After a local CNC Router

[calebarchie]

Hey guys,

Somehow I remembered my account info anyways I am after a decent cnc router for my hobby/business and I really don't have the time to make one unfortunately since I need to finish all my projects first (which require a a cnc router!). Bit of a dilemma there.
My max budget is 2k for a decent machine, all my design projects use soft materials eg woods and acrylics and other for prototyping. No metals as I would most likely just outsource waterjet but light alu capability might be a bonus. I require a fairly decent sized work area at least 1x1m. Have been trawling Gumtree and grays online for the past year without much luck.

Is anybody here selling or have any input on where to look or any other options available to me?
Would be much appreciated, I am located in the Riverina NSW.

Cheers,
Caleb

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[InMesh]

It is complicated for a number of reasons ,I only know of Multi-cam here in Melb and second hand 14 K there may be others working on a small scale .I was thinking about this the other day adding up the materials and sourcing the screws ,rails,bearing blocks ,spindle Inverter ,steppers and so on it was not bad but that was 400 mm screws which in reality gives maybe 300 travel or less .So I keep forgetting you have to add the carriage and so on my 1600mm screw gives 1380mm travel with my set up, then the machine gets large .Back on track I don't see too many second hand ones about either odd realy .

[calebarchie]

It is complicated for a number of reasons ,I only know of Multi-cam here in Melb and second hand 14 K there may be others working on a small scale .I was thinking about this the other day adding up the materials and sourcing the screws ,rails,bearing blocks ,spindle Inverter ,steppers and so on it was not bad but that was 400 mm screws which in reality gives maybe 300 travel or less .So I keep forgetting you have to add the carriage and so on my 1600mm screw gives 1380mm travel with my set up, then the machine gets large .Back on track I don't see too many second hand ones about either odd realy .

It is quite strange, I collect some rather exotic and rare photographic machines and I have seen more of them lately than routers! I expected the complete opposite.
I know a bloke who sold one recently, got it for an absolute bargain and sold it on for some pretty penny - doesn't help the used market much!

[InMesh]

Yes we do have a fair number here of the cnc used lathes and such because of the Industry downturn not a lot of small gear , electrics of a reasonable quality will run into the $ 1,000 mark without all the other bits ,You reminded me of a Russian briefcase style enlarger Zenith been sitting here for 30 years moved it out of the way just yesterday....

[calebarchie]

Yes we do have a fair number here of the cnc used lathes and such because of the Industry downturn not a lot of small gear , electrics of a reasonable quality will run into the $ 1,000 mark without all the other bits ,You reminded me of a Russian briefcase style enlarger Zenith been sitting here for 30 years moved it out of the way just yesterday....

Ahh the Zenith UPA-5 or 6, very quirky but ingenious design even took up to 6x6 negs - impressive for its size! I suppose there were more prepress/print houses and labs than there were small workshops back then. I would of thought there would be a lot of traffic of hobbyist routers seeing its a more common hobby than high end photographic. Oh well, I don't mind spending the coin just availability is the issue I'll just continue waiting and looking!

[phomann]

Hi,

Have a chat to Justin at Vermec. They make very nice routers.

Brisbane CNC routers - VERMEC, YOUR WOOD WORKING & ENGINEERING SUPPLIER.

Cheers,

Peter

[calebarchie]

I don't know how 2k used turned into 12k retail but I'll have a look, a look only...

[phomann]

Sorry, I missed that.

But they do make good machines.


Cheers,

Peter

[vadimt]

I'd also be interested in the same question... I have a very cheap "cnc 3020" off eBay. After a few tweaks it does just ok for my needs of engraving cutting acrylic and i even did one small project in alu (0.5mm per pass )
Omio cnc is a good option imo, but what Is consider a worthy investment of money is 2600aud which is just a bit too much for occasional garage hobby.

Id be very happy to see something of industrial quality, second hand for 2k!

Sent from my SM-N930F using Tapatalk

[calebarchie]

I'd also be interested in the same question... I have a very cheap "cnc 3020" off eBay. After a few tweaks it does just ok for my needs of engraving cutting acrylic and i even did one small project in alu (0.5mm per pass )
Omio cnc is a good option imo, but what Is consider a worthy investment of money is 2600aud which is just a bit too much for occasional garage hobby.

Id be very happy to see something of industrial quality, second hand for 2k!

Sent from my SM-N930F using Tapatalk

It is possible
more..

Lucky guy, my uses for a machine are probably just a step above hobby with potential to sell what I am making. I'm still a cheap bastard! The omio looks good until I saw that the prices were in USD!!

[calebarchie]

Happy Easter folks!

I have been doing some reading and perhaps a 6090 should be suffice. Does anybody know of any local importers of chinese 6090 machines that are still in operation? All the ones I see mentioned in old threads have gone poof!
If someone has a used Quick CNC K6100A tehy want to unload that would be even better. I'd rather not deal with the manufacturer directly and importing after seeing all the problems, not worth it imo.

Thanks again and remember don't have too much chocolate....

[hawaiian_robot]

Hey, not sure if this is what you're after, but I have a 3DTek XYZ carve, 400 W spindle, 1000 x 1000 mm work area (no MDF wasteboard though, but you could set up a board from slot extrusion if you wanted?) that I'm looking to get rid of. Hasn't been used, it's just taking up space I don't have, and I'd rather have the money. Looking to let it go at a pretty significant loss to myself, like I said, just want it to go to someone that'll get use out of it.

[calebarchie]

Hey, not sure if this is what you're after, but I have a 3DTek XYZ carve, 400 W spindle, 1000 x 1000 mm work area (no MDF wasteboard though, but you could set up a board from slot extrusion if you wanted?) that I'm looking to get rid of. Hasn't been used, it's just taking up space I don't have, and I'd rather have the money. Looking to let it go at a pretty significant loss to myself, like I said, just want it to go to someone that'll get use out of it.

I could certainly see myself getting started on one of those, PM incoming!

[jatt]

thanks to Phomann. that Vermac router has the same kind of vac pump (side channel blower) as my unit. Always on the lookout for alternatives as I get the impression that parts are gunna be quite expensive on my unit when the time comes to start fixing things

[Ryadia]

Hey, Calebarchie,
Something maybe you need to know about the Chinese routers on Ebay. According the fellow who designed a controller board and USB CNC software at Planet CNC, they all have counterfeit controller boards and pirated software. The reason (he said) why the ones mentioned a few months ago are no longer in business is simple. They offer 2 year warranty and 100% satisfaction guarantee but disappear when you try to access the warranty. I bought one of the 6040 machines. Its usable size is way smaller than 60 x40 cm. I just ordered a new controller for it from an Australian manufacturer. I've also bought German stepper motors for it. This makes the $1980 machine cost over $3000!
There is a fello who posted a video of the exact same problem I and so far another 25 people I've contacted are having because of the dud controller boards in them. He's in the UK BTW. Watch his video before you buy a Chinese router offering delivery from Sydney. Its a bond store they send container loads of routers to for AU delivery. Here's the link:

Good luck
Ryadia.

[Beefy]

When I first started out I bought some cheap crappy Chinese stepper motors ("Smooth" brand LOL). I bought a Leadshine stepper drive to go with it.

Just like in the video I couldn't get above a certain RPM before the motor stalled and squealed.

Next I bought Gecko drives (G203V but they're all good). Those cute little beasties would run my cheap crappy stepper motors up to a good speed, no problem. No more Leadshine drives for me, Gecko all the way. My plasma table max speed is 10,000 mm/min. I tested the table at that speed for 30 mins, with lots of zig zags, circles, curves, sharp turns, etc, basically a torture test to see if I would get any lost steps. After the test the X and Y axis returned precisely to the original starting position, as programmed. No lost steps at all. Oh, and I was not gentle on the acceleration/deceleration.

So there's drives and there's drives, and my experience is a cheap stepper motor can be driven OK by a high quality drive. The Gecko drive was cheaper than the Leadshine drive too, by quite a margin. But there again I did buy the Leadshine drive from a local Australian supplier = $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ as usual. However, Geckos are available locally too (Homann Designs), but for about the same price as what you'd pay in the US last time I checked.

[RCaffin]

I will add that I have found Peter Homann to be very reliable and fast with both shipping on new orders and in responding over problems.
And I like the G203V.

Cheers
Roger
(NO financial links to HD at all.)

[pippin88]

I've found Leadshine drives great. Gecko are great also, but older analog technology. Leadshine much quieter and motors run cooler.

[RCaffin]

Gecko are great also, but older analog technology.
Really? Then I wonder what the digital chip in the middle, and all those MOSFETs in such a small package, are doing.
Sorry, but I don't think Gecko have been analog for ... were they ever analog? I doubt it.

Cheers

[daniellyall]

There were back in the stone age