I'm thinking seriously about getting a CNC. Been browsing on Ebay. Mostly these China made 3020 cnc machines are popping up, and they all seem to be relatively well priced. Just thought I'd get some opinions from members on any actual experience on these. Also any recommendations on getting a hobby CNC machine in general would be greatly appreciated. I'm planning on using the machine to make hub plates, motor mounts, etc. I'd probably be milling aluminium and/or carbon fibre.
LIST OF EQUIPMENT UNDER CONSIDERATION:
Motors/Controllers:
- cadcamcadcam.com (servo motors and controller)
- 3-axis Stepper Motor System based on DQ542MA, on Ebay
- 6-axis Stepper Motor System based on DQ542MA, on Ebay
- DC1 Servo Motor Controller, from Makerbot
- Servo Motor Encoder
05/26/2012: After some discussion. This blog is starting to look into building a CNC machine of our own. Keep following to stay informed. We're in the brainstorming stage at this point any input from users is welcomed.
05/27/2012: DIYDrones CNC Project group is created. Let's move our activity to that group.
Comments
Just a little shout out to anyone cutting CF. CF dust is nasty stuff, and VERY dangerous to get into the lungs. Make sure you have a good suction/ventilation system and that the dust is blown outside.
have a look at www.diylilcnc.org.
I have bought one, but not assambled it yet...
The price to have this delivered in Norway was a pain in the ... ;-)
I would recommend these cnc machines...
http://steering-inc.com/
They are hand-made in the USA. I have a very similar one that I use to cut foam cores and it works great!
That FLA-100 looks like it has a pretty large x-y-z travel, but it looks like the spindle gantry is using only one rod, which from what I learned today, is not going to be very solid. At least the 3020, I linked above has two rods holding the spindle on the gantry.
Dany, from what I gathered, the 3040 models are practically same stepper motors, with the same precision. The difference is that the 3040's all seem to have higher powered spindle (800w in the one your linked) The one Iinked above the 3020 has only a 180w spindle.
When I last looked at it (yes it's a fever that comes and goes...) my choice was this model
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/NEW-3040-DESKTOP-ROUTER-CNC-ENGRAVER-DRILLIN...
it's ok budget wise and it's available right here in Canada so no issues with long shipping or international support... Monroe, what do you think of it? seems a step up from the 3020... nice table to clamp things....
Again usage would be to cut Carbon Fiber and light Aluminium...
Overpriced and upgrade over 3020 not needed?
Now that we have found a real guy using these and knowing the "catches" we will use you for sure! :)
Thanks
Thanks, Monroe! Appreciate all the info you've provided. Still hoping for people who have actually had experience with this 3020. I've actually been emailing the guy in China, and he's dropped his price for the 3-axis one to $950 shipped. So that's sounding like a good deal, for the kind of light work I want to do.
Sounds like good advice, Monroe. That Taig does look tempting, though is it at the top of my budget range.
Monroe, that Taig looks like a belt drive spindle. How does it compare with the other direct drive type? So the Taig is capable of milling billet aluminium?
Dany: The basics would be something like
- Used computer with printer port hardware suitable for generating stepper motor pulses $250
- CNC6040 kit $1300 (+ $700 shipping to Norway)
- Gecodrive G540 4-axis stepper motor driver $300
- Carbonite mill set from ebay $150
- Emc2 control software FREE! (Linux, open source)
- Vetric Cut2D + Cut3D software bundle $400 (there are some free alternatives, but nothing comes close to the quality and ease of use that the Vetric software has)
This is what I started with. Then you get into a never ending "upgrade" cycle with alignment systems, 4th axis, vacuum table, ventilation system etc. :)
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