OMAX Abrassive Waterjet - Owned by the UMBC Mechanical Engineering Department.

Positives: An absolutely amazing tool. It really saves on machine time and material. Also, it's got an incredibly large work area.

Negatives: Leaves a poor finish and a taper on the cut edge.

Cincinnati Milling Machine - Donated to UMBC for student use in the 80's.

Positives: This is by far my personal favorite. It has a much larger table than any of the other milling machines we have access to. Another neat feature is the speed selection. There's a lever to change between high and low speed gears, then dial connected to a variable speed pulley allows for continuous changing of the spindle speed.

Negatives: The power feed was broken off many years ago. Also, a year ago the draw bar sheared while cutting. It wound up costing $950 for a new draw bar.

Bridgeport Milling Machines (J head) - One is professor owned, the other was donated to the UMBC Baja Team last year ('06) by Catonsville Community College.

Positives: Common machines with plenty of spare parts available. The one donated to us last year had a few problems with the head. Luckily, parts for Bridgeports are common enough that one of the Baja team members had the spares we needed sitting at his house. He had the mill up and running in no time

Negatives: Smaller tables w/ less travel. Only 1 hp. Have to move the belt to different pulleys to change speeds.

Taig 2019CR CNC Ready Desktop Mill - This mill is owned by John. He added a Xylotex controller, 276 oz-in stepper motors from Automation Direct, and is controlling it using Mach 3 from ArtSoft. A flood coolant system was added, along with a home made breakout/relay board for controlling the spindle and coolant system, as well as implementing limit switches and a digitizing probe. He also has a 4th axis setup for the mill, and has added an extra vertical column support member to stiffen the mill further.

Positives: John spent about $2000 to get the mill, convert it to CNC, and purchase some basic tooling. It's capable of doing many things I'd never attempt by hand with great accuracy. It's also extremely quiet and takes up little space. John has the mill in his bedroom on campus.

Negatives:

1) Travel is extremely limited.

2) The spindle is extremely underpowered.

Chevalier Milling Machine - Professor owned. It is basically a Bridgeport clone.

Positives: It's basically a Bridgeport, but with a slightly larger table. The head also tilts front to back, not just side to side.

Negatives: No major complaints

LeBlonde Regal 15" Lathe - Donated to the UMBC mechanical engineering department in the 80's. Given to the Baja team when the department machinist couldn't stand working with it anymore (it's pretty worn).

Positives: The chuck is extremely large, holding anything we've ever had to do. The table is also extremely long. It's come in handy having a lathe this large when axles need to be turned down.

Negatives: There's a crack in the casting where the gear box is located, so the lathe doesn't hold oil. Any oil that's put in runs right out at the operator's feet, creating a dangerous situation.

The cross slide screw and nut are worn beyond belief. Instead of having square threads, the nut now has threads that are razor sharp and thin as paper. There's so much backlash that it's a pain use. The tool post tends to jump all over the place, especially during interupted cuts. LeBlonde wanted $900 for a new screw and nut, and the Baja team doesn't have that kind of money. Chances are, we'll be lathe-less in a few months and forced to come up with a solution then.

Another downside is the small through hole (less than an inch).

Last of all, the speed selector tends to pop out of gear quite frequently.

9" Southbend Lathe - Professor owned.

Positives: Very little backlash, great for small precise work. Chucks are light enough that changing them isn't too hard.

Negatives: Not a lot of power.

Southbend Heavy 10 Lathe- This lathe is professor owned, but was recently rebuilt by John.

Positives: Purchased from state surplus for $500. Very little backlash.

Negatives: Needs a quick change tool post, needs a new drive belt, could use a more powerful motor.

Miller TIG Welder - It's old. We don't know exactly how old..

Positives: Great machine, welds everything we need it to.

Negatives: It's a big blue box?

Miller MIG Welder

Positives: Small and portable.

Negatives: There have been issues in the past where the spool feeder stops working. And the fact that it's small and portable is also a negative because it could get Corey arrested when he tries to weld the door shut on a police car (while the police officer who keeps giving him tickets for parking at our shop is still inside of the car).

DoAll Bandsaw - Professor owned

Positives: Speed indicator, flip up adjustable guide rail.

Negatives: The adjustment for guard height and the start/stop buttons are located on the back of the machine.

Grinding wheel, wire brush, and belt sander - Owned by the Baja team.

Positives: Plenty of power

Negatives: The grinder is extremely beat up. The fence on the grinding wheel is so torn up that it's easy for small pieces to sucked in. You really have to be carful and watch your fingers. The belt sander would be great except that the fence is a bit flimsy and section inside the belt is solid, making it impossible to get the belt into any recessed surface.

Electronics work bench - Professor owned