Which Software

[M250cnc]

Hi Folks
New to machining, new to CNC, new to CAD/CAM software, jeez even new to forums! Is this called thread reviving? :confused: Anyway..

Oh! budget for machine up to 2k A LOT of dosh for me so SCARY!

Rob :o)

Rob,

Based on what you say I'd say forget it.

The MD machine is a router type machine which is classed as engraving, light milling (sheet)

You need a mill RTR way over your budget before you even think of buying software.

Then there is the learning curve, it can be years.

If you want that part made get a quote.

But if you just want to just learn the wonderful art of engineering then go for it.

Phil

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

[robmurf]

Hiya M250

I thought one of these small machines could do milling work vs. just engraving, in ally IF you were in no hurry! I.e. cut it fairly slowly? Thought too it was the type of kit RC model makers would use etc for making small bits out of aluminium.

Vectric c2D is about £175 and Mach3 the same? Didn't seem too bad...

Anyway, thanks for taking time to reply, much appreciated!

:o)

[M250cnc]

Rob,

This is where your inexperience shows (But Good You Are Asking Questions), those router type machines use high speed spindles.

You need drilling on your part its very difficult to do drilling as you run out of Z axis clearance not to mention drilling at 8K rpm min

To take on bigger cuts in any material the machine must be built stronger than the material you are cutting and in IMHO those machines are too flimsy.

I have two mills one a manual Bridgeport that weighs about a ton and a benchtop that weighs 1/5 of a ton

Check out how much those router machines weigh, although you may get the job done the finish will be poor.

Just giving the facts so don't shoot the messenger.

Phil

[robmurf]

Hi Phil
Thanks again for the feedback and very sorry, no shooting of messenger type attitude was intended!!

I understand need for solidness in the machining platform but again I thought these machines could go a bit beyond engraving and could even do finishing type cuts. This fella here seems to be using the entry level machine to mill ally pretty well?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbwug...eature=related

If he's be believed, it's a High-Z S-400, not even their 'T' model which is faster. Of course he has a pretty nice ELTE spindle on there vs. the router which is a fairly serious upgrade I guess and pretty expensive too boot, I guess?

Rob :o)

[M250cnc]

Rob,

No offence taken, but and its a big but that machine is double your budget adding in the software and it only has a low duty spindle

And its only taking shallow cuts, as soon as you start increasing the thickness of cut the problems will show up.

Phil

[blackburn mark]

Rob,

No offence taken, but and its a big but that machine is double your budget adding in the software and it only has a low duty spindle

And its only taking shallow cuts, as soon as you start increasing the thickness of cut the problems will show up.

Phil

im kind of hoping your not entirly right phil, iv spent about 2k and although i dont intend to cut to much alli im hoping it will if i need it to
im thinking small cuts will be fine.... thats the beauty of cnc (if its running well) press go have a cup of tea watch some telly scratch your arse and swagger back into the shed with a de-burring tool to a nice shiney finished part

[robmurf]

im kind of hoping your not entirly right phil, iv spent about 2k

Hiya Mark
Can I ask what you spent your 2k to get CNC's up?

[blackburn mark]

hi rob..... errrrrr i might be lieing a bit..... we'll find out (ish)
25mm thk slides for the X and Y 20mm thk Z £250 ish
1605 ballscrews £300 ish
heavy extrusion £500 ish
20mm alli plate £400 ish
5 axis chinese stepper kit+power supply £260 ish
ball nut housings £150
so far thats £1860
im pretty sure iv spent at least £100 building 3 spindles including buying the speed controller
theres easy another £100 on odds and sods like timing pullies micro switches cable
i could be looking at £2100/£2200
it might be more though,,,,, stuff has a way of sneaking under the raydar :)
have a read of "fingers crossed it'll cut ally" you might spot somthing in there that iv missed

its quite an exspensive one for a first build but im pretty sure i wont need to build it again and its a lot cheaper than buying one off the shelf

[M250cnc]

im kind of hoping your not entirly right phil, iv spent about 2k and although i dont intend to cut to much alli im hoping it will if i need it to

Hi Mark,

I hope I'm wrong too.

Phil

[m.marino]

Well,

Let's weigh in here with an "off the shelf unit" which is an MDL-2-TR-UN from Kevin at World of CNC (Marchant Dice by another name). Yes I can cut ally'. Slow as in 300mm/min max cut speed and 4mm depth and using a hand held spray unit for mist with cutting oil to keep heat down. Spindle is a Kress 1050W standard model (have not slaved it to Mach3 yet) and yes Mach is the control software. Object and g-code generated by V23 BobCAD/CAM though have also used V21 to do similar work. Clean up is a pain and I hate cutting metals with it at present due to the noise issue and not having the spindle under full control except for the E-stop.

Software depends on what you are going to be using it for and how detailed you need to be. I am right now trying out T-Flex CAD/CAM package as BobCAD has moved to V24 and I am not interested in upgrade at present. So for myself and the fact that I am going to need to be able to generate drawings for some of the stuff I am designing, looking to move to a new more complete (for myself) package. Vector makes good software, very good to be honest, just for some reason I can't rap my head around how they do parts of their system.

Best suggestion is work with one of us to set up a design of a good ridge system (you can get that to large extent without high mass with modern materials).

Now a down side or two on the set up I have. There is .01mm variation in levelness that I have not been able to correct in the table along the short distance and even doing set up on a perfectly flat surface I have not been able to get that out completely. Trapezoidal Lead Screws have limits and ball screws are worth the up grade. you want a minimum of 100mm Z not the 50 mm this model comes with and personally would suggest 150mm as minimum but that is me. That also means you need the gantry to be extra ridge to reduce any chance of flex in Z (trust me you don't even want to go there).

So that is real life and what I have done. I cut mainly 3d objects the 2.5D method (set up, cut, flip, and cut other side). I have designed a clamp to allow me better centering though will be looking to get the Ally' to cut the pieces soon. Out side of software upgrades the next items on the list are getting the spindle under board control (going the DIYCNC equipment route) and a higher quality spindle that can handle lower rpm's (for cutting acrylic, to fast and it melts and don't have an coolant system set up yet).

Endmill's are from Sorotec out of Germany and they have a good bit of kit at reasonable prices (I have no interest in any of these companies mentioned). Current control boards are all DIYCNC equipment and very happy with them and extremely easy to set up.