Victor CNC Router - Is it any good at all?

[TurkishDelight]

I'm using a Victor CNC Router since 2004. The worktable size is 900x700mm. I couldn't find much information about it at the time I bought it. I bought it entirely for cutting and engraving on acrylic, but occasionally I'm cutting some MDF too.

Here are the links I just found with information about the machine:

Official Victor Website: CNC Router VR0907 – CNC Router - Wood CNC Router - Laser Cutting Machine - Nanjing Viccam Technology Enterprise Co. ,Ltd.

Some other seller: Victor VR900 CNC Router - CNC Machines, Cable Protector, Drilling Hose: Kutenich Ltd. (My machine looks exactly like this, since it's 8 years old now. The picture on the official website if of a newer model.)

I had my share of problems and solved most of them. The main problem was that I didn't know anything about cnc routers at the time I bought the machine. There was nobody to help either. Even the company that did import and sold the machine to me didn't know anything about the machine. We figured out ourselves that the cutting head was water cooled. I have to adjust the rpm manually on a turn-knob at the left part of the machine. The machine uses Casmate and Enroute for importing files, but it's control software is a custom made software that accepts only *.PLT files. The machine basically works like a 2D plotter. You only adjust the cutting speed and depth. Like I said, rpm is adjusted manually on the machine, which sucks.

People say it's a sturdy build machine, I agree. Other than that, the limit switches aren't working and it's easy to loose the "Starting Point". There's no cooling for the cutting blade (I don't know the correct name for it) and no suction for the shavings. And the worst part is that I can't run the machine on a operation system newer than Windows 98. There are no drivers for Windows XP. Yet I didn't contact the manufacturer in China yet.

So what do you think about the machine? Anybody used or heard of this brand before?

[TurkishDelight]

I did send their aftersales service an e-mail but they didn't respond. I didn't see their "Live Chat" being online once, so I'm kinda stuck. Is anybody in contact with them at the moment?

[alvyalvy]

why don't you just buy a 3rd party controller card like smoothstepper, rewire the machine and use mach3? its really not a daunting task. your limits are not working probably because i) they are smashed beyond workable, ii) your software is not configured correctly to recognise the limit switches or they are cabled wrongly. as for a unstable home referencing, change them to proximi induction sensors or optical ones, should be more stable and more accurate. i'm in the midst of changing mine. the rest of the auxillary services such as your vacumn table or mist sprayer can be hook up via relays and controlled by your controller card or simply just connect them to live supply and flick a switch to turn them on when you need them.

with a smooth stepper and mach3, you should be supported from xp to 7 and more since the developers are actively updating their products..

[TurkishDelight]

@ alvyalvy

Thanks for your suggestion, but I didn't understand most of the technical terms. However I did a short research on the net. Mach3 is a Control Software and it's price in Turkey is 175 USD. I'll probably have to buy a new PC too for Mach3 to work. You won't believe on what kind of junk I'm running the CNC Router. So say 500+ USD for that new PC too. Smooth Stepper's price is 155$ online for USA.
Sadly I don't have a vacuum table nor a mist sprayer (that one is to cool the cutting blade I assume). Since it's my first machine, it came kinda "naked". It seems like this upgrade might cost me 1000 USD+ . Actually I'll be glad if I can get a smooth working machine for that price. The problem is to find someone who has the sufficient technical knowledge to upgrade and rewire the machine. At least I know now that there is a possibility to make this machine work properly.

[alvyalvy]

mach3 is licensed based which means you can buy with credit card or paypal online. Get from :: CNC4PC :: iNtRo, it is slightly cheaper. As for wiring, as I've already dissected my machine in terms of wiring schematics, it is really very very simple. Assuming your machine is of operational condition, all your main components should be easily rewired to a new controller card, leaving the power cables intact. you need the controller card, a new psu capable to drive the controller card, if smooth stepper it would be 5v psu. Recable all the steppers' pul,dir,vcc and ena+- cables to the controller card shouldn't be a big problem. You need to figure out your limit switches connectivity, whether they are connected in parallel for Normally Open connection or in series for Normally close. Connection between your vfd and controller card involves the pwm connections and 2 relays for forward and reverse spin. You can skip the relay if you are not sure how to do it by simply connecting the forward port on the VFD to ground....i think this is too much details for you to digest. if you need more info, pm me.

[TurkishDelight]

I just got a buyer for the mentioned machine. He wants to machine metal and needs 3D machining. I told thim that with a new controller card and 3D capable control software like Mach3 it is possible. Any more suggestions regarding 3D machining?

[alvyalvy]

Not just mach3, you need a 3D CAD software and a CAM software. My work flow for 3D would be:

3D Studio Max ->Vectric Cut3D or Aspire -> mach3.

I've not performed any 3D projects yet but I went through the workflow of creating a 3D Mesh or Polyface and import into Vectric Aspire and generated the G-Code which was then imported into mach3. the toolpaths looked fine in mach3. won't know how it will work out until i start cutting.