New CNC Machine: Beginner (Know Nothing!)

GA.... Lynlynch ..... Nice pic too. We are probably going to have a white Christmastime this year.

Thanks. I don't know how easy the interface will be, but can't be that difficult.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for a white Christmas, not an ice Christmas, for you.

GA lynlynch

I just recommended, praised your services in another thread. Something to do with enthalpy entalphy tables and a guest that is one of "Mothers do have 'em" kind of guy.

I'm gonna have one of those next year and experiment a bit. I think the OP should experiment as well. If a couple of grand is the only damage I think it's worth while doing. Some people spend three times that on a guitar. Yep, the one with steel or nylon strings and not a digitally sampled input one, as it is used in the "cellar recording" _industry.

If he never, never goes he will never, never know. There will be no savings when he buys his bits, at least there should not be.

Happy routing and beware the dust, lubricant, fumes, noise and other people trying things out

Good luck to the OP, Ky.

cheers lynlynch. Over 7,000 posts! you must know a bit :)

Please, don't delude your self. 7,000 posts just means that I have no life.

Actually, this site has almost replaced my compulsive gambling habit.

Welcome to CR4. Duplicate posts are discouraged.

NO! He just doesn't have a life ... he is a bitter old nag.

Although we voted him 262 good answers, so what does that make us?

Please don't feed the trolls.

I like most of his posts, am I therefore a "nag" too?

very cool, cheers tom

Hello Voolight.

Choosing a machine is difficult, and the 'net is the place to start the search. As far as dropping the design into some software and away you go,..well, as mentioned in Lynlynch's post, there is mach3 software. This is a windows based cnc controller, which works, and is astonishing for the money. the cnc controller software will speak gcode usually to the machine, telling it where to go, how fast, etc.. The Mach3 (artsoft) forum is very helpful and friendly.

You also need software that will show you what your finished piece will look like search for cadcam software. Often these programmes will allow you to design the thing in the first place, although there are some that are broken into 'visualize' and 'create' elements, available separately. In the case of just a visualize programme, you would usually be able to import your design from say coreldraw, in say, .eps.

It sounds like you are most interested in what we call 2 1/2D, two and a half Dimensions, ie cutting flat or bevelled edge letters out of sheet, rather than true 3d sculpting, and the software for this can be much more affordable. There are some mainstream players, rhino delcam artcam Aspire, for a lot of money, but there are some smaller players well work considering. Mach3 comes with artsofts own 'Sheetcam' i think.

One thing on the Aspire advert, (I have Aspire) is a quote from a customer of theirs, something like, 'My machine has done more work in the 3 months since I got Aspire than it did in the 3 years before). I can easily see how this would be true..

Do not underestimate the cost of the software, without good software you will struggle, it is possible, but a struggle.

Surf the vectric aspire forum, - they are friendly, you will find out about machines as well, and the support is incredible.

Jim

wow Jim, good help like that is rare, thankyou very kindly mate. I will take that all on board.

Look at this web link and join the forum if possible:-

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/3d_scanning/82031-laser_scan_3d_solid.html#post803907

A good search on Yahoo with the word "CNC" will find thousands of useful sites.

Best wishes.

wow Jim, good help like that is rare,

Not on this forum it isn't, (nor on Aspire or Artsoft)

Jim

Arrick Robotics has some great low cost stepper motor systems & X-Y positioners if you want to DIY. I use thier stuff for CNC mini mills, lathes and coil / motor winding.

http://www.arrickrobotics.com/

Good luck!

These are all good links guys, on the diy cnc side, but I think our op is looking for something more 'plug and play': 'hopefully something where I mainly just have to change the cutting piece'. Build it would be one way of getting the most from the budget, I agree, but if you can't do it.. it's a long road to frustration and sleepless nights.

You are probably dead right, thanks for pointing that out......

I personally would suggest that he might want to double his budget (or more you might even say....) if he wants something serious and good quality......my personal take is that his budget is OK for a good quality DIY build........but thats all.....

If you want a stand alone machine for light duty applications in wood and other "soft" materials you might want to look at a programmable carver for wood. One that comes to mind is the CNC Shark (check out www.rockler.com for the link). I believe that Sears also offers their own branded version of this small 3D carver as well. Overall, I wasn't overly impressed with the quality of 3D cuts but they may have improved since I looked at them a couple of years ago (for relatively flat cuts they should work fine). Another manufacturer is New Hermes. I have one of their old manual engravers that, while slow and wouldn't be cost effective for large quantities, it did work well for engraving my kids sports medals. They offer several computer controlled units, not sure of their pricing though.

You might want to look at a machine I have interest in. Look at plasmacam.com

They are machines mostly foe cncplasma cutting, but can be set up for other units. you can just scan an object, download to program and get started, quite easy and not very expensive, about $2000.

http://www.sherline.com/

http://littlemachineshop.com/info/minimill.php

Have a look at http://www.axyz.co.uk/ their Cadet range should suit you. They're well made and the software is fairly easy, (as easy as CNC can be).

I know they're well made I spent 3 months building them until I decided to retire.