Poor modeler cnc wood router

[zorglub]

hello here

Well, I am looking for a cnc wood router for a budget (<2000$)

I should have ideally everything included so I just can plug my computer and "edit" some dxf or dwg files. It should be possible to convert it to 220V, but it is not that important in fact.

I was wondering if it was possible to find such item on the market and maybe that some of you can help me

thank you

Frederic

[todd71]

For that price you may want to check out http://www.carvewright.com/
I dont know if it will read DXF/DWG files. There was a post sometime ago about a German router for like $1600 usd.
Pretty small table but, in my opinion, it looked like a better investment than the Carve wright. I'm sure if you look you can find it.
Good luck

[zorglub]

no, it doen't ead dxf dwg files

I did not find this german router, I checked at "german router" but search function did not lead me to something.. Any idea where I can get this info?

thank you

[todd71]

I looked around a little and didn't see it. Maybe Ger21 or some one else remembers. To be honest if I only had $1600 to spend I'd put off a machine till I had more money. "You cant shine a turd" Believe me, you'll just end up wanting a better machine anyway. Heck I'd try building my own before I'd buy anything I could get at that price. Just my jaded opinion.

Good luck,
Todd
www.innovative-accents.com

[zorglub]

Hello Todd, thank you for your input.

well, it is just to cut balsa for my scale models so if I get something pretty big, I won't need it

Anyway, maybe I will wait till I can afford a good machine. I've spent some time yesterday trying to find something but except the carvewright, I did not find something in my price range.

Bye

frederic

thank you

[harryn]

If you keep in mind that hit is a "hobby", not a "commerical venture", then perhaps other options are out there. Maybe you can find someone locally who would also like to have a cnc router and find a way to own it jointly. If my brothers lived nearby, that is what I would do for certain. You never know, maybe if you post some more detailed location info, there might be someone in your area that will "rent' some machine time to you.

[zorglub]

Hello Harryn,

Well that's sure, it would be much more economical to rent some time on a laser cutting machine than to buy a cnc router, but less comfortable in a way.

I am from la Reunion Island and "si nana un boug" reads me here he knows what to do.

Bye

frederic

[zorglub]

hello harryn

Well that's sure it would be more economical to rent some time on a laser cutting mahine than to buy a cnc router, but less comfortable in a way.

I am from la Reunion Island, and "si nana un boug" reads me here he knows what to do..

Bye

Frederic

[harryn]

Hi Frederic. One of the great things about Internet forums, is that I get to learn more about the world by seeing posts by people in places I am not familiar with. Of course, I had heard of Madagascar, but I am now pleased to say I read a bit about Reunion Island on wikipedia.

Coming back to your original question, how do you start down the path of getting a cnc router for less than $ 2,000 ? Many of us have this problem, and if I may say so, perhaps the answer lies more in "if you build it, they will come". More or less this means, if you get started on something, others will help you.

Depending on what you are going to do with your system, sometimes you can start with an X + Y home built system, leaving off the Z axis motion, at least the automatic motion. Over time, someone might want some work done and you can tell them that you could do it, if only they could help you buy the Z axis automation parts.

I personnally would try to make as much of it as I could with structural aluminum parts instead of wood or mdf. I have found that drilling and tapping aluminum was not really that different than working with wood. Going with steel is a more serious step for me at least.

Perhaps you can find help also from a local high school or university which might have a small machine shop and some volunteers.