Newbie Ready to pull the trigger on a CNC router


Results 1 to 6 of 6

Thread: Ready to pull the trigger on a CNC router

  1. #1
    Registered
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    United States
    Posts
    2
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0

    Default Ready to pull the trigger on a CNC router

    I am an engineer and a woodworker, spending some of my work days in AutoCAD and Fusion360 already, it seems like the next logical step to bring a CNC router into my home shop.

    I am having a hard time narrowing down a direction to go and a budget that I should be searching for. The hobby shops have the $5-6k options pre-built and ready to go, but I feel like that must not be the best "bang for your buck"

    I have been looking at CNCrouterparts.com options and am having a hard time figuring out which direction to go. If I went with one from CNCrouterparts, I would probably go with a 4x4 table, but the price range from their standard to a fully loaded pro system can range from ~$4k to build it your self and do the wiring of the panel myself, to ~10k for a fully loaded NEMA 34 pro system.

    I hesitate to go lower end, other than the fact that I am very new to this, I work with a $1M 2 station 5 axis CNC at work so I feel like the interest is there...

    Anyone have any experience with being in this stage and any advice based on the direction they went?

    am I better off spending $3-4k on something like a shark or axiom machine and have something up and running out of the box to start?

    THANKS!!!

    Dan

    Similar Threads:


  2. #2
    Member ger21's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Shelby Township
    Posts
    35538
    Downloads
    1
    Uploads
    0

    Default Re: Ready to pull the trigger on a CNC router

    There's a night and day difference from a Shark to a CNCRP Pro machine.

    Doing the wiring yourself can save you a significant amount of money, at the expense of a significant amount of time.

    If money is a concern, I'd go for the CNCRP Pro machine, and source and build your own electronics, including motors, and spindle/VFD. You should be able to put a high quality electronics package together yourself for about $1500.

    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    [URL]http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html[/URL]

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    [URL]http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html[/URL]

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    [URL]http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html[/URL]

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)


  3. #3
    Registered
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    United States
    Posts
    2
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0

    Default Re: Ready to pull the trigger on a CNC router

    so if i am going to spend the money and jump in, is it even worth looking at the CNCRP standard kits?



  4. #4
    Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    655
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0

    Default Re: Ready to pull the trigger on a CNC router

    Take a look at the new centroid 'acorn' board for the controller too. I don't have one but I'm looking for an excuse to get one. My last (ie current) project is using Tinyg but the more I think about it, the more a web based interface is bugging me.

    An acorn board should fit your proposed machine well especially if you are used to working with industrial controls. As far as crp pro vs standard you are getting what you pay for. CNC's will depreciate but a better build will always sell a little more easily if needed down the road.

    In case anyone is wondering, I'm the twin of the other gfacer on cnczone...


  5. #5
    Member ger21's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Shelby Township
    Posts
    35538
    Downloads
    1
    Uploads
    0

    Default Re: Ready to pull the trigger on a CNC router

    Quote Originally Posted by uwpeng View Post
    so if i am going to spend the money and jump in, is it even worth looking at the CNCRP standard kits?
    If you can't afford the Pro, then yes. But the Pro is well worth the extra money.

    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    [URL]http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html[/URL]

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    [URL]http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html[/URL]

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    [URL]http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html[/URL]

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)


  6. #6
    Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    United States
    Posts
    236
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0

    Default Re: Ready to pull the trigger on a CNC router

    Sorry to reply on this thread so late, but I went through a similar debate when I decided to jump into CNC. The CNCRP machine looks really nice, but for very similar performance, look at the FineLine Automation Saturn machines. Their 2x4 machine is pretty economical and uses a very similar design to the CNCRP. The caveat is that you will need to do a few "mods" yourself to get things fully functional if you buy the lowest cost Saturn machine. (Drill and tap holes for spoil board, add spacers for the racks, move a couple of sensor locations.)

    I went pretty high-end on motors (Teknic ClearPath) and safety circuitry, but Gerry is right that you can build the electronics pretty inexpensively.

    -Robert



Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  


About CNCzone.com

    We are the largest and most active discussion forum for manufacturing industry. The site is 100% free to join and use, so join today!

Follow us on


Our Brands

Ready to pull the trigger on a CNC router

Ready to pull the trigger on a CNC router