consider the 45 range of mills as a good starting base. Chester do the lux to this size and warco do the GH etc etc. this the pm45, rm45 of machine. The advantage is the table size without being over the top.
I certainly wouldn't recommend at all for CNC conversion though on paper its far more robust.
The problems are bed flex due to it being too long for the foot print its on along with the actual bed not deep/strong enough. Ok for small parts used over a small area, but start extending available range with any accuracy is out the window.
Secondly the upright column gibs and head needs tightening up 'tight' at each height position. This is due to the shear weight of the geared head. At best you would have play in the gibs even brand new, as the gibs are nipped up it affects the tramming dependant how tight or not at all. ie nip up bottom first you would see the head tilt left to right and pull away at cutter from column. Nip top up it will do same again and bottom tightening up again.
May be ok if gears taken out and converted to belt and pulley or direct drive with higher speed than 1250rpm, way too slow. I reckon I can save 3 to 4hrs a day on the stuff I do, just takes an eternity like 13hrs for a 5hr job.
Whilst at it beef up the bearings to manage more than 1500rpm to a more usable 2000+rpm. Some US companies mod these and can go R8.
Only a problem for manual use like all Chinese machines the leadscrews wear at amazing rates. My elevation had over 2 revs backlash! Powered head transfer boxes £244 which the motor mounts to.
Again not cnc the quill wears the casting away oval at the back where theres little bore. Creates problems centre finding! Soon as quill locked you've lost centre.
If it were me I would take Chris up on his offer even though its a lighter faster machine.
