Another CNC Router on EBAY

[Depdog]

I have ZERO experience in what to look for in a router. If any of the more experieced folks could please take a look at this guys designs and tell me if they think its a good built machine.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Complete-TurnKey...QQcmdZViewItem

Thanks and I appreciate it.

Glenn

[Redline]

It looks OK, but for the money you could build one a lot bigger.You could also make it faster and more rigid if you built it yourself. If you don't have any exprience the best way to get it is build one yourself. If you just want to start cutting right away and you don't care about spending money that would be a good starter machine.The reserve price seems high to me?What do you plan to make with your CNC, be it this one or another?

[Depdog]

I have no problems building it, I don't have funds to throw around. I am hesitant to build it because I don't want to make lots of costly mistakes. I also am not comfortable building one out of MDF because of the humidity around here. Not to mention I am looking for cutting table size of 24"x48" at least. 48"x48" would also work.

Mainly I will be using it to cut airplane kits out of 1/4" thick foam. But with 4"to 6" of z travel I can use it to make plugs for vacuum forming some parts as well as making some small signs, plaques to help offset the cost of the machine.

Any ideas, point me in as many directions as you think would help.

Thanks
Glenn

[Redline]

I think that machine would work for foam or maybe even balsa wood,but I do not think that z-axis is rigid enough to do pine or hardwood of any type.Check out www.k2cnc.com They have a few nice ones in the same price range (less computer). Foam cutting is not that demanding but cutting wood would be a little harder on a machine.My opinion does not count for much so maybe someone else will chime in soon.

[low_48]

I don't like the X axis linear bearing setup either. Those rods will have very little rigidity over 48". I'm sure almost any load will deflect them. An unsupported bar is not the design to go with.

[Treischl]

I just bought a small hobbyist type machine. I do woodworking. Whatever you do, do not buy a machine made out of HDPE (High Density Polyethylene). Someone made a point about the tool flexing when cutting hardwood. Yup, they were right on the money. I am in the process of returning the machine, which gets interesting in itself.

Being a very honest guy, with lots of experience in CNC machining I asked all the right questions before buying the machine. I was assured, hardwood? NO PROBLEM. . . if I want to take 1/32 depths of cut.

So, be careful with these side business type machines. I am getting the feeling a lot of guys who build these type of machines have not really tried them out on various materials to see what they will do.

Good luck!

[studysession]

I was thinking of thos shown on EBay. I have seen some sell for a lot and other not at all. Some have been made from MDF and others 8020.

It would be nice if you knew how much they actually invested vice what it sold for.

[Treischl]

This saga gets a bit worse. I returned the machine and they have not reimbursed my credit card yet. Won't answer phone, or email. Next step will be summoning them to court.

Anyway, since then, I have been designing a machine (years ago I designed CNC laser cutters, great big ones). I sorta know what I am doing. The machine is pretty well designed and to give you an idea:

Cutting area is 24 X 36 Gantry style machine
Double screws and motors on X - axis
Single screw on Y and Z
Bearing mounts for all screws from Precision Tech Machining
Couplers for all motors from Dumpster CNC
XYLOTEC motor and drive system (425 oz in)
V groove rollers for X and Y axis from IMService
Axis tracks are homebuilt from angle iron (for the v-groove rollers)
Z axis uses 3/4 inch steel shafting and bearings
Motor mounts are from aluminum rectangular tubing (3 X 3 X 3/16)

The rest of the machine is constructed from MDF.

I calculated all the costs and have come up with about $1100 total.

If I went to aluminum for all the other frame parts instead of MDF, I would add about $300 to the cost. I want the MDF to absorb vibration.

So, if you look at the above, and realize that I have put a LOT of stuff into this machine that is NOT on a lot of the machines you see on EBAY, it becomes apparent some of those guys are really making a nice profit. The ones built from 80/20 all sell in the 2800-4000 range. So they are making a good buck too.

As soon as the moron refunds my bucks, I will start building my machine.

Good luck to you!

[Zumba]

Treischl, who's the offender?

Someone asked about a Keling router awhile back. You can see my responses... http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31438

Fellow CNCZone member "meat" wasn't too happy with my bluntness, and may have purchased one of those machines despite my warnings. Oh well...

[pinemartin]

Hi all
new to this as it seems others are as well.
could anyone help i am looking at building my first cnc machine, but need 3axis ability. the cost is important. i want to router pictures and letters into wood around 1/4 of a inch. can anyone help or forward some plans or point me in the right direction. i am have autocad and can use it in 2d aswell as 3d
thanks

[Treischl]

Zumba,

Put it this way, a machine made out of HDPE, the whole thing, with two steel rods for the x, two for the y, you can pretty much figure it doesn't matter who built it, it is a toy, not a serious machine. The machine I bought came from the Ohio/Michigan area. It was not a Romaxx.

I am getting started building my own now, bought all the pieces. It was my first instinct and I should have stayed with it. As I told my wife, I sure as HECK can drill holes in HDPE, wire up some motors and switches and have a machine as bad as that one. I just got in a stupid hurry.

[pinemartin]

Saw a 3axis milling machine, made from a white thick plastic looked good. only the short cut is on my machine at work. but would still like some ideas or help for this novice