Greg Jackson was the general manager of a tech research company and Ed Korn owned a specialty tool company.
Both of these companies would benefit from a compact, affordable CNC mill, if only it existed. So they united to develop that mill.
This machine, they agreed, could make a huge impact for prototypers or those in specialty manufacturing. The machine they discussed wouldn't be a one-size-fits-all tool that was right for everyone, but for some, it could make a huge impact.
They agreed that this machine would need to be:
- CAPABLE- Personal CNC mills need to meet established tolerances. Frame rigidity is critical. As the intended audience is prototypers and specialty manufacturers, decreased spindle speed and power are acceptable, but finished part quality needs to be high.
- AFFORDABLE - Breaking barriers to enter the machining arts has given thousands of people access to making over the years. Once again, this machine wouldn't be for the whole world, but many people willingly compromise some of the machine's speed if it means they can own a machine at half the price of a competing mill.
- COMPACT -Tormach's machines would need to plug into standard electrical hookups, so you don't have to shell out money upgrading to three-phase electrical. And they would need to be designed to fit through standard doorways before assembly, so they could be used almost anywhere.
- EXPANDABLE AND MODULAR - Allowing buyers to build an a-la-carte machine gives them flexibility to buy a machine they can afford now, and upgrade it when they can. We would go on to offer performance-enhancing accessories like 4th axis rotary tables, automatic tool changers, power drawbars, and coolant kits.
- EASY TO OWN - We wouldn't stop offering value once a machine is sold. In order to make this machine truly accessible, it would need to be user-serviceable. From setting it up to performing upgrades to repairs. And when repairs are needed, it's important to offer real machinists to support users through challenges. And that support should be included in the cost of the machine. No more high cost of factory-required technicians. And controller software updates should be inexpensive or free, and simple to install. This would be a rethinking of what it's like to enable ownership.
