Chinese CNC machine...whatchathink?

[HankMcSpank]

Thanks guys....well I thought I had this one sorted, but it's a fair point about not being able to mount a VFD water cooled spindle, so that choice above is now in doubt. There's another good, solid little machine here....

http://sites.google.com/site/cncdiyorg/3018

but it's a little on the small side & takes a while for them to put together(a bit like ordering a sofa from DFS!), not to mention a lot more expensive, but it'll mill steel, aluminium...the whole gammut!

[Jonathan]

I have seen the water cooled ones and they are quiet.

I can confirm that they are very quiet. My 2.2kW one makes less noise than the Sieg C3 lathe when the lathe is at 3000rpm and spindle at 24000rpm. 'Chip' on this forum will also confirm that the spindle itself is much quieter than a router.

When I had the router running I'd wear ear defenders - not any more!

It's the cutting noise that's the issue since it's louder than the spindle, though if you're just making PCBs the cutting noise is small.

[ptjw7uk]

At least the last one has ball screws!!

Peter

[M250cnc]

At least the last one has ball screws!!

Peter

It also has a much smaller working area 300x180x55 IIRC

It won't do milling particularly well either and there is no way to overcome the limitations to do milling on it. Have a look at specs of milling machines what you will find is they are heavy. The heavier the machine the bigger the cut you can make.

You will not even get a vice on the table, i have a drilling vice that has a height of 45mm and it is not suitable for milling just drilling.

But if you bought a mill it would do milling and with an extra WC VFD run spindle you could do your pcbs etc the alternative is two machines.

Phil

[gorbo]

Yes, I know the backup/support will suck!

Yes, I know delivery & import duties will be excessive!

but parking that for a mo, what do you reckon to this machine....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CNC-3040-ROUTE...item19c2929124

cos bluntly, the one I've built from scrap is not up to it - no surprises there (it's fine for dabbling...but I'm past the dabbling stage now(!) & I just can't justify the time researching & building my next machine.

I'm only really wanting a machine to mill acrylic, mill the odd PCB (but a small bit of ali would be nice though :-) ) .....noise level is one of my overiding concerns (neighbours!)...I'm figuring that the whirring of the steppers is gonna be loud (the driver seems below par....no microstepping)

Thoughts?

I had the same problems, so when I built my workshop I filled the walls with acoustic insulation, then built a cover over the whole CNC, this really quietened the machine down to such a state that 3 yards from the workshop I hear nothing, incidental I brought a Chinese machine and apart from the odd tweak I have had no trouble with it, and it has done hours of work

[HankMcSpank]

Thanks...yes I think building a cover is the best bang per buck approach to keeping your cutting rate/strength high, but noise low - I'd like to have seen a photo of your acoustic shroud ...any chance?

I've gone full circle, and will actually buy the Walter/Borsh 4030 CNC http://sites.google.com/site/cncdiyorg/4030 (it has 1605 ballscrews *& can take a VFD water cooled spindle) ...there are youtube videos showing it cutting aluminium too ...so that'll do for me - only one problem - the seller isn't responding to emails!

[brandon_costa]

The price seems high for a Chinese made one.

Also Chinese made products don't have a good track record yet as being quality products.

[ptjw7uk]

Not sure about the statement about quality as most of the stepper motors we all use are of chinese origin!

Peter

[m_c]

The good old adage of 'You only get what you pay for' applies, as the Chinese are masters of building to a price.

[HankMcSpank]

Now having never dealt with water cooled spindles, inverters etc, I'm a little confused by the seller's response to me asking him to quote me for one! (the ad is here... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...:X:RTQ:GB:1123 )

Me: "Could you please let me know if this machine can be supplied not only with the 300W spindle (as per your advert) but also a VFD & water cooled spndle + spindle mounting bracket too? If so, how much extra would that be (including shipping) to the UK?"

Sellers reply: "Dear friendthis machine come with water cooled spndle + spindle mounting bracket too but it does not have inverter for you.and This item is ready for using there is no need the inverter
best regards,

This wil be the bit where I get confused - a water cooled spindle but with no inverter that's ready for use?!!

Me: "I am confused at your response....

"this machine come with water cooled spndle + spindle mounting bracket too but it does not have inverter for you"

....but your listed spindle specification doesn't mention 'water cooled' spindle, here's the extract from your advert.....

"Spindle motor 300w dc motor 1000~9500PRM/Min"

So once again, does this listing include a water cooled spindle with mount or not?

All of the water cooled spindles I've seen listed for CNC machines, typically look like this one you have listed....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/0-8KW-WATER-COOLED-SPINDLE-MOTOR-ENGRAVING-MILL-GRIND-/180508850988?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a072a 7b2c

(also I though all the water cooled spindles *needed an inverter?)

I am familiar that most sellers of the CNC 3040t supply a 300W air cooled spindle...this is why I am confused?

Please clarify asap....many thanks.


Seller: "this listing include a water cooled spindle with mount"




So, can anyone here clarify what the gig is likely to be here - a water cooled spindle will work without an inverter?