Chinese CNC machine...whatchathink?

[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.