Wooden CNC

**Clive S** · 31-07-2015

Andy

You are not too far away from me Stockport, if you want a few bit cutting to get you started you are welcome to come over and I could do them for you.

**Andyshomecrafts** · 31-07-2015

Originally Posted by Clive S

Andy

You are not too far away from me Stockport, if you want a few bit cutting to get you started you are welcome to come over and I could do them for you.

Thanks very much
I don't know if I'm going to bother now but that's very kind
I'm gong to look for some plans for smallish metal CNCs
Thanks

**Musht** · 31-07-2015

At that sort of budget have you considered the Chinese 3040/6040 type machines

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6040-CNC-R...item35edbd4528

**Andyshomecrafts** · 31-07-2015

Hi yes I have, but have been told to stay well away, I've read some good reviews but seen some bad ones too.
its difficult if you only got like £1k. So still in no mans land lol
thsks for taking the time to mail me, I realy do appreciate it.

**Musht** · 31-07-2015

Well have a 3040 and its been a learning experience, but one that has been worth the cost the learning.

To be fair they are marketed as engravers not billet aluminium mills ;-)

The wiring on them, maybe changed in last 3 years , was very brittle , went intermittent, rewire of motor cabling cured that.

The control box uses Toshiba integrated drives meant for photocopiers, they can be bit sensitive, but after a rewire and replacing 2 chips, fingers crossed , no further trouble.

The spindle ,on cheap 3040, was a reused servo motor core, it`s only 180w so cutting deep aint an option.

Item linked above has a big 800w water cooled spindle , less of an issue, control box looks very similar.

Unsupported rails on the long axis on one linked would limit accuracy in hard materials would guess, its horses for courses.

Consider a Chinese frame with better electrics fitted?

Also need to budget in for software, genuine Mach3 licence and CAD and CAM software of choice.

P.S. its the internet a bit of banter is what its all about , yesterdays news is todays chip wrapper ;-)

**Andyshomecrafts** · 31-07-2015

True, but it helps to know what your looking for.
thanks for the advice,it means a lot

**Musht** · 31-07-2015

Your looking for something to engrave and cut MDF, that guides your search to start with.

Different level of machine to cut out motorcycle yokes in quantity to a machine for V-carving names in MDF toy boxes ;-)

Come up with some specs for what you need to do and sure there are some suggestions from the panel on what can get to do it in your budget.