THoughts on Anilam CNC Mill

[bimmer1980]

Hey guys,
here are the details on a craigslist ad that I woudl like to get some feed back on.....

Description:
QUOTE: "3 axis CNC knee mill for sale. If you remember price was $1800. I need it gone so the price is down to $1500. It's an Alliant brand mill (Bridgeport copycat) with an Anilam Crusader controller on it. Needs some minor work to get it running. Not under power but you are more than willing to come check it all out and go over it all you want.
Please only call or come check it out if you are serious. You are responsible for moving. The $1500 gets paid in full before machine is moved. It is in a two car garage with low ceilings which amounts to not an easy move. I do not have any means of lifting, pulling, or putting it on a trailer or truck so please think it over how you would move it before you call.
Thanks, "

Anybody have this version of CNC Mill???? How hard is it to use? or program?

I've already got a regular vertical mill. I've been around various shops with CNC mills, but I have never personally programmed one. I think I could learn, but it would take me a little while......

THanks,
Brad

 

[Nealcrenshaw]

I never heard of this mill but it sounds like its worth looking further into. I would take a look at it,another plus is the seller seems flexible and may be willing to go lower in price,especially with the tough move to get it out.

I also hope to pick up a mill one of these days.

This website may be of some help.
http://www.anilam.com/anilam.asp?mod=article&actid=4

 

[A_Pmech]

Hi Bimmer,

I've never used that control or an Alliant mill, so I'll confine myself to some general thoughts about toolroom CNC mills.

I would never buy a CNC machine without running it under power. The iron may be in great shape, but the control could have been hit by lightning and you wouldn't know until you did put power to it.

Price-wise and going on the description alone, I think he's high. Ridgid-ram Series II Bridgeport CNC iron with ball screws can be bought in beautiful shape for $500 to $800 if you keep your eyes peeled. My guess is he bought the machine, stuck it in his garage and couldn't make it work. So now he's trying to offload it on somebody else.

If the control is in perfect condition, fully operational, with the manuals, and CLEAN, it might add a little value to the machine. If there's anything wrong with the control, consider the control scrap as it may very well require a $4,000 circuit board repair. The same goes for all old CNC machines. If the control works perfectly, it may continue to do so, or it may get a gremlin bouncing around in the truck between his place and yours.

For those reasons, I would consider buying a really nice piece of CNC iron that has a battered control and retrofit it with a PC-based control such as Mach-3. Then, all the hardware is open-source so you can maintain it and repair it as necessary rather than being chained to a company who will charge you $250 an hour to repair their proprietary control boards.

PC-based controls have come a long way in the past few years.

 

[bimmer1980]

guys--thanks for the reality check..... I appreciate it. I might have to take a look in person, but for the interim, I'm going to wait and see. I think the big deterant to a sale for most people will be moving the machine....

I have moved a bridgeport machine....so that doesn't concern me as much as the electronics being crapped out....etc....

 

[Medwards]

I agree with what was said above about the controller. If the ballscrews and servo motors are good it's probably not a bad buy.

The Aliant mill is one of the better taiwaneese bridgeport copies. I have a Sharp that is made in the same factory as the aliant. In my opinion the Sharp/ Aliant is a better mill. They have more robust parts in the variable speed drive, thrust bearings on the x-axis screws, more cooling capacity in the head and some very good hardchrome on the knee.

 

[Griff93]

I don't have any personal experience with this mill. A good place to ask would be on http://www.practicalmachinist.com There's a lot of guys over there with a ton of knowledge on this kind of stuff.

 

[OldCarGuy]

I wouldn't recommend purchasing a CNC mill that you cannot see running. If you do go ahead with the deal. Consider that the controller and servo motors are faulty. And my need to be replaced. Very expensive ordeal, far more than the asking price.

Since you already have a manual mill. And wanted to get into a CNC. Consider purchasing the mill for scrap price. Then if you can get her up and running without much time and expense, you've made a good purchase. And if you find it costs too much to get it running. You can always sell it off to someone else to deal with it.

Anilam makes good reliable controllers. And parts are easy to come by. At a price though. And Alliant mills are decent Taiwanese imports.

Learning how to program that mill would be the least amount of you problems. Here's a good site to review. Members there will help you diagnose problems and find parts. http://www.cnczone.com/

 

[bimmer1980]

THanks guys! I appreciate the feedback.

I just noticed that it was relisted on craigslist, so I don't think it's going anywhere quick......