Xcarve

[Diysurgeon]

I have seen a couple of second hand Xcarve on EBay for under £1000. Mine has been a great starter machine. It has its limits a lot depends on what you want to use it for. I have had no problems machining hardwoods, MDF etc. I know some owners have made modifications to strengthen theirs and have the capability to machine aluminium. A must is to add or make a dust extraction for it. I made a dust boot for mine (on the xcarve) connected to the extraction system for my bench saw, belt sander etc. Also it can be very noisy as it uses either a dewalt or makita router. I haven't but again some have created elaborate housings to reduce the noise and collect dust. Might be worth looking on the inventibles forum/website.

[thinfourth]

Noise is not an issue

I live in the middle of nowhere and have an air compressor that can wake the dead ( but not the wife)

Dust will be an issue no matter what i buy.

interested in what they go on fleabay but the issue is getting it from englandshire to the wilds of scotland as most folk shy away from getting stuff ready to ship.

[Desertboy]

Dust will be an issue no matter what i buy.

Make a cyclone and dust shoe pair with a cheap vacuum cleaner, you can use the X carve to make a dust shoe or 3d print one.

Dewalt router will have more run off than a Chinese spindle I would definitely look into a spindle I know shapeoko's can be modified easily not so sure about Xcarves. Price is not a lot different between the Dewalt router and Chinese spindle but with a spindle you have speed control via the VFD.

[Desertboy]

An Xcarve would cost you around £1500 specced with a dewalt router I'd consider doubling the budget and going for this instead if you really don't want to build one yourself.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-axis-cnc...m/182705914406

This would be a far far more capable machine and turnkey.

[thinfourth]

Saw that on eBay.

The only way it could look more lashed together was if it featured duct tape and sticky back plastic. I have distinct feelings that is someone's abandoned project

And it is double the cost of an xcarve for 100mm extra room.

I don't see any advantage

[Desertboy]

Saw that on eBay.

The only way it could look more lashed together was if it featured duct tape and sticky back plastic. I have distinct feelings that is someone's abandoned project

And it is double the cost of an xcarve for 100mm extra room.

I don't see any advantage

There's 10 available it's not a project lol, with a proper Mach 3 license and PC, supported rails, 2010 ballscrews and a welded steel frame. This is like 20 times more rigid for a start.

And you don't see the advantage!

Admittedly they didn't picture it properly lol but I think your misunderstanding the differences between both machines they are a world apart.

If I didn't build my own I would have bought one of these but not too hot on supported rail instead of Hiwin's but supported rail is still a hell of a lot better than makerslide style linear rails.

The difference is staggering obvious to me ones made of steel with proper linear slides, ballscrew drives and a real spindle the other is belt driven, has skateboard bearings for a linear slide very weak 20mm aluminium frame and a home router bolted onto it.

[paulus.v]

That £3k CNC does not look good to me. I see a lot of design mistakes that could have been improved with little or no additional costs. This lead me to the conclusion that the builders are not professionals or not even truly passionate hobbyists.

What about the description of the machine? "nema34 motors with stepper drivers and power supply" Wow! Where's the model of the drives, steppers working voltage, type and size of the power supply, etc, etc. What about endstops, homing sensors, control voltage, maximum speed, etc.

I cannot see any of the above in the pictures, nor in the description. So what are you going to buy? ..."EBay rules apply"

There's 10 available it's not a project lol, with a proper Mach 3 license and PC.

You found the important part, a mach3 licence (£110) on a computer (£70), and you are ready to give them £3000, not knowing exactly what you are paying for.

[thinfourth]

There's 10 available it's not a project lol, with a proper Mach 3 license and PC, supported rails, 2010 ballscrews and a welded steel frame. This is like 20 times more rigid for a start.

And you don't see the advantage!

Admittedly they didn't picture it properly lol but I think your misunderstanding the differences between both machines they are a world apart.

If I didn't build my own I would have bought one of these but not too hot on supported rail instead of Hiwin's but supported rail is still a hell of a lot better than makerslide style linear rails.

The difference is staggering obvious to me ones made of steel with proper linear slides, ballscrew drives and a real spindle the other is belt driven, has skateboard bearings for a linear slide very weak 20mm aluminium frame and a home router bolted onto it.

Zooming into the metal work on the eBay bargain machine I must say and this is being 100% honest

My wife can weld better than that

And i am being serious. Look at the welds under the box section.

And looking at the other machines he has for sale they look just as lashed together

I stand by it being an abandoned project

And the clincher for me

Every description sayes

"all cnc are bench tested with multiple profiles any alterations in setting will effect running operations and we will not be held responsible"

It has alarms bells for me

But i have no idea what the parts are worth.

I am well aware the Xcarve is not a brilliant deal on parts alone but they appear to have first class support which could be worth every penny.

[thinfourth]

Make a cyclone and dust shoe pair with a cheap vacuum cleaner, you can use the X carve to make a dust shoe or 3d print one.

Dewalt router will have more run off than a Chinese spindle I would definitely look into a spindle I know shapeoko's can be modified easily not so sure about Xcarves. Price is not a lot different between the Dewalt router and Chinese spindle but with a spindle you have speed control via the VFD.

Is runout a major issue with wood?

If can see it being an issue with metal and tight tolerances.