Which machine for headstones - please help.

[phill05]

Morning all,

I have been looking into getting a cnc machine that will carve letters into stone, this would include sandstone, granite and marble.

I have no idea what it is that I am looking for.

I was looking at the x-carve ones but i don't know if it would be powerful enough to engrave stone.

Could someone please advise what cnc machine(s) would be best for this type of work, which would be within an affordable range, would i be able to get one for around £5000? where would I get one from, could someone advise of a decent supplier preferably within the uk?

Many thanks for any help

Dan

In answer to your question straight from a user, you would not get a stone cutting machine for £5k, we spent £7500 for the basic machine direct from China plus shipping plus taxes plus delivery from port.



This was in 2012 the machine is 1.8m x 1.4 bed it has a 5.5kw 24000 rpm water cooled spindle on ER 32 collets, it has never had to be run higher than 16000 rpm, In 2015 we had to change the controller from DSP to Mach3 (down time 2 days), In 2017 I fitted new bearings to spindle (downtime 1 week ordering the bearings 2 days fitting) the machine has been run day and night over weeks at a time, from 2012 to date.
For the different stone, granite, marble, Stone you can use Diamond tools for edge work, roughing out and levelling, Carbide for profile cuts, cutting text in Granite you use PCD (poly crystal diamond) for marble you use PCD or carbide.
I grind carbide into shapes to use all the time and they cut really well with plenty of water, we cut 2 1/2D highly detailed reliefs in stone memorials.
In my opinion don't discount the Chinese machines yes there is problems with controllers but this is something you can overcome by using them to earn some extra to pay for a better system.

Phill

[JAZZCNC]

In 2017 I fitted new bearings to spindle (downtime 1 week ordering the bearings 2 days fitting) the machine has been run day and night over weeks at a time, from 2012 to date.

Hi Phill, Just out of curiosity how many bearings where in the nose of the spindle because that looks like a longer than standard nose compared to a routing spindle with ER Taper?

Also did you buy the machine as a machine for cutting stone etc. or a general-purpose router.? . . What I'm trying to establish is if the Chinese spec'd the spindle for stone or not. The 3Kw spindle we used didn't last much more than 3 months using Flute routers solely cutting Granite, these.!
https://granitetools.co.uk/product/g...10mm-diameter/

Have you an idea how much granite work you have done with this spindle, I'm not so much asking about engraving/carving but Fluting and cutting/profiling, etc, I'm curious because I may pursue this type of spindle if it's not a standard routing spindle and you have done plenty of this type of work with it for a sink hole/drainer machine.!

[Sebastian]

Hello Phill ! I am from Romania and I work with granite tombstones. I am looking to buy cnc carving machine for tombstones from China like the one you posted... is there a chance you could help me too choose the right one or things I have to look for when buying one ? Cnc is a whole new thing for me and it would be really really helpfull any tip. Thank you very much!

[phill05]

Hi Seb,
PM me your email and I can send you images and details.

Phill