New member looking for machine advice

**JAZZCNC** · 23-02-2020

Originally Posted by latza

Is this any good ? https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F254518989549

The answer to the question "Is this any good" is NO. . . .BUT . . . . If you said is this any good to learn CNC with then answer is Yes. Just don't expect to do the things you see others do with more polished and better spec'd machines.

Expect that it won't work straight out the box and you will be here asking how to get it working. Also expect that when you do eventually get it working that you will probably spend a lot of your time tweaking or repairing. Expect that it will sooner rather than later blow up a drive or the controller or spindle.???.

So as you see you will learn CNC one way or the other, some times it will work and you'll learn how to cut with it, most of the time it will be broke or frustrating the fu#king daylights out you and you'll learn how to fix a CNC machine.!!

Will it teach you how to build your own or what components you'll need then honestly no it won't. Because they are rubbish and anything used on them you wouldn't want on a decent machine.

Will it enable you to learn how to operate a CNC machine then yes it will, when it's working.! They are actually very good for learnig on because they are cheap, just don't expect too much from them and don't waste any money or time trying to upgrade or make better, because you honestly can't make a Silk purse out of a sows ear.

However, if all you want is to learn how to code and operate a CNC machine then you don't actually need a physical machine, it can all be simulated.
Most control software will allow you to run in demo mode and will run any G-code you produce just as if it was connected to the machine.
The CAD/CAM side is something you can and would learn without needing a CNC machine and again any code produced can be Simulated either by G-code Sim program or directly in the controller which would run the physical machine.

Honestly rushing to get a CNC machine is the biggest mistake new people make and it nearly always end's up costing them lots of money or worse put's them off.
DIY building isn't difficult and you can build a machine that will match many industrial machines for a fraction of the cost, but it can not be rushed or short cuts taken to do it correctly.