Help with new machine

Hello,

I am new to the forum.

We are an industrial design company specialising in the design and development of motorcycles and power sports vehicles. We regularly make full scale Prototype models from auto styling clay, model board (Ureol) mdf, sla sls etc

We are looking to purchase a CNC router for cutting model board, styrofoam, wood, MDF and perhaps plastic. Primarily we want to cut female tools from Polyurethane model board (Renishape, Ureol etc) so that we can make GRP and Carbon parts. We have a fair bit of work coming up that will mean we will need to cut GRP female mould tools from Ureol model board or mdf. We could farm it out but the amount we will need to do means we could be better off investing in our own machine. Don't really have a budget as yet but would ideally be looking to spend no more than say 12k. I'm guessing a 4ft x 4ft by say 400mm would do for the sort of work we will be doing (mostly bike panels). As well as creating female mould tools for GRP parts we will also cut model parts for things like engine casings or headlight reflectors. Obviously we could make tools in sections and dowel and pin them together so make parts that are larger than the bed size.

I am looking for any help or advice that you can offer.

Many thanks in advance
Mark

Hi, wellcome to the site. I do not think you will find a machine with the Z travel that you require within your budget, but I am sure you can build a machine to suit.
I think the best alternative would be to buy a machine with the bed size you want and modify the gantry and make a new Z axis complete.If you are only cutting
soft materials the high Z should be ok. - Just my opinion. G.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GEOFFREY

Hi, wellcome to the site. I do not think you will find a machine with the Z travel that you require within your budget, but I am sure you can build a machine to suit.
I think the best alternative would be to buy a machine with the bed size you want and modify the gantry and make a new Z axis complete.If you are only cutting
soft materials the high Z should be ok. - Just my opinion. G.

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Hello Geoffrey,

Many thanks for the speedy reply. We don't really have the time or expertise to build one, what do you think we should expect to pay? What companies should we be looking at? We would also be looking for training on how to use the machine? What about if that Z was reduced to say 300mm?

Cheers
Mark

Mark, most of the members of this forum are interested in diy machine builds, and many of them have had little or no experience prior to their builds. If you read the build logs you will realize what I mean, and see that with some help and guidance people usually end up with a machine to suit their needs. If you have a decent sized workshop and a good 3 phase supply you should be able to find an older commercial machine within your budget that would suit, although it would probably have a 2400mm bed.
It is possible that one of our most experienced members would be prepared to design and build a machine for you. G.

Hello Geoffrey,

Many thanks for the speedy reply,



We have a good sized work shop and a decent 3 phase supply (have a look here to see some photos of our set-up http://www.coroflot.com/mark19/Studio)



I don’t mind the idea of buying a second user machine, but we are looking to buy through an asset finance company because it is more tax efficient than buying outright. We are also after training support so we really need to buy from a reputable company ideally in the UK who know the product and can help us out when we get stuck.


In November last year we ordered an EMACH CNC Router Model EM Roto 600 from a chap called Leigh Tricklebank at EMACH International Limited. We were told it was an Ex Demo model and we were quoted £12,000.00. I went down to Walsall to see the chassis being built, it was all very convincing. It had a 2000mm x 600mm Working Area, a 250mm Working Height (across the 600mm width) with a 4KW Electro Spindle, Pneumatic Material Clamps, 10M/Min Axis Speed, and quoted 0.2mm Axis Repeatability 0.05 Programming Accuracy. Emach’s quote included delivery to us up here in the North East, ½ Day Installation, included 1 Day Training and a seat of ‘Delcam artcam’ CAD CAM Software.

Attachment 8376Attachment 8375


It all seemed too good to be true, and it was! The machine was never delivered and Emach ceased trading. Fortunately for us we went through an asset finance company, as such they actually bought the piece of equipment to lease to us over a 4 year period. On further investigation it turns out Leigh Tricklebank has been the MD of a string of companies that have taken money and failed to deliver. Unbelievably the finance company didn’t check that we had received the machine before releasing payment in full. The finance company have now refunded us the instalments and deposit we had paid and are now pursuing Tricklebank to recover the debt. Ironically the reason we chose Emach was that they were a British company making the routers here so would be able to offer the support and training that we are after.



We are now starting the whole process of sourcing a suitable machine again. If you or any of the forum members can pass on any contact details of a company that might be able to help us I would be extremely grateful.


Many thanks in advance Mark

Shame about the Emach deal. I do seem to remember something about them disappearing at the end of last year although I have never dealt with them. I also think one of the forum members used to work for them?

Yes he did and was extremely helpful, a top chap.

Would reducing our required Z height help?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Xenophya

(have a look here to see some photos of our set-up http://www.coroflot.com/mark19/Studio)

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That is a beautiful workspace and some beautiful work you are doing, sorry I can't help with the cnc problem but I can do a bit of free spell checking:

Conferance Facility - Our meeting room space, (with our artwork on the walls)

Should be Conference

Hi Mark, sorry to hear of your tale of woe with regard to EMACH. I'm pleased to hear your are not going to lose money over the deal, how on earth did they release money without checking?

With regard to the lower Z you will certainly increase the number of possible machines available, but I do think it still likely to be a used machine rather than new.

Do you think that the leasing company would be prepared to allow used purchase, if so would there be an age limit? G.