Chinese CNC machine...whatchathink?

[Jonathan]

https://sites.google.com/site/cncdiyorg/2520 (I reckon about £600 + import duty + VAT)

Seems expensive to me, why are you so sure you don't want to make one? A machine that size is relatively simple.
Anyway, it says the spindle speed is only 10,000rpm. That's good with regards to noise, but you're not going to cut PCBs very fast at that speed. I generally use about 25mm/min per 1000rpm. So 250mm/min with that spindle, which is a lot less than the machine is capable of.

[HankMcSpank]

Seems expensive to me, why are you so sure you don't want to make one? A machine that size is relatively simple.
Anyway, it says the spindle speed is only 10,000rpm. That's good with regards to noise, but you're not going to cut PCBs very fast at that speed. I generally use about 25mm/min per 1000rpm. So 250mm/min with that spindle, which is a lot less than the machine is capable of.

It's a time thing really...I've just been made redundant (20yrs with the same company! Hey ho...at least they gave me a big fat cheque, which rather than spend on loose women and fast cars - which my wife says I can't - I thought I'd put it towards some stuff that will make some stuff) ....so I now need to get some of these 'widget' ideas out of my head & into the market to see if they're viable! (if not, I'm gonna have some fun anyway! "March of the makers" eh"?!!)) I don't want to be dicking about spec'ing a machine. then ordeing a bit from here, a bit from there, then assembling blah blah....that takes time & for all you think I'd have loads of time on my hands, I don't (not to be building a machine anyways).

The more I mull this, I realise/concede that it's probably best to have a machine that's capable of milling aluminium...some of the widgets I have in mind are gonna need injection moudling (there only small simple pieces, but nevertheless the cost of getting them made is prohibiitve), so having a machine strong enough to mill steel/ali will be of great help if I do need to make simple injection moulds (but best do that when the neighbours are out!) .... a bench top injection moulding machine would be nice too!