After years of working on modifying my Charter Oak 12z to cnc, I finally decided I wanted to be making chips, not the machine. I ordered the fairly new at the time Tormach 1100M. I have since upgraded it to MX and added the operator console.

I ordered the machine with full enclosure, SmartCool/Multicool, touchscreen kit, led spindle light, power drawbar and 1/8hp coolant pump.

The Smartcool is really amazing.

I figured out decent tool and process for setting the tools in the spindle. Check out Tool Setting Technique