K2 KG3925 ordered

[sploo]

Hmmm... no posts here for a few days, so permit me to jump up and down excitedly and announce that I've just ordered a KG3925 from K2.

Many thanks to those that gave me their thoughts and info (TausCNC, Aksess and especially erik_m).

I expect delivery will be many weeks away (and I'm also looking forward to the inventive ways in which the shipping company will attempt to destroy it on its way to the UK).

I'll update as I know more...

[CNCRob]

Man, I was just thinking about how there hasn't been any post about K2 for a while. I was wondering what you guys that have the KG3925 with thier servo setup are setting your steps per inch at. My z-axis has been stalling out and I think I may be setting it to high. I emailed Ron last night but haven't herd back from him yet. Thanks in advance - Robbie

[sploo]

Originally Posted by CNCRob I was wondering what you guys that have the KG3925 with thier servo setup are setting your steps per inch at.

I've sent an email to a guy I know who's running one (with Mach 3) so I'll let you know if he gives me a figure.

EDIT: Provisional figure is 2000, but he will check when he starts the machine tonight.

[CNCRob]

Thanks sploo.

[carlnpa]

Rob
I'm setting my z at 10,000 with the acme screw set up and 250 encoder.
Carl

[CNCRob]

Thanks Carl, Mike from K2 wrote me back today and said pretty much the same thing "The silver ballscrews are 10160, the black ballscrews are 10000, and the leadscrews are 20000" So I beleive mine should be set at 10,000 also. I have it set for 10,500 now. He said the acceleration may be the problem. I may have it set to high. I was wondering what are some you you running the acceleration at? Thanks again- Robbie

[Geetar-ist]

sploo - did you get you machine yet ?
Im asking becase Im thinking of ordering one myself !

[sploo]

Hi Geetar-ist,

I'd just seen your "Buying advice for CNC noob" thread, and was about to post a reply on the subject of K2, but now that you're here...

It's now been about five weeks since I placed the order, and K2 haven't yet contacted me asking for the remainder of the payment. Given that the previous information on timelines I've seen from them indicates 4 or so weeks, I'm not too worried - and I've not been pressing them as I've been renovating my garage (new wiring, and hoping to get ducting for dust extraction in soon).

General impression of them so far is reasonably positive. You do have to prod them to get information, but it does come.

I'd been following their machines for quite a few months, as the earlier 3925 was generally well received, though there were some issues. Contact with a few different people who'd bought the updated design all resulted in positive opinions.

Software wise, I plan to use Mach3 for control, probably SheetCAM, and maybe MeshCAM. As for CAD, I'm not totally sure yet. I'd like to import into SheetCAM from 3d Studio MAX (as I'm familiar with it) but I've been having problems. I downloaded a free CAD package (A9CAD) but I don't really get along with it.

BTW Keep in mind that an order for something outside the EU will incur import duty and VAT. A considerable amount of time spent talking to UK Customs indicates that the suitable tariff code is 84659990, which is 2.7%, and listed as 'Machine tools for working wood, cork, bone, hard rubber, hard plastics or similar materials'.

My understanding is that Customs will take the machine+delivery cost, add 2.7%, then work out 17.5% of that value. E.g. 6000USD (machine) + 400USD (delivery) + 2.7% = 6572.8USD. Therefore 17.5% = 1150.24USD due in tax.

Hope that helps.

[sploo]

My KG3925 turned up yesterday, and the crate was in excellent condition - no damage as far as I could see.

It looks like everything is present, including a set of imperial allen keys (which is useful as I only have metric units).

Putting the machine together was pretty simple - the only issue of note being that a toothed washer on the eStop button was the wrong way up, so it wasn't sitting flat. Hardly a problem.

Having followed people's previous comments on receiving the earlier 3925 design, I can see that they've addressed a number of issues, and there's obviously been some real thought gone into the design.

The only problem I now have is that I was planning to run Mach3, but K2 only have config files for Mach2 (even though some are listed as Mach3 on their site).

Is anyone currently running the newer (2006) model 3925 and has done the setup for Mach3, or am I going to have to manually transfer the settings myself?

PS The attached pics don't show the control box (which I'd already removed from the crate, and is currently inside the cabinet).

[m!ni]

Very very nice sploo, it looks great !

[CNCRob]

Originally Posted by sploo The only problem I now have is that I was planning to run Mach3, but K2 only have config files for Mach2 (even though some are listed as Mach3 on their site).

Yeah I noticed that also. I found one for mach3(I can't remember where now) but I haven't had a chance to try it yet.

[sploo]

I was doing a bit of searching on the machsupport forum and found this link:

http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?board=7.0

However, if I compare the posted mach 2 config with the same supplied file from K2, there are a couple of strange values (odd limits, different pins) in the one at the above link. That makes me wonder if the same applies to the mach 3 version he's posted.

It may be irrelevant stuff, or it may be because he has the first generation 3925, but I'm slightly reluctant to use an unknown setup file on a new machine, as it'll be harder to locate any potential problems.

Not quite sure what to do right now... I might spend some time trying to copy the settings for the 2006 model KG3925 Mach 2 config into Mach 3 (I have Mach 2 on another PC, but not the one I've got connected to the machine).