Looking at an older cnc mill

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We have a Prototrak in the tool room at work.

Recently, we had to change a board and a couple cables in the controller. That alone was $2k + with us doing the work. If you have electronically controlled equipment, be aware it is going to break, and parts are expensive. Allen Bradley tells you to expect to replace every piece in your control system on a rolling five year basis.

Something to think about if it is not making you money. We are a large company and use the prototrak for one off and repairs, the $2k was not a lot to fix it, but it likely is on a personal level.

That's because Allen Bradley manufactures in China.

Get a quality US made product and it will last a long time if you keep it reasonably cool and supply clean power.

 

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AB sources all over the world. Siemens sources all over the world too, as does ABB, Schneider Electric/Modicon, Sick/telemecanique, etc. You show me a control system made in the USA that does not use foreign sourced components, I'd like to see it.

I have three CNC saws with Siemens controls we lose as often as anything else with not one but two cabinet A/Cs and dedicated isolation xfmers.

 

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We have a Prototrak in the tool room at work.

Recently, we had to change a board and a couple cables in the controller. That alone was $2k + with us doing the work. If you have electronically controlled equipment, be aware it is going to break, and parts are expensive. Allen Bradley tells you to expect to replace every piece in your control system on a rolling five year basis.

Something to think about if it is not making you money. We are a large company and use the prototrak for one off and repairs, the $2k was not a lot to fix it, but it likely is on a personal level.

I dunno about Allen Bradley CNC controllers but their PLC gear seems to be pretty good. We just replaced 20yr old PLC gear in our $90m plant and the the only thing that failed was 1x IO module. Replacing mainly due to parts obsolescence, expansion and needing ethernet comms for remote IO

Yeah agreed you need to be prepared to pay to play. Not many hobbyists are going to be able to justify a new CNC so the middle ground is something used and be prepared that it may need a controller replacement or retrofit.