. This has got to be the coolest toy ever! Update: Marc rented a 10 ton (20,000 pound) capacity forklift along with semi-tractor, lo-boy trailer and driver and got this machine moved to his new digs.

Update February 2022 replaced missing photo.