CNC value package: Drilling Performance

Offering what the manufacturer touts as a tempting menu of attractions at a budget-friendly price, a recently introduced CNC mill is designed to appeal to both commercial enterprises and machining enthusiasts working in their garage.

A three-axis, servo-driven mill on linear rails, the new 1500MX is “by far the fastest, most accurate and most powerful machine we’ve ever made,” noted Daniel Rogge, CEO of Tormach Inc. in Madison, Wisconsin. Its capabilities, along with ease of use, make the 1500MX a good choice for both prototyping and production, according to the company.

Offering cutting feed rates of up to 1,200 ipm (XY), the machine is equipped with a 10,000 rpm BT30 spindle (maximum 6 hp) that provides enough torque to cut through a variety of materials and sufficient speed to make good use of modern carbide tooling. In addition, Tormach reports that the 1500MX facilitates integration of through-spindle coolant for improved drilling efficiency, smoother finishes, more consistent parts and longer tool life.

The 1500MX is billed as a low-cost but highly capable CNC mill for prototyping and production. Image courtesy of Tormach

For motion, the 1500MX relies on servo motors with absolute encoders featuring 23-bit accuracy and battery backup to eliminate the need for machine referencing. “While the machine is shut down, a battery keeps the encoder powered up so the machine always knows where it is,” Rogge explained.

One of the main attractions of the 1500MX is its epoxy granite frame, a first for a Tormach machine. According to Rogge, epoxy granite provides about seven times the damping of traditional cast iron, which can increase tool life by 30% to 50%. “You also get a great surface finish with that technology,” he added, as well as much better thermal stability than that provided by cast iron frames.

Like all Tormach machines, the 1500MX runs on the company’s free and open-source PathPilot control software. Additional free features include access to advanced machining functions and software updates for life, as well as 80 GB of memory.