Questions on first CNC machine

[Rescue35]

I have wanted a CNC mill for a long time, as is evident by my registration date. I'm finaly close to makeing one. Just wanted some opinions of people who have been there already.

Budget is $1750.

Option A - is to buy an X2 and convert it using CNC Fusion kit (or other?) and electronics from Kelling. Basically following Hoss's website as a template. Thank you Hoss for such an informative resource.

Option B - is to convert my existing Round column mill/drill. The benifit is that I already have it plus the much larger table. I would want to retain manual use of it plus at this point I don't see myself CNCing anything outside of the 8"x4" that would fit on the X2, in the to near future.

I have dabled with Mach3 and EMC and at this point have no preferance of one over the other. As for computer comunications I will probably have to buy or build one to run the mill as I have 1 laptop with usb only and my work laptop has 1 DB9 conector.

I have been using HeeksCad/CAM for a while now and enjoy it.

Any pointers or opinions welcome. What would you do if you where starting out in CNC again?

[Fastest1]

What materials will you be cutting? How thick? How long do you want to wait for a part to finish? Do you have any machining experience? Manual or Cnc? Personally I wouldnt go the Sherline or Taig route. Both are operable machines with a lot of support, parts and satisfied customers. Having your round column mill could be converted (x & Y would be easy) Z would be a little more difficult but easily doable. There are some inherent issues with the round column but there are pros and cons to every set up. Go for as much travel and rigidity as you can start with or afford. Forget the manual use of a cnc machine. It simply is not necessary. It is a fear all of us had and most all of us are quite happy without it. You will be able to manipulate your machine accurately via a keyboard, an mpg or a simple game controller. Once you get a uniform cnc pass via MDI or a complete gcode you really wont want to use manual again. IMO

[Rescue35]

Acetyl, aluminum, and maybe mild steel. Speed is not an issue as long as it is faster than I could do it manually. It is more for hobby/proof of concept type work.

I do have manual machining experience but I have never used a CNC machine. Ultimately I think I will CNC a Sieg X2. If I out grow it later fine but I feel it will be easier to learn on plus I can keep my manual mill as is. It can be a dedicated CNC machine as well as a relatively inexpensive intro to CNC.

Thanks for the feedback.

[rewster]

+1 for the x2....I'm still amazed at what mine is continually capable of. Can't really beat it for the price. Never used EMC, but I'm more than happy with Mach3. If you can, I suggest picking up a cheap pc to dedicate to the machine; craigslist and freecycle are great resources for this.

[Fastest1]

Acetyl, aluminum, and maybe mild steel. Speed is not an issue as long as it is faster than I could do it manually. It is more for hobby/proof of concept type work.

I do have manual machining experience but I have never used a CNC machine. Ultimately I think I will CNC a Sieg X2. If I out grow it later fine but I feel it will be easier to learn on plus I can keep my manual mill as is. It can be a dedicated CNC machine as well as a relatively inexpensive intro to CNC.

Thanks for the feedback.

I think your choices would be great. Most people think or hope their first machine will be their last. In reality I think we learn more about what we want, where to get them cheaper and how to work on or modify them AFTER we get our first machine. It is a fun endeavor either way and the results of a successful codes run is still amazing to me. Enjoy. Glad to help if I can.

[pete from TN]

CNC your Round column mill. It is way more mill than the X2 and you already have it. There are ways around the round column issue and it is a much sturdier and smoother machine with the belt drive and higher HP already on board. There is another fellow on here who recently did just that and is making all sorts of cool stuff with it. I had one and wish I did not sell it but I had a knee mill and my RF45 CNC so I really did not need it anymore. Once you are cnc you will COMPLETELY forget about manual control. I Do not miss it EVER and use my mill as I would manually all of the time for little things real quick. Also IMHO the travels of a CNC are very important and having the much larger travels of the round column will come in handy A LOT!! Good luck and peace

Pete

[mavmike]

Not to hyjack the thread but what would be the price of the x2 with the cnc package on it ?

[photomankc]

Your material selection should be alright on the X2. But be aware that steel is not it's forte and you will have to work slow and easy in that material. Few X2's come without some improvement in the dovetails being needed and steel will quickly show-off any flaws in the machine.

Fastest1 is right. The 'don't know what you don't know' factor is there. Once you get started you can find it's not as useful as you thought, that it's amazing fun, or that you suddenly want to do something way outside the capability of what you have. It's hard to say exactly till you get started to. As long as you feel reasonably confident that small, softer material is your game the X2 should work for ya.

[Rescue35]

Thanks guys,

I think I will go with the X2 for now to minimze my buy in for this learning venture.

mavmike,

Here is what it looks like money wise for me.

HF Mini-Mill $530 ($599-20%+10%tax)
Keling electronics $615 shipped already, fast service
CNCfusion #2 kit $597 shipped (if I can get paypal to process my payment)

I have several computers and intend to use EMC2 so no cost for me there...yet. If needed another computer I guestimate would cost ~$400 and the Mach3 Licsensse is $150 last I checked.

To sum it up the machine will cost me $1742.

I could have saved about $150 on the electronics by skipping the G540 and about $200 on the mechanical if I had been willing to do the machine work myself. I chose to skip both since my shop time is limited by work and therefor very valuable to me.

[mavmike]

Thanks guys,

I think I will go with the X2 for now to minimze my buy in for this learning venture.

mavmike,

Here is what it looks like money wise for me.

HF Mini-Mill $530 ($599-20%+10%tax)
Keling electronics $615 shipped already, fast service
CNCfusion #2 kit $597 shipped (if I can get paypal to process my payment)

I have several computers and intend to use EMC2 so no cost for me there...yet. If needed another computer I guestimate would cost ~$400 and the Mach3 Licsensse is $150 last I checked.

To sum it up the machine will cost me $1742.

I could have saved about $150 on the electronics by skipping the G540 and about $200 on the mechanical if I had been willing to do the machine work myself. I chose to skip both since my shop time is limited by work and therefor very valuable to me.

Thanks for the info

[jeremy0203]

keling doesnt sell wiring so dont forget to add in wiring for your stepper motors. im bout to buy 50 ft of it for my g0704 for $100 from mcmaster.

[photomankc]

keling doesnt sell wiring so dont forget to add in wiring for your stepper motors. im bout to buy 50 ft of it for my g0704 for $100 from mcmaster.

Mother of God man, hit the phone book for local electrical / electronics supply places. I got 40ft of 4 conductor, 20ga, stranded, shielded wire with flexible jacket for something like $20. I mean if it's got some feature you gotta have then I guess you gotta have it but that's pretty dang pricy for wire.