Since I already talked myself into spending more, does anyone have thoughts on the PM1022/1030 or saving a couple extra months for the 1127?
Now you are heading down the slippery slope of if I spend this much more will I be happier, and luck will have it you have asked that question here! We are here to "help you spend your budget.... and then some! My answer is get the biggest machine that you can fit in your budget/shop space. but figure in tooling cost so that you can at least use the machine or machines. I think a 1030v would be a respectable machine with decent features and capability but then again for not much more you could have an 1127 and for a bit more a 1228 and a bit more........ Slippery slope here we come! When I was in your shoes picking a mill I spent nights reading about every mill that was even close to my budget and then some. I had to at a point back up analyze what I really wanted to be able to do vs money spent and size of shop. I resorted to making as close to life size cardboard models of tables and machines in whole. I think I almost drove my self crazy. In the end I decided for what I wanted to do the 727 would be fine. Now a little more then a year later I do not have buyers remorse, could I have gotten a 932 instead sure I guess so but the 727 is a decent machine and I'm making chips every chance I get while learning this fine hobby.