So we’ve got the raw material to start with. Behold, an Intelitek BenchMill 6000. As far as I can tell, these were constructed around the Sieg iKX1 platform. They feature a pneumatic draw bar, jog pendant, auto opening/closing front shield, and a one-shot oiler. They come wired for a coolant pump and a 4th axis.They also work with Intelitek’s proprietary CNCBase controller software, which is free to download.
The electronics seem solid, but the mill iron leaves room for improvement. Here are the BenchMill 6000 specs.
Travels
- X Axis, max 260mm / 10.24″
- Y Axis, max 152mm / 6.00″
- Z Axis 180mm / 7.09″
Work Area
- Table Size 400×145 mm 16”x 5.70”
- No. of T-Slots 3
- T-slot size 12 mm 0.47”
- Max. table load 20 Kg 44 lbs
- Machine weight: 178Kg / 393
Spindle
- Motor Type Brushless
- Motor power 1.34 hp, 1000 w
- Spindle speed 100– 5000 RPM
- Spindle taper ISO20
I don’t have the current cost of the BenchMill 6000, but FOB prices of the Sieg ikx1 are quoted between $5,000-$7,500.
Compare these specs to the Tormach 440, which is half again the weight of the BenchMill:
Travels
- X Axis, max 254mm / 10″
- Y Axis, max 159mm / 6.25″
- Z Axis 254mm / 10″
Work Area
- Table Size 457×160 mm 18”x 6.3”
- Table Slots 3/8in.
- Machine weight: 272Kg / 600
Spindle
- Spindle Power 0.75 hp (0.56 kW)
- Maximum Speed 10,000 RPM
- Spindle taper R8
The Tormach runs between $6,500 and $17,500 depending on how it is outfitted. So the plan is to keep the BenchMill 6000 enclosure, pneumatics, spindle motor, and electronics, but upgrade the mill iron (column, base, saddle, table) with hand scraped castings from a more capable machine (maybe a Sieg X3 or 2.7). To those We’ll fit precision C5 ball screws and closed-loop stepper motors with more torque.
Which brings us to the BenchMill 6000 above. I purchased it on GovDeals from the University of Akron for $1,375. Doesn’t seem too bad, but by the time taxes and the auction fees were added, it ran to $1,650. More than I should have paid, I think, particularly for a machine whose operating condition is unknown.
The game plan is to get it home, get it running, and use it along with my old fashioned knee mill and lathe to make the aluminum parts needed to mount the ball screw and steppers to the the beefier iron castings we’ll be getting. We’ll then sell the iKX1 iron, steppers, and ball screws to someone who doesn’t mind the smaller platform.