Newbie needs CNC advice

[Bucks]

I suggested that you did some research and it does not look like you have. This one you linked to does not have ball screws so how can it be a higher spec? These machine will not make moulds are not reliable and will break down within weeks. They are telling you that you do not need a Mach3 license which is a lie.

Have you thought about the CAD & CAM side of things.

If you ask enough people you will get the answer you want but if you hell bent on throwing your money away then good luck.

What do you think all the questions are then if I'm not doing research??? (and by the way I'm not just asking questions, I've been researching non stop for the last 4-5days, i.e. YouTube, google, Amazon, Ebay & forums etc)
And yes I have thought of The CAD/CAM side of things & costs, but I know the answers so not asking the questions

Parallel port to USB, 230w-400w isn't this higher spec??? I didn't say that everything was higher spec,

My mum use to tell be if you haven't got anything good or positive to say, don't say anything!!!

[Bucks]

THANKS for all your feedback Steel it's much appreciated, it's people like you who make forums a pleasant experience :-)

[JAZZCNC]

What do you think all the questions are then if I'm not doing research??? (and by the way I'm not just asking questions, I've been researching non stop for the last 4-5days, i.e. YouTube, google, Amazon, Ebay & forums etc)
And yes I have thought of The CAD/CAM side of things & costs, but I know the answers so not asking the questions

Parallel port to USB, 230w-400w isn't this higher spec??? I didn't say that everything was higher spec,

My mum use to tell be if you haven't got anything good or positive to say, don't say anything!!!

Buck's you'll do well to listen to Clive he's trying to help you not feed you full of Shit like some on here are doing regards these Cheap chinese machines.
They will let you down and they will require maintenance in short period of time. All this talk of upgrading etc is rubbish because you can't make Silk purse out of sows Ear and that's what you buying with these machines.

Also Mach3 running from Laptop with parallel port is at best lottery, some work, most don't. It's also got nothing to do with the Frequency and everything thing to do with Voltage and power management. Also You CANNOT use Parallel port to USB converter and don't let anyone tell you different.
There are Special Devices like UC100 which are Motion control devices which go between the parallel port but there are not converters in the conventional sense.

The simple fact is these Chinese machines are OK for learning but they will break down and will require maintenance within short period of time.
If you buy one with the intension of using as learning tool and don't expect the world then will be fine. If your wanting to do high quality work in difficult materials then forget them they will disappoint you.

[Steel]

Hi Jazzcnc i have to disagree with you regarding running mach3 on a parallel port laptop and your remark about frequency, i have to ask where did you get your information from as i have successfully run a old ibm T42 that wont run the correct freq for mach3 as standard the only change i made was with a bit of software that changes the freq to the correct freq for mach3, nothing to do with port voltage or power management at all on this laptop oh except for turning of the screen saver timeout.

[Bucks]

Buck's you'll do well to listen to Clive he's trying to help you not feed you full of Shit like some on here are doing regards these Cheap chinese machines.
They will let you down and they will require maintenance in short period of time. All this talk of upgrading etc is rubbish because you can't make Silk purse out of sows Ear and that's what you buying with these machines.

Also Mach3 running from Laptop with parallel port is at best lottery, some work, most don't. It's also got nothing to do with the Frequency and everything thing to do with Voltage and power management. Also You CANNOT use Parallel port to USB converter and don't let anyone tell you different.
There are Special Devices like UC100 which are Motion control devices which go between the parallel port but there are not converters in the conventional sense.

The simple fact is these Chinese machines are OK for learning but they will break down and will require maintenance within short period of time.
If you buy one with the intension of using as learning tool and don't expect the world then will be fine. If your wanting to do high quality work in difficult materials then forget them they will disappoint you.

THANKS for you input Jazz

With regards to Clive there are nicer ways of putting things ain't there, I've seen quite a few posts on here with people jumping down newbies throats for asking simple questions & not realising or having the sort of money that might be required in an ideal world, maybe people like Clive get fed up with these questions but he's sort of comments don't make newbies feel very welcome!

With regards to your comments on the parallel ports on laptops, I've since realised my laptop doesn't have a parallel port, so am now looking at the USB conected machines

Unfortunatly these Chinese machines are all I can afford, so that's why I'm wanting to buy new rather than used, so hopefully it will last a little longer before having to replace parts, hopefully this 800w water cooled with USB & ball screws that im looking at sounds like a bit better quality than the others (I could be wrong)

What do you class as difficult materials? We'll be using HDPE, Hardwood, epoxy & polyurethane resins, all are lovely to turn on a lathe so I'm hoping that they arnt difficult materials!

[Clive S]

My mum use to tell be if you haven't got anything good or positive to say, don't say anything!!!

If you re read all may posts to you from both threads you will see that you only have had good advise from me.
You only seem to want to hear the positive on these machines and sticking your head in the sand on the negatives.

So go ahead and convince yourself that the machine is wonderful and a good investment and listen to what Dean has said who probably has had more experience than anybody else on the forum.