trying to improve my board game

**cubikoman** · 17-02-2011

m.marino hinted that the build cost in the U.K. would be roughly equivalent to the overall costs of importing the machine. How many hours does it take to build a machine though?

**m.marino** · 17-02-2011

Originally Posted by chip

personaly if i could go back id have saved my money and shopped around for one rather than build but thats me,
theres some great deals on the bay on occasion if your patient, save yourself a few quid and pick something up with a bigger cutting area.
two i found today that would have suited me and saved me a small fortune.
these in the links are nothing to do with me but just an example.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/cnc-router-/33...item4cf517df8b
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CNC-3-axis-mac...item1e61965187

Of the two above the Z90LSP is a much better bet for what you are wanting to do. you will want the 84mm Z axis travel with the work you are doing. The other advantage of going this rout is that you have control of production, which helps cut down costs on your end from drop shipping. You can also do small test runs of changes without incurring as large a cost as out sourcing.

I something like that was on the market when I was first looking for a machine I would have bought it that is for sure. On the other hand the knowledge one learns from building will serve anyone well understanding the mechanics behind the tool.

As to set up and running time from getting it in house? Depends, but should not be more than a week. Less if the area is prepared for the machine and you get a copy of the software you are looking to use and start seeing how it functions.

There is gcode software for Inkscape and also Image2code, both which work. Also from the looks of your game, you are not looking for tolerances in the .1mm which some of the more advanced software is capable of.

Just my two pence worth.

Michael

**Jonathan** · 17-02-2011

I never considered buying a CNC router ready made. For me the interesting bit is to make it and improve it.

Remember when working out the customs charges that they charge the 20% VAT on the value quoted on the customs form, which may well be a lot less than what you actually paid! This happened to me with the X axis rails and ballscrew that I bought together, but the actual amount charge was only a couple of percent of what it cost me.

I'm pretty sure it would end up cheaper to make a similarly capable machine yourself, especially if you're careful with the choice of materials. For instance if you can get away without using aluminium profile that will save a LOT of money. You should certainly buy some of the bits from china/hong kong - spindle and linear bearingse.

You could use the router to cut much nicer joints on the sides of the box. Fingerjoints, or even dovetails are quite easy if you can fix the wood on to the end of the bed 'vertically' and machine the joints with the corresponding cutter. You don't need much travel to do this. You don't actually even need cnc for that...