newbie question - help is appreciated

[tarsier]

Hey Guys-

I am looking to buy a desktop cnc router to cut 1.5 mm lexan and wood up to 1 inch thick. The pieces will generally be pretty small. I was looking at a Roland EGX-600 engraver. Is an engraver the same as a cnc router? I was looking for something very easy and straightforward.

I have restrictions in terms of size, weight an noise. Also, to cut stuff that thin/small, I don't need a big machine.

Any help and/or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[DennisCNC]

I think this will a better deal for the money:
http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/9171

Here is thread about:
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38854

Just buy a nice high speed spindle for that router and you will have a quiet powerful machine.
The roland is a much lighter duty machine, and if some thing breaks it will cost a pretty penny to fix it, but with the other router the most expensive drive part is under $150. And you can use Mach3 software: http://www.artsoftcontrols.com/
It's simple and priced correctly. This is the machine controller I started with and if it wasn't for Mach I would not have started at all, this cnc stuff was intimidating me for a long time

[tarsier]

thanks Dennis-

I appreciate the answer. Would I have to put it together myself? How would I know which spindle to get and how to connect it? I really don't know much and was looking for something that is "plug and play". Are there any books or threads for "CNC for Dummies"?

Also, I get to Clearwater FL a couple of times a year, and I'm not a scientologist!

Thanks again,

Tarsier

[DennisCNC]

Originally Posted by tarsier thanks Dennis- Also, I get to Clearwater FL a couple of times a year, and I'm not a scientologist! Tarsier

There is plenty of them around here.

The CNC9000 router comes with everything you need except a computer, spindle and cnc software ($160).

The type of spindle will depend on what you will be doing with the machine most of the time?

Plus with this machine you will learn a lot and be able to fix it your self if you crash it in to some thing.
I'm just very DIY type so I encourage others