New to the CNC world
Hello,
I'm a small time mfg of electronic components for emergency vehicles. I'm in dire need for help selecting a small CNC routing machine to route notches on plastic boxes for production. At most, it would be on two axis, total work surface no more than 12" in both directions. Can anyone help me select / buy a machine for me? I'd love to have a setup where I can clamp down a piece, press "start" and it'll route two notches per box, then repeat.
Sean
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Re: New to the CNC world
Well a 3 axis 6040 CNC will suit your needs, if you can post the exact measurements of your desired material you want to produce, I can post it back here the codes for it, all you have to do is bolt the material, Zero the spindle, load the code then start, and do it all over again a million times hehe just joking, I just need what bit size you want to use then I`ll post it her sir
Re: New to the CNC world
KHOUJ -
Wow, that is very kind of you! The link for the boxes I will be routing (specifically, notching) is below. It's likely quite simple with just two axis to deal with (X & Y). Bit size is 3/16" with the ability to round the corners to avoid sharp ends. Image below is the board I'm fitting in the box. As you can see, the barrier strip is blocked. Hope this gives you a good idea. If you're asking for the X & Y dimensions of the cut, I'm not sure how I can get that info properly.
https://www.polycase.com/bf-060210
Re: New to the CNC world
By just looking at your sample picture, are you referring to this cover? can you post a detailed measurements on what you want for the dimensions? if it`s so small I think the 1/8 bit is more suitable for the job so that you`ll have a smaller rounded edges, 3/16 will have a gap on the edges that the insects (ants) can go through.
It won't be in an environment with ants and what-not. No cover will be used. It's automotive. I can get the exact dimensions soon but ballpark is around 10mm x 60mm for one notch and 10mm x 100mm for the other. I have another homemade notching setup for another that I use by hand and it's 3/16" itself and thought I'd keep it consistent. I'd imagine that a single pass is all that's needed.
I looked at the 6040's. Is that the size of the work area? I wish I could find a book or take a class about this stuff. I find it fascinating.
Re: New to the CNC world
Originally Posted by Aquamoose
Yes it`s 60 cm by 40 cm in measurement of the work area, if by chance you want to use an acrylic plastic I think the laser machine is more faster creating your project but a bit pricey compared to a more compact CNC router, It can be done with a single pass but just create tabs on it so that it wont come flying when the cut cycle is almost done, happens to me all the time few years back hehe, now im more clever cutting things
About your project maybe just draw it by hand with detailed measurements, take a pic on it and post it here, let me do the rest. a small ruler can do the trick in measuring your desired measurements
Re: New to the CNC world
My two notches... one is 10mm deep, 50mm wide, second notch 10mm deep (again), 58mm wide. I'd like to have the top corners "rounded" out to prevent scratching hands, etc.Yes it`s 60 cm by 40 cm in measurement of the work area, if by chance you want to use an acrylic plastic I think the laser machine is more faster creating your project but a bit pricey compared to a more compact CNC router, It can be done with a single pass but just create tabs on it so that it wont come flying when the cut cycle is almost done, happens to me all the time few years back hehe, now im more clever cutting things
About your project maybe just draw it by hand with detailed measurements, take a pic on it and post it here, let me do the rest. a small ruler can do the trick in measuring your desired measurements
I plan to utilize a vacuum setup to suction up the shavings & tabs. I can also make a jig to hold the work in place either flat on the surface using X & Z axis (or is it Y & Z axis?) or on its side using X & Y axis.
If I get this setup done, I'd like to play around with it, maybe use it for engraving. Of course, I'd have to learn about the programming. I just hope it's super easy for me. :-/
Re: New to the CNC world
I should add...
The "yellow" part is the area to be notched. The electronics will be encapsulated, covering the lower board and leaving just the through-hole components visible.
Re: New to the CNC world
Got it sir, I got the measurements I needed, I cant do anything right now because im here at the cnc shop, no internet, only my phone, i'll get back on this when im home
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Re: New to the CNC world
Oh no problem! Thank you!Got it sir, I got the measurements I needed, I cant do anything right now because im here at the cnc shop, no internet, only my phone, i'll get back on this when im home
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Re: New to the CNC world
Is this what you mean on your notch?
Re: New to the CNC world
This will be your table placement, secure it with table clamps. I made it two passes so that it wont be too aggressive.
Here`s the code
Code:( T3 : 4.76 )G21 G90 G91.1 G64 G40 G0 Z3.0 ( T3 : 3.0 ) T3 M6 ( Notch 1 ) G17 M3 S1000 G0 X0.0 Y0.0 G0 Z1.0 G1 F1600.0 Z-1.2 G1 X0.161 Y-0.5407 G1 X0.366 Y-1.0662 G1 X0.6138 Y-1.573 G1 X0.9026 Y-2.0576 G1 X1.2304 Y-2.5167 G1 X1.5949 Y-2.9472 G1 X1.9938 Y-3.3461 G1 X2.4243 Y-3.7107 G1 X2.8834 Y-4.0385 G1 X3.368 Y-4.3273 G1 X3.8748 Y-4.575 G1 X4.4004 Y-4.7801 G1 X4.5459 Y-4.8234 G1 X4.941 Y-4.941 G1 X5.5889 Y-5.0769 G1 X6.4213 Y-5.1459 G1 X9.7623 G1 X9.788 Y-53.703 G1 X6.5262 G1 X6.0601 Y-53.7223 G1 X5.5003 Y-53.7921 G1 X4.9482 Y-53.9079 G1 X4.5517 Y-54.0259 G1 X4.4075 Y-54.0688 G1 X3.882 Y-54.2739 G1 X3.3752 Y-54.5216 G1 X2.8906 Y-54.8104 G1 X2.4315 Y-55.1382 G1 X2.001 Y-55.5028 G1 X1.6021 Y-55.9017 G1 X1.2375 Y-56.3322 G1 X0.9097 Y-56.7913 G1 X0.621 Y-57.2759 G1 X0.3732 Y-57.7827 G1 X0.1681 Y-58.3082 G1 X0.0072 Y-58.8489 ( Notch 1 ) S1000 G1 Z-2.4 G1 X0.1681 Y-58.3082 G1 X0.3732 Y-57.7827 G1 X0.621 Y-57.2759 G1 X0.9097 Y-56.7913 G1 X1.2375 Y-56.3322 G1 X1.6021 Y-55.9017 G1 X2.001 Y-55.5028 G1 X2.4315 Y-55.1382 G1 X2.8906 Y-54.8104 G1 X3.3752 Y-54.5216 G1 X3.882 Y-54.2739 G1 X4.4075 Y-54.0688 G1 X4.5517 Y-54.0259 G1 X4.9482 Y-53.9079 G1 X5.5003 Y-53.7921 G1 X6.0601 Y-53.7223 G1 X6.5262 Y-53.703 G1 X9.788 G1 X9.7623 Y-5.1459 G1 X6.4213 G1 X5.5889 Y-5.0769 G1 X4.941 Y-4.941 G1 X4.5459 Y-4.8234 G1 X4.4004 Y-4.7801 G1 X3.8748 Y-4.575 G1 X3.368 Y-4.3273 G1 X2.8834 Y-4.0385 G1 X2.4243 Y-3.7107 G1 X1.9938 Y-3.3461 G1 X1.5949 Y-2.9472 G1 X1.2304 Y-2.5167 G1 X0.9026 Y-2.0576 G1 X0.6138 Y-1.573 G1 X0.366 Y-1.0662 G1 X0.161 Y-0.5407 G1 X0.0 Y0.0 ( Notch 2 ) S1000 G0 Z3.0 G0 Y-95.5909 G0 Z1.0 G1 Z-1.2 G1 X0.161 Y-96.0595 G1 X0.366 Y-96.5149 G1 X0.6138 Y-96.9542 G1 X0.9026 Y-97.3742 G1 X1.2304 Y-97.7721 G1 X1.5949 Y-98.1452 G1 X1.9938 Y-98.4909 G1 X2.4243 Y-98.8069 G1 X2.8834 Y-99.091 G1 X3.368 Y-99.3413 G1 X3.8748 Y-99.556 G1 X4.4004 Y-99.7337 G1 X4.5459 Y-99.7713 G1 X4.941 Y-99.8733 G1 X5.5889 Y-99.991 G1 X6.4213 Y-100.0508 G1 X9.7623 G1 X9.788 Y-142.1352 G1 X6.5262 G1 X6.0601 Y-142.1519 G1 X5.5003 Y-142.2124 G1 X4.9482 Y-142.3127 G1 X4.5517 Y-142.415 G1 X4.4075 Y-142.4522 G1 X3.882 Y-142.63 G1 X3.3752 Y-142.8447 G1 X2.8906 Y-143.095 G1 X2.4315 Y-143.3791 G1 X2.001 Y-143.6951 G1 X1.6021 Y-144.0408 G1 X1.2375 Y-144.4139 G1 X0.9097 Y-144.8118 G1 X0.621 Y-145.2318 G1 X0.3732 Y-145.671 G1 X0.1681 Y-146.1265 G1 X0.0072 Y-146.5951 ( Notch 2 ) S1000 G1 Z-2.4 G1 X0.1681 Y-146.1265 G1 X0.3732 Y-145.671 G1 X0.621 Y-145.2318 G1 X0.9097 Y-144.8118 G1 X1.2375 Y-144.4139 G1 X1.6021 Y-144.0408 G1 X2.001 Y-143.6951 G1 X2.4315 Y-143.3791 G1 X2.8906 Y-143.095 G1 X3.3752 Y-142.8447 G1 X3.882 Y-142.63 G1 X4.4075 Y-142.4522 G1 X4.5517 Y-142.415 G1 X4.9482 Y-142.3127 G1 X5.5003 Y-142.2124 G1 X6.0601 Y-142.1519 G1 X6.5262 Y-142.1352 G1 X9.788 G1 X9.7623 Y-100.0508 G1 X6.4213 G1 X5.5889 Y-99.991 G1 X4.941 Y-99.8733 G1 X4.5459 Y-99.7713 G1 X4.4004 Y-99.7337 G1 X3.8748 Y-99.556 G1 X3.368 Y-99.3413 G1 X2.8834 Y-99.091 G1 X2.4243 Y-98.8069 G1 X1.9938 Y-98.4909 G1 X1.5949 Y-98.1452 G1 X1.2304 Y-97.7721 G1 X0.9026 Y-97.3742 G1 X0.6138 Y-96.9542 G1 X0.366 Y-96.5149 G1 X0.161 Y-96.0595 G1 X0.0 Y-95.5909 G0 Z10.0 G0 X0 Y0 G0 Z0 M5 M30
Re: New to the CNC world
Yes! Exactly!!! You're gifted! Even the top radius to avoid sharp corners is perfect!
By the way, thought I should tell you the spacing between the notches and from the sides... from inside corner, left side to right... 10mm, 35mm between the two notches, and 3mm from the right side. (156mm total)
Now I just have to find a budget setup for this... I'd imagine that it'll need a computer to operate it? Type of program?
Re: New to the CNC world
Hello,
I was trying to build a prototype that can make a Bernoulli spiral using paint. I want to use servo with encoders and I want to buy a plug and run set with a coding and path generator software. Anyone has any suggestions where to start and where to buy the parts?
Thanks,
MN
Re: New to the CNC world
The cheapest CNC I think that would do your looping notches is this >>> https://www.ebay.com/p/DIY-CNC-Route...d=302292473345
https://www.ebay.com/p/DIY-CNC-Route...d=302292473345
Yes you need a PC to control it, an old HP pavilion will do the job perfectly. you just need to construct a custom bracket to hold your plastic.
Re: New to the CNC world
As for the software you can try UCCNC as recommended by my boss here or MACH3, either of the two.
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Re: New to the CNC world
Hi,
So you want a CNC machine to cut notches in a box over and over again for mass production?
Is there any other purpose why you might want a cnc machine?
How many boxes do you need to cut? These boxes are made of plastic right?
The reason I'm asking is that I'd first consider making a jig and using a hand held router. You don't need a CNC machine to do this. It would probably be quicker with a jig even for one at a time work.
If you have 1000's of these boxes to cut, then a jig that holds many boxes on the table of a CNC machine that would go from box to box cutting the notches, with 20 boxes loaded at once, perhaps yes, I could see that being worth while.
Re: New to the CNC world
I think there`s a lot of things he can do on a CNC machine, not just notching plastics, like for example he got lazy etching his PCB on his product, he can simply load the unetched PCB (single sided or double sided) then start engraving the foil paths on it, then change tool bit into drill bit to drill thru the holes, it take the job easier with precision, engrave a LOGO on his final product things like that
Re: New to the CNC world
(gah, lost my previous comments)
NIC 77 - Yes, mass production. All plastic boxes. That's primarily what I'd like to use it for. Maybe later, it will be used to do other similar projects, making notches, holes, etc.
KHOUJ - I have a spare computer I can use for this. What's the minimum operating requirements? I clicked on the software and it wasn't valid. :-/
I also saw that ebay link. I'm concerned about the ability to change bits in the motorhead. Are there alternatives available if I can't buy regular replacement pieces from my local home improvement stores? I've seen cnc machines with brackets to put your own corded Dremel in it... worthwhile?
a dual core pentium would be all right, as long as there's an LPT1 port, dont buy the usb version, it'll give you headaches in the future, as for the bit on the router, you can even use a sharpened 1/8 concrete nail on cutting plastics, it uses a standard 1/8 collet, you can buy a separate 3/16 & 1/4 collets if you want to use larger bits, yuo can buy any cnc you want as long as it's a parallel port so that it will last to you a very long time
