First time build - Steel Frame CNC Router

[examorph]

I have been doing some shopping around for quotes and would like some advice please.
For the linear components the following is what I got back:

Chai = $738 = £510
Fred = $958 = £663
FYI - Local Supplier = >£3,000!!!
The shorter carriages were £100 less in total if I went for them.

Ideally it would be Chai with the shorter carriages but two disadvantages seem to be, hes using a different brand of rails/blocks and also, i'm not sure if the shorter carriages will be enough for possible long term aluminium work. What do you guys think please?

Also, does £140 sound like a good deal for all the aluminium and steel plates (gantry sides, full z axis, bearing supports, spacers, etc)?

[Boyan Silyavski]

comparing Hiwin to Chinese rails is like apples to oranges. Fred also has the Chinese rails by the way and of course they are cheaper. If you are doubting £100 in a build of 2500, then definitely go with the cheaper.

I am saying this cause if you really want to cut aluminum when you pay 500 for a plate you will forget the 100 you ar doubting now.

140 sounds a good deal if they are precut. Depends though, i buy pre-cut aluminum plates any thickness at 5euro/kg +vat here in Spain. And steel at 1eur/kg but i have the means to cut it.

[JAZZCNC]

I have been doing some shopping around for quotes and would like some advice please.
For the linear components the following is what I got back:

Pay the £100 extra and get Hi-win from Fred Lee. Also don't need long carriages to cut aluminium the short ones work fine. I've got some Hi-win rails carriages (short) here that where fitted to my old router which cut nothing but aluminium for 5-6yrs and they are still good day fitted and they where second hand then.!!

Also, does £140 sound like a good deal for all the aluminium and steel plates (gantry sides, full z axis, bearing supports, spacers, etc)?

How longs a piece of string.? How can anyone tell you that without knowing dimensions and amount of aluminium.?

[examorph]

Pay the £100 extra and get Hi-win from Fred Lee. Also don't need long carriages to cut aluminium the short ones work fine. I've got some Hi-win rails carriages (short) here that where fitted to my old router which cut nothing but aluminium for 5-6yrs and they are still good day fitted and they where second hand then.!!

Thanks Dean, went for the shorter ones and placed the order with Fred yesterday, he was really helpful with everything.
Should have the parts for the end of the month as they are on their holidays currently.

How longs a piece of string.? How can anyone tell you that without knowing dimensions and amount of aluminium.?

Was quoted the following for it all to be cut:
Aluminium (All 20mm Thick Plates):
Qty 2 – 225 x 60 @ £11.50 each
Qty 1 – 200 x 300 @ £26.15 each
Qty 1 – 200 x 250 @ £19.50 each
Qty 1 – 200 x 140 @ £15.75 each
Qty 1 – 200 x 60 @ £10.00 each
Qty 4 – 30 x 70 @ £6.25 each

Steel Plate:
Qty 2 – 230 x 300 x 10 @ £6.30 each


Does this look ok?

[JAZZCNC]

Was quoted the following for it all to be cut:
Aluminium (All 20mm Thick Plates):
Qty 2 – 225 x 60 @ £11.50 each
Qty 1 – 200 x 300 @ £26.15 each
Qty 1 – 200 x 250 @ £19.50 each
Qty 1 – 200 x 140 @ £15.75 each
Qty 1 – 200 x 60 @ £10.00 each
Qty 4 – 30 x 70 @ £6.25 each

Little on the expensive side if just cut pieces. It would all come out of piece less than 500 x 500 and thats allowing for cutting. If machined with holes etc then yes it's cheap.

If just cut pieces of aluminium then Aluminium warehouse are cheaper. But Often worth asking local engineer for good supplier. My supplier doesn't deliver down your way but to give an idea i would get all that for just half what your being asked and that would be Ground cast Machine plate.

[Davek0974]

Just for reference, these are from Aluminium warehouse, last week....

2	Aluminium Plate: EcoCast - 20.0 mm - 550mm x 242mm	£55.80	£111.60
1	Aluminium Plate: EcoCast - 15.0 mm - 400mm x 160mm	£20.29	£20.29
1	Aluminium Plate: EcoCast - 15.0 mm - 320mm x 160mm	£16.26	£16.26
1	Aluminium Plate: EcoCast - 15.0 mm - 500mm x 160mm	£25.33	£25.33
2	Aluminium Plate: 6082 T651 - 10.0 mm - 471mm x 150mm	£10.85	£21.70
1	Aluminium Flat Bar - Metric Sizes (6082T6) 80 mm x 10 mm - 2000 mm	£22.01	£22.01

Is there a better place to go??

[examorph]

Dean - Thanks for the advice and yeah, that was just for cut aluminium with no holes/profiles, etc.
Damn, almost half the price...that's cheap! Will ask around locally and see if I can find someone decent. Is there anything I should ask for specifically when requesting quotes for this? I see people go with EcoCast from Aluminium Warehouse, I don't know if many locals would do this so would I just ask for Ground Cast Aluminium Machine Plate? Is there any grade or reference I need to mention?

Davek - Thanks for the reference prices.

[Neale]

I bought Ecocast from Aluminium Warehouse but subsequently I've been told about MIC6 tooling plate which is sold by Blackburns - branches around the country. Might be worth checking for a comparison.