3020t cnc

[Doddy]

The combination of a laptop with a parallel interface and Widows 10 rings some alarm bells. There is a version of Mach3 that supports 64-bit W10, but you still would need a laptop with a parallel interface. Maybe worth looking at third-party motion controllers to provide the parallel interface from the lappy (e.g. UC100, or the much more capable bigger brothers).

You didn't ask about the choice of router... don't expect to nibble much aluminium with that.

[Richardtweed]

I will be mainly cutting stab wood and resin with the alluminium. Are these routers not very good?

[Clive S]

I will be mainly cutting stab wood and resin with the alluminium. Are these routers not very good?

They are at the lower end of junk and trouble as you can tell by the price.

[Richardtweed]

Can you recommend anything or am I going to struggle getting one for £300 ish

[Clive S]

Can you recommend anything or am I going to struggle getting one for £300 ish

Are you wanting this as a hobby to play with if so it's a good toy to play with.

To get a good set of drives and motors would cost more than that.

Sorry to put a damper on it

[Richardtweed]

Yes it's only as a hobby to be honest, I have wanted to learn about cnc for a few years now so I have decided to bite the bullet but I'm overwhelmed at all the information and technical details involved.

[Doddy]

Don't lose sight of the previous thread where I warn of the frustration of using a poor device. You'll likely get much better results from your CMD300 (albeit the cutting volume is much reduced).