- Joined
- Jan 20, 2016
- Messages
- 602
That's not all you get, if you are comparing it the G0704.I've had my PM-24MV for a few months now and have no complaints. I still believe its the best choice in its class. For me it was between this one and the similar Grizzly. I think the PM was around 300 bucks more if I remember right. But for that you get a 3 year warranty and a belt drive (like a bridgeport) instead of a gear drive. The result is a smoother running machine without having to worry about stripping plastic gears. For building folders this mill will do just fine. The biggest challenge will be setting up your jobs, and no matter what machine you have, that's always the most time consuming task.
The two look very similar, but there are a lot of key differences. First, the PM-25 has a brushless motor instead of the brushed motor a G0704 has. That gives you a bit more torque on the low end, it runs quieter, and requires almost no maintenance. The way the base and column connect is also different. The PM-25 column bolts to the base from the top, with the base extending all the way to the rear of the column. The G0704 bolts to the back of the base. This means the G0704 base is smaller, and there is less contact area where the two connect. The saddle on the PM-25 is much thicker than the one on the G0704, which again means more rigidity. The base is bigger and wider on the PM-25 compared to the G0704. When you look at the 2, the G0704 has a slant at the base that starts right below the saddle, until it gets to the bottom. The PM-25 goes straight out then down. The PM-25 has a solid table while the G0704 has open ends that the X axis lead screw blocks close up. The single piece table is going to be a little bit stronger. I am pretty sure the table is thicker on the PM-25 if the model of the G0704 I downloaded is accurate. The G0704 does not come with oil grooves and oiling dimples, but the PM-25 does.
There really isn't any comparison between the two, and when you consider that the PM-25 is now $1770 and the G0704 is $1838, its a no brainer.