Thinking of jumping into CNC milling. How to start ?

[SparkyLabs]

oh, so do you build such routers ? what happens about software in this case ?

I have to admit that I'm still taken with the idea of a good general purpose machine. steel machining is not totally out but not a priority at the moment.

[JAZZCNC]

oh, so do you build such routers ? what happens about software in this case ?

I have to admit that I'm still taken with the idea of a good general purpose machine. steel machining is not totally out but not a priority at the moment.

Yes I do. I'll PM you my number then if want to chat about them or if just want advise in general feel free to give me call.

Regards cutting steel then I'll always advise you go with Mill but if your talking general purpose cutting of all materials then the size type of mills your looking at will struggle more than well built router.! . . . Hence why I said think you'll regret buying Proxon Mill

IMO if you want to cut Aluminium and harder then buy Mill. However be aware that for aluminium because of slower spindle rpm's it will require HSS tooling and will take much longer than it would good strong router with Carbide tooling.
For softer materials upto Aluminium/Brass and 3D type work then Good Router will always win by the fact it allows more scope and faster feedrates.

Re: Software.

Don't get too hungup on software or be fooled by Bull company's like Proxon peddle. Most of the software provided is basic in what it can do. So what happens is you still end up buying third party Cam software which then spits out G-code you load back into the control software which runs machine.

To run CNC machine you basicly have Control software which does what it says on the tin.? It controls the machine and tells it where to go by processing G-code file which is loaded into it.
The G-code file is created by External CAM program which takes either 2D Vector Graphics(dxf etc) or 3D models and using options provided you create cutting toolpaths which then get processed into G-code file.
The DXF's or 3D models can come from CAD or if using CAD/CAM software created directly inside same software.

So to answer your Q's about what happens with software on machines built by me.

I provide the Control software which in most case is Mach3 which will be all setup and ready to run the G-code file. The CAD/CAM side I leave to the customer to buy/decide because depends greatly on what type of work your going to do to which suits best.

I'll gladly advise and often I'll spend time helping new users with the software. Because I've got lots of experience I've used most software and it's little like CAD in they all work in very similair ways so often can get people confidently producing G-code quickly.

If you are used to CAD then you won't have any trouble with CAM. It's basicly chosing the type of cutting stratergy ie: Drilling, profile,pocket etc then selecting lines/arcs or Surfaces for path you want cutting then selecting tool and filling in few parameters.
When all toolpaths are created you then output them via Post processing file which creates G-file which suits the machine control your using.
This Post processing stage is seamless inside Cam software but very important part and often over looked. Without correct post processor you'll get G-file that is garbage to Control software.

[SparkyLabs]

OK well might be worth having a chat with you. Essentially I design the eclosure cuts in 3D CAD (solid edge). My circuit board design software will spit out a 3D model of my board loaded with models of connectors etc that I put in. I assemble the circuit board model into the box in solid efge and can therefore make the holes in the box model with reference to the circuit board components. So from that I can produce a drawing and save that as a DXF. From that I need to get onto a machine that can cut the holes.

With making fixtures it's a toss up with fixture cost. I'd need to hold boxes up on their sides in two positions regarness of the draft angle they sit on, for 50 boxes that I can get machined for £95 tooling + £0.80 per box spending pounds on fixtures soon becomes pointless. I take it a router has a similar bed to a mill so that stuff can be bolted down ?

[m_c]

Fixtures for boxes should be relatively easy, and reasonably universal.

The hardest part will be coming up with some form of clamping strategy to give good support. If it was me and I was planning on doing lots, I'd be looking at some form of large open vice like setup, which allows the box to be stood on end/edge, and clamped on what would be the top/bottom (or front/back depending on if you class the lid as top or front).
Add in an end stop for locating the box against prior to tightening, and you've got a repeatable clamping setup.

For doing the clamping, some form of toggle clamp setup would allow for quick changes, but would need someway of being adjusted for different box sizes. If you really wanted quick changes, an air cylinder and valve would make things quicker, and cover a larger range of sizes without adjustment.

[magicniner]

Fixtures for boxes should be relatively easy, and reasonably universal.

The hardest part will be coming up with some form of clamping strategy to give good support. If it was me and I was planning on doing lots, I'd be looking at some form of large open vice like setup, which allows the box to be stood on end/edge, and clamped on what would be the top/bottom (or front/back depending on if you class the lid as top or front).
Add in an end stop for locating the box against prior to tightening, and you've got a repeatable clamping setup.

A two piece machine vice can offer a lot of flexibility with infinite variability in jaw spacing and the option to mount on riser blocks,

- Nick

[JAZZCNC]

For doing the clamping, some form of toggle clamp setup would allow for quick changes, but would need someway of being adjusted for different box sizes. If you really wanted quick changes, an air cylinder and valve would make things quicker, and cover a larger range of sizes without adjustment.

Like this you mean.!! . . . . Also Shows good example of why router is better suited than mill.



OR if prefer in aluminium.

[m_c]

Like this you mean.!! . . . . Also Shows good example of why router is better suited than mill.

That's maybe a little too advanced for Sparky, but certainly shows how the commercial guys do it.

One thing I did mean to mention, was you mention you get charged a fixture cost. It should really be referred to as a setup cost, as what you're really paying for is the setup time for the job. That includes checking your drawings, working out what tools are needed, converting them to whatever code the machine runs on, and setting the machine up to run your job (load the code, setup the required fixtures, and make sure the correct tools are loaded). Once the setup is done, it's just a case of loading boxes and hitting a button.
The actual fixture cost for somebody running these kind of jobs regularly will be very minimal per job. The fixturing shown in the videos Jazz posted will cost 4 figures, however that will cover lots of boxes with minimal changes between box sizes. It can be thought more of as a machine cost, rather than a job cost.

[JAZZCNC]

The fixturing shown in the videos Jazz posted will cost 4 figures, however that will cover lots of boxes with minimal changes between box sizes. It can be thought more of as a machine cost, rather than a job cost.

From Datron Yes but here in the real world same could be made for not lot of money. But this may better showtype of fixture I was meaning. Also one to see the difference between Mill and router.!!



Almost slow motion but not quite.!