Newbie needs CNC advice

Bucks · 06-02-2017

Originally Posted by JAZZCNC

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!