Martys K6100A Adventure

[Marty989]

Hi guys,

I did post in the Quick CNC thread over in the chinese section but unfortunately the thread seems to have pretty much died so I thought I'd get more 'local' answers here.

This is my Quick CNC K6100A it has an overall table size of 1000x600mm with a vacuum table section.

It arrived a couple of weeks ago and all I've done is pretty much opened up the crate!

I've got to arrange a sparky to put in some new points for the router and the vacuum pumps (not sure what rating I need yet)

I'm also getting some quotes to weld up a trolley so I can move it around.

[Marty989]

My first question

This is the type of pump that came with my machine (there's 2 of them)

As my garage is pretty small I want to minimise the amount of space the router takes up. I was hoping to place the pumps inside the frame. Is it possible the pumps wont receive enough cooling in the space? Are there possible RF issues to consider? I've been told that the filter glows red hot in operation so heat may be a serious factor.

Does anyone have any experience with this type of vacuum pump?
Doing a bit of a search these have been referred to as a 'becker' pump but I don't believe these are the 'becker pumps most people on the forums are referring to. They also seem to be called fuji blowers.

Anyone care to shed some light?

[Marty989]

Well I've had the sparky come and put a dedicated circuit in. Also had a frame made up by the good guys at Metalink. Have started to work on the watercooling setup for the spindle.

First challenge was connecting the 4mm ID tubing to the pump. I ended up using the top of a pop up sprinkler and tapping it to fit a threaded barb joiner.

I'm hoping to only use a 5L bucket for the coolant. I'm not sure what flow rate the spindles require.

Slowly making progress

[kiwichris]

Hi Marty...

You stopped posting.. How's it going?

And, can I ask a more specific question...

What diameter are the X and Y supported rails?

Cheers, Chris H.

[Marty989]

Hi Chris,

I make the linear rails to have a 16mm diameter. Is that what you were chasing? No one showed much interest but I've done a few minor changes I might post up eventually.

[kiwichris]

Hi Chris,

I make the linear rails to have a 16mm diameter. Is that what you were chasing? No one showed much interest but I've done a few minor changes I might post up eventually.

Urro,

Yep, that is the measurement I was after... Been looking at build/buy options and making sense of supported rail load ratings is tough without examples to go on to adjust my assumptions. :-)

Without too much detail, what's your overall impression of the k6100 now you've had it for a while?

[Marty989]

I'm happy with it. I bought it for hobbyist use and of the cutting I've done so far I wouldn't say that I've pushed it. The DSP controller is ok. It really depends on what you want to do with the machine as depending on what you want to do, you may outgrow it very quickly. There's more and more interest from people buying from china. I've had a great experience with Quick and Taney. People just need to be aware of what they are purchasing, the machine will arrive dirty, there will be swarf everywhere and chances are it will require some tweaking. If you are willing to take it on and not expect any support (Although Taney does what he can) then by all means get one.

[kiwichris]

Hi...

I'm pretty realistic about what I'd be getting into I think, having seen the process of importing and then dealing with heavy Chinese machines at work. Far larger than a CNC router but with similar issues to what I've seen posted on the forums here.

I think it's fair to say that the machines are mechanically sound if you buy them from a good factory but the attention to finish quality is just not there, and sometimes the electronics/software is not up to expectations.

Can the 6100 run from a single phase OK? I've only got 15A 240V available in my workshop so I was really looking at the largest of the table-top machines from cncdiy (600x900), but the extra 100mm and the solid build of the K6100 is nice.

Might be time to flick Taney an email me thinks. :-)

[Marty989]

Runs off a 10 amp outlet. I had a dedicated circuit put in so I could run my vacuum pumps and vacuum at the same time.

[kiwichris]

Hi Marty...

How have you found the vacuum table?
(Aside from when you look at the top of the machine that is! )

Which way is the split done on the table? ie: 2 times 500x600 or 2 times 300x1000 ?

Are you holding down small/large bits?

I'm looking at nearly full-table dolls house bits from 5mm MDF, Balsa for model aircraft and the odd bit of acrylic which I imagine would be the easiest as it wont let the air through!

Just wondering what you're using as sacrificial on that when using vacuum, and if you're perforating the sacrificial at all?

Taney @ quickcnc suggested 3mm MDF would be normal, and holes would help. Just wondering what the real-world experience has been like.

Cheers, Chris H.

[Marty989]

We might need to make a consolidated K6100A thread Chris

To be honest I haven't used the vacuum table much at all. I just haven't done a lot of panel work. There are 4 vacuum points. there are around 30cm apart across the table and around 50cm along the table.

It is a very simple vacuum system there is no control like the larger tables there are just split into two sides, left and right and there is a pump for each.

I didn't receive any gaskets to help zone off the vacuum. I'm not sure how small you could go with it.

3mm mdf would probably be fine. You just need to surface it to remove the 'skin' to help with vacuum flow. I have 6mm on mine and have used 4 of the bolt holes used to secure the vacuum table down, to secure my MDF.

I also cut one of the side panel sheets off to allow much easier access to the underside. A new side panel that just bolts on will be going up when I get round to it. The pumps will be going on the board underneath as well to make it fully self contained.

[kiwichris]

Hi...

A K6100 thread sounds like a good plan. :-)

So how big are the pumps then? The pictures make em look quite chunky, but it's hard to tell really.... They also look quite heavy, but again I can't tell if the fan casing is metal or plastic.

And, other random thought, how noisy are the vacuum pumps?

So that screw you've got in the top sheet goes right through to the frame then? Or just through the phenolic (or whatever the vacuum table is made of...)

Hmmm, I assume you'd have to skin the MDF on both sides to make that work? Never worked with a vacuum table myself, only seen a larger one in use. I'm sure I'll figure it out pretty quickly. I think a fair bit of the stuff I'll be doing will be larger panel/sheet work.

I have read that you should tape the edges as you loose a lot of suck otherwise, but that's about the end of my knowledge right there. :-).

Cheers, Me.