Your thoughts on the AR1200 from Machinery & Electrical

[Franco]

Hi all.

I'm looking to buy a new CNC router for home use and one of the ones I'm looking at is the [AR1200] from www.machineryandelectrical.com. There are some specs on the router in [this] PDF and there is also some more information on the machines further down [this] page.

I emailed the company and they responded quickly. I asked them if they could provide me with some contact details of previous customers so I can ask them for feedback on the machines and they duly gave me a list of people to contact.

I was wondering what your thoughts were on the specs of the machine. I'm planning on using it for cutting mainly wood and plastics with maybe the odd piece of light aluminum here and there.

Thanks!

[george uk]

Hi

Have seen better for the price, but its within reason.... maybe you could negoteate them down £ 500 to £ 1000, and you want at least a water cooled spindle, not air cooled... infact, i will post up some examples over the weekend, i have seen similar, with better spindles, vac beds and extras for just under 5K

[Franco]

Hi george, many thanks for your reply.

The one I linked to above does come with a PC and vacuum bed but I will ask them about the spindle.

If you do know of other examples I really would be grateful if you could post them,. thank you. I've been searching around for other machines but they're not always the easiest thing to find. Thanks again.

[JAZZCNC]

To be honest it's hard to say about this machine because the Spec is fague with very little info about electronics which is off putting and the electronics quality are big thing to consider and one area where short cuts are often made to save money as it's an expensive part of the machine.

Also I see a few design and component signs that throw up alarm bells.!! . . . Like ballscrew ends mounted in linear bearing housings.!! This isn't normal build practice I'd want to be seeing at this money. I've seen this type of money saving crap on other machines RE- Strike CNC and it never works out good in long run.!!

Also looks like single ballscrew down centre which at this width doesn't sit well.!!

Spindle isn't such a massive issue for most jobs unless your running it none stop for extended periods(4hrs+) then in which case I'd go with water cooled.

[Franco]

Thanks JAZZCNC, this is exactly the type of advice I need.

I would inquire about the electronics but from what you're saying, the other parts of the design make this a no go.

It sounds like there are better machines out there for my money, what would you suggest with a budget of ~£6k?

[JAZZCNC]

Thanks JAZZCNC, this is exactly the type of advice I need.

I would inquire about the electronics but from what you're saying, the other parts of the design make this a no go.

It sounds like there are better machines out there for my money, what would you suggest with a budget of ~£6k?

To be honest I can't advise anywhere to look.! . . . . To be honest I'd normaly offer to build a custom machine to someone like your self who is serious and with a realistic budget but at the moment there's no way I could this.!

Also don't get me wrong I'm not pulling this machine to pieces as that wouldn't be fair and the price is not unreasonable if things are correct. I don't know the machine and I'm only going of the visuals but experience makes some things jump out at me and when I see these along with sparse details or covers where covers are not needed I get a little twitchy.!
My way of thinking being a business man is that you make an advert of the stuff that matters and you highlight your best assets not forget to mention them unless they are not there or of a poor quality.?

[george uk]

After looking again, 5K is a lot for that machine, even without knowing what electronics run it. You could probably build that for 2K. You would want wider rails and a few design changes. I will dig up the lists that i wnet through for that price over the weekend and post them.

How oftern will it be used, and whats the maximum size you looking for. how much space have you got to fit it in, and is it just hobby, or hobby/business, or full business use

[JAZZCNC]

After looking again, 5K is a lot for that machine, even without knowing what electronics run it.

No sorry while I'm unsure about the machine crudentials and some aspects of the build 5K is not over the top really when have to take into consideration this is a business and he has to provide warranty and all that goes with running a business. Your 2K only reflects a small part and large cost of building these machines comes from labour and running costs.
Obviously the man is looking at buying so building isn't his first choice or a choice at all.

Also don't get why you say needs wider rails because width doesn't really come into it provided they are suitable for the job and mounted correctly, it's the load ratings that matter and these are well on top of the job in all ways. (Thou would possibly have used flanged bearings on X axis.!)

[george uk]

No sorry while I'm unsure about the machine crudentials and some aspects of the build 5K is not over the top really when have to take into consideration this is a business and he has to provide warranty and all that goes with running a business.

Yes sorry i ment 2k for a home build of that,

Also don't get why you say needs wider rails because width doesn't really come into it provided they are suitable for the job

I just presumed, thats why i asked him what he generally wants it for, hobby or work or industrial output...

[Franco]

Thanks for the help guys. FWIW, the machine is £5200+VAT which works out to be ~£6.2k

I'm definitely serious about buying a machine. I'm a CNC programmer/machinist by trade and I've lusted after my own router for a long long time. I did want to build my own but with my work load in and outside of work I simply don't have the time, hence wanting to buy.

JAZZYCNC, it's a shame you don't have time to build one for me as you obviously know your onions. I do know what it's like to be short on time though. I would however really appreciate your input on other machines if possible though, thank you.

George, thank you for your input too. I would love to see these other machines you have seen.

I would say I'm looking for a machine for hobby/business work. I do do a lot of manual work for people and I would love to start making a lot of things of things with a CNC. I can see myself putting a lot of hours/work into products and so I want a machine that can perform a fair few hours a week. To be honest, once I get one you would struggle getting me off it! I would like a decent machine that will last though, I realise I'm not going to be able to get an industrial spec machine for my money but I would hope to be able to get something fairly decent.

I would love a machine that could work with full 2440x1220 sheets but I'm going to have to settle for a smaller machine for now due to space. I don't want to go too small though and limit what I can make so ideally a ~1220x1220 window would be ideal for now.

Thanks again for the help.