CNC with $500 budget? Possible?

[Gamble]

Is it possible to make a machine to do wood/foam/aluminum for around $500 with everything included (except software)?
Zen toolworks maybe? Any other budget kits out there? 7x7 would be good for a starting point for me. And I'm sure if I upgrade to 12x12 I won't need anything bigger than that.

[acondit]

Depends on how big and well stocked your junk box is.

Alan

[Gamble]

Any other recommendations?

[Dman65]

You might want to take a look at Solsylva 10x9. I am currently building this. The materials to build the structure, bearings, and leadscrews will run about $200 depending on what type of leadscrews you go with. You will have to add the motor and electronics to that. You can probably get everything for around $500. I have been building one for about three weekends now, but if you are at all good with wood working you would finish it faster than me.

[Gamble]

Cool however I SUCK with cutting wood. I can't make a straight cut to save my life. I gave away my table saw, not sure I'll get it back. I have a circular saw, jig saw and that is about it for the time being.

[Mountaincraft]

Originally Posted by Gamble Cool however I SUCK with cutting wood. I can't make a straight cut to save my life. I gave away my table saw, not sure I'll get it back. I have a circular saw, jig saw and that is about it for the time being.

Most of what needs to be cut for the solsylva plans can be done for you at your local home center when you buy the materials..

Once you get it operational, you can use the machine to make improved parts for itself...

[Gamble]

See my other thread. I started to build one out of metal, I'm just wondering if at this point I should just buy something like the zen toolworks. I feel it's going to cost the same in the end or I'll get to a part that I can't figure out how to build.

[vdoug]

i didnt document everything to a exact amount but this is what i got with softwear.plasma cutter.

cnc plasma $650 for driberif85 and cnczone good luck - YouTube

cnc plasma $650 for driberif85 and cnczone good luck - YouTube

here it is in action:

circlecut.wmv - YouTube

circlecut.wmv - YouTube

[louieatienza]

Maybe for wood and foam, but I don't know about aluminum. My original Solsylva 25 x 36 was able to cut aluminum, albeit rather slowly compared to how it should be cut. I think I spent over $600 initially, but upgraded the leadscrews and AB nuts and that tacked on another $200-250... What's nice about the Solsylva is that almost every cut is a straight crosscut (you can do this accurately with a circular saw and large speed square) and the manual has full size part templates that you can glue to your piece and cut out and drill.

Check out solsylva.com. My machine is actually in the gallery page, all the way at the bottom, along with a link to a YouTube video...

[Mountaincraft]

This site is chock full of really nice solsylva machines... The fact that once built and operational, users cut upgrade parts on the machine is what makes it ideal for the 'budget' build.. What some people end up with 'down the road' are some pretty nice machines for the money...

And when I was looking into it, I was very impressed with how much time the guy (Steve if I remember.. or was it Kieth.. wait.. I think it was Dave.. LOL) devoted to answering questions... considering that all he is getting is a few bucks for the plans.. that was pretty impressive to me...

[vtx1029]

Or maybe check out this http://www.cnczone.com/forums/diy-cn...ans_files.html

John's stuff is really nice. I have one of his A4 machines (had it way too long summer and vacations are getting in the way of my software savings plan )

Maybe he would sell you the parts you could not build. I know he sells the Z axis separately.

[Gamble]

Originally Posted by vtx1029 Or maybe check out this http://www.cnczone.com/forums/diy-cn...ans_files.html John's stuff is really nice. I have one of his A4 machines (had it way too long summer and vacations are getting in the way of my software savings plan ) Maybe he would sell you the parts you could not build. I know he sells the Z axis separately.

It's a nice kit, but doesn't come with the motors like the zen kit does. Also he doesn't recommend it for aluminum.