Another Newbie looking for advice..

Hi All,

Sorry for all the questions but I have got to learn somehow:) I have spent a good few hours reading through the forum, some great info even if it didn't all make sense (yet)..

I need to buy a CNC, router or mill happy to take advice. I am looking at spending around £4000 and looking to CNC mostly plastics but also Aluminium so its a must to be able to do this comfortably, I don't need anything big, 300x200x150 should be ample.

I have a 3D printing company so I work in CAD every day and have a grasp on G Code. I can use Fusion 360, i need to learn the CAM part but designing the parts isn't a problem.

After reading through here having a CNC custom built seems like the recommend option, i don't have time to do this so any pointers as to who i should look to do this would be great..

If there is a stand out machine on the market which someone can recommend as well I am happy to look at that as well..

Many thanks in advance for your comments and suggestions.

Will

Cutting plastics and aluminium requires coolant, so I think you should be looking for a machine with that capability built in from the start. 300x200x150 is useless, for a start it will limit the size of spindle that can be fitted and to my mind 2.2kW is an ideal size.

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Originally Posted by EddyCurrent

Cutting plastics and aluminium requires coolant, so I think you should be looking for a machine with that capability built in from the start. 300x200x150 is useless, for a start it will limit the size of spindle that can be fitted and to my mind 2.2kW is an ideal size.

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Thanks for the response, that is a size I would require as an approx minimum, happy for it to be bigger! Any suggestions on makes etc.

Will

Hi Will welcome to the forum, Eddy.

Will, unfortunately (unless I missed the memo) there is nothing at that price point anyone here is likely to want to recommended to you as something you should spend your money on and invest in.

While it's true you can buy machines from £400 all the way up, all of these machines are lacking in one way or another, your criteria for a machine is quite modest, however it's pretty much the standard from people just getting started, all of whom I'm confident progress onto wanting more.

The only thing you can really do is have a close look at the machines available, doing so armed with as much research on the said as you can find, as I said above they all lack in some way and the short version of your research will be what your willing to live with for the price you'll pay.

If I had to point you in a direction, it would be in the direction of a 6090 machine from EXELCNC, I think they are getting quite allot right with their machines, its a UK company and after sales support is something you need to factor in when looking to invest in a production machine, you may find a similar sized machine cheaper on eBay coming from China or in more recent times from China via a warehouse in Germany but I doubt it would be any kind of deal breaker...

...Especially when you run into a problem and need to speak to someone at HQ regarding the machine.

Even if you need a small machine many times will come a job that you will need something big. 6090 machine is minimum do all machine for hobby and making some money. You could do almost all on that machine. So in your case that would be it. I dont know for that cash you have if sb could build that to you. Maybe 5000. But all-arounder for any business is a 1200x1200

That Exel CNC is a big No for me with only 100mm Z axis . is it me only but a machine with less than 150mm travel is absolute shite in my eyes. Yes, i had one , my first machine was like that. It made me money but...

Example: One of the best bits i use are the CMT insert 90 degrees V cutter and the 12mm cutter. Typical sign making bits. So the 12mm bit is 50mm long out of spindle. material if 30mm wood or whatever, thats 80 mm already. Sacrificial layer 10mm. 90mm. we need 30 for the cut and 10 for clearance. Thats 130mm . How do you do that on a 100mm Z travel. And what if i wanted a vise to hold the material, or a vacuum table????

As i said- a big NO

Thanks Lee, I will look into that company.. I would love to stay British for a number of reasons so thanks.

A machine I have been eyeballing before joining here:

https://www.worldofcnc.com/collectio...router-package

does anyone have any feedback on their machines?

Or the Sieg KX3, I know not British but support seems good.

Cheers

Will

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GBR1

Thanks Lee, I will look into that company.. I would love to stay British for a number of reasons so thanks.

A machine I have been eyeballing before joining here:

https://www.worldofcnc.com/collectio...router-package

does anyone have any feedback on their machines?

Or the Sieg KX3, I know not British but support seems good.

Cheers

Will

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This company looks like to be the same company as Marchant Dice Check their reviews and the threads on here about them:hysterical::disturbed:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GBR1

Thanks Lee, I will look into that company.. I would love to stay British for a number of reasons so thanks.

A machine I have been eyeballing before joining here:

https://www.worldofcnc.com/collectio...router-package

does anyone have any feedback on their machines?

Or the Sieg KX3, I know not British but support seems good.

Cheers

Will

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Ye, avoid Marchant Dice at all costs. Lots of shortcuts in their kit, not good value.

Could this be of interest - http://www.mycncuk.com/threads/11055...-Phase-CS-Labs ?

Thanks all, yes a quick google search shows they are the same company..

Chaz, thanks for the link.. it looks like a good option, a bit more than I was wanting to pay. He is only 15min from me so I should investigate..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GBR1

Thanks all, yes a quick google search shows they are the same company..

Chaz, thanks for the link.. it looks like a good option, a bit more than I was wanting to pay. He is only 15min from me so I should investigate..

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He is me.

Come look at the machine, perhaps we can work something out if it suits you.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GBR1

Thanks all, yes a quick google search shows they are the same company..

Chaz, thanks for the link.. it looks like a good option, a bit more than I was wanting to pay. He is only 15min from me so I should investigate..

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Do a proper google search on MD reviews I have just had to sort a 8x4 MD machine out that was bought new a couple of months ago it was continually missing steps they had come back to it once but didn't fix it and they would not come back again. There was no earths on the machine frame or on the cable to the spindle. the bed was left 4mm out of level. Also it was supplied with a copy of Mach3 licence to MD.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chaz

He is me.

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:hysterical:



Go and see that one. There is nothing better to buy from a respected forum member

A visit will be worthwhile, I can show you how the CAD to G Code stuff works too. I used to run a 3D Printing business, so can explain a lot to you. If anything, the knowledge alone will probably be worth a short trip.

I am home for most of the weekend - will be working on my machines, let me know if you want to pop around.

Sweeeet offers there Chaz nice one and thanks for offering !

Would be pretty kool if you did work something out on the machine exchange.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chaz

Ye, avoid Marchant Dice at all costs. Lots of shortcuts in their kit, not good value.

Could this be of interest - http://www.mycncuk.com/threads/11055...-Phase-CS-Labs ?

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When I still very green I looked at the Merchant dice machines and salivated but thank god I didn't waste my money on their over priced shite lol when I got into building I realised that building your own isn't about saving money it's about knowing your machine is built properly.

I think all people who want a cnc should build there own because what you learn is priceless and if you can't cad it out then you probably don't want one as much as you thought.

Maybe it's just me but if you're making other peoples models then I think you're better off haggling with a machine shop to make them for you and make profit for doing nothing it only becomes interesting to me when you're making your own creations ;)

Of course some of you guys are machine shops so I would use you and add 10-15% for profit depending on the job.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chaz

A visit will be worthwhile, I can show you how the CAD to G Code stuff works too. I used to run a 3D Printing business, so can explain a lot to you. If anything, the knowledge alone will probably be worth a short trip.

I am home for most of the weekend - will be working on my machines, let me know if you want to pop around.

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Hi Chaz,

Many thanks for the kind offer, sorry I have only just picked up on this.. I will see if I can pm you and arrange something.

Once again many many thanks..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GBR1

Hi Chaz,

Many thanks for the kind offer, sorry I have only just picked up on this.. I will see if I can pm you and arrange something.

Once again many many thanks..

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No problem. We are away this weekend but welcome to pop around in the evenings (im typically home from around 19h30 or so).