Just recently ordered an MR-1 and am excited about it getting here, but I’m nervous about the concrete and epoxy part. I have plenty of mechanical and electrical experience so none of that worries me. But I have never done concrete before nor have I done any epoxy work.
I am just curious how hard it is to do the concrete and epoxy and get it right having zero experience with it?
Following directions is paramount. The concrete is a breeze. The 7-day wait is the killer for the epoxy.
I used the high-strength 4500 lbs stuff. I bought eight bags, and it was more than enough.
The epoxy needs to be mixed thoroughly. Buy yourself a drill-mounted mixer for it.
I used more than the two gallons the kit has in it. I
I would get two kits, just in case.
Did I say mixed correctly and thoroughly?
Again follow the freaking directions. Assemble it per the instructions and make sure it’s square.
The new units have improved drains, so there is no need for modifications.
Make sure you have a helper for the concrete mixing.
You got this.
This unit works perfectly as designed unless you are on a mission to make it a Haas VF5 then you will be good to go.
Yea, I’ve heard differing stories about the epoxy with some saying it took less than the gallon, and some saying it took more.
Also sadly I will be doing it alone, so don’t have a helper for any of it.
I personally would have two kits on hand, just in case you need it. Having to add to after it has cured, will be a dog and pony show.
You got this.
Welcome to the family.
I use mine almost every day for something. From boat widgets to Harley parts etc.
It really does a good job for me.
Yea, I’ve always wanted a CNC Mill. And for a while I was thinking of getting a Tormach, but I can’t justify spending $30k+
I have been eyeballing a Syil 5 machine for the shop.
But, truthfully, the MR1 is just fine for me. I don’t care how long it takes to make a part. I get it that some of these guys are using it for production work where time is money.
I poured my concrete and epoxy by myself. Never poured before.
Rent a mixer. I can’t imagine doing it without the mixer. Buy an extra couple of bags of concrete to compensate for the concrete that settles in the mixer and won’t easily come out (you’ll waste precious time trying to clear the mixer out and by the end, you won’t want the overwet partially set concrete in the machine anyways, throw it out). You can always return full unused bags. Only mix a bag at a time and go go go. It took me about 2 hours from first mix to final smoothing.
Buy an impact massager to help get out air bubbles.
Epoxy was really straightforward. Make sure you have extra. It’s variable due to the amount of concrete that goes in the bin. I was a little on the short side of concrete (but still above the bottom of the plate) so the extra epoxy was great. Make sure to tape off the edge of the drain to prevent epoxy from getting inside. The better your taping job, the cleaner it will be.
I did it solo as well, and without a mixer. It didn’t take that long, I started at 9am and was done by noon or 1.
My technique was to mix half the bag in a bucket with a paddle in a drill, then moved it over to a concrete basin and mixed it again by hand. Then I did the other half of the bag and combined them. My half-bags were approximate but the water blend was exact so it was important to finish with one bag mixed together in two sub-batches. Then I used a shovel to get it into the machine and did the next bag.
Vibrating the bubbles out is extremely important. I used a sawzall with the blade removed and used it to vibrate the base (from underneath) until I stopped getting bubbles. It’s amazing how much air you can get out.
I had extra epoxy on hand but didn’t need it.
Don’t forgot inserting the y axis rail stiffeners before the concrete cures 
I thought it, but you said it.