JGRO Budgeting

[Sawcnc]

I am trying to convince a local art center to let me build a CNC router. I want to use the JGRO design with a cutting area of 4'x8' and an aluminum cutting table. Motor type, router software etc will be determined later. My first step is to give them idea of the cost. After some moderate searching I have found parts lists but I have not found actual budgets. I would like to present the board with some real numbers that other people have spent on their projects.

Can I get some links to budgets?

Additionally, I have looked at the blackToe CNC router kit and was wondering if there are any other kits out there that people could recommend.

Of course I will also create my own CNC diary if I get approval to move ahead.

Thanks

[kmacht]

I think you are going the wrong way with the JGRO design if you want to stretch it to 4x8. I just finished a slighty stretched JGRO (cutting area of 2x3) and with the unsupported rails I have some flex. I have plans to fix it but they wouldn't make sense on a machine much larger than this one. Over 8' I suspect that the bending of the pipes would make the machine very inaccurate. You also have worry alot more about leadscrew whip and racking when you go longer.

For budget I spent about $150 on wood and pipe, and angle. I spent $300 on motors and controller, I spent another $100 on bolts, nuts, lead screws, and bearings. There is probably another $50 in other things I am forgetting about. So that puts my cost around $600. If you want to upscale the machine your costs will be exponential. The difference between a 6' acme lead screw and a 10' one is quite a bit. If you want a full 8' cutting area you will have to make the machine longer than 8' since the distance between the router tip and the back side of the gantry limits your travel. The JGRO is a great machine if you build and use it within its limits. If I were you I would look into a joes hybrid machine. It would be much easier to upscale to 8' long and fixes some of the shortcomings of the JGRO.

Keith

[Sawcnc]

kmacht, I am truly a newbie. Thanks for the advice and the numbers. A smaller CNC is not out of the question but if Joe's Hybrid is in the same price realm, it may be the way to go. Thanks

I would also like to say thanks to dbprojects who also gave me his budget and some great advice.

[MrWild]

Joe's hybrid is exponentially more expensive. 80/20 aluminum is far more expensive than wood. It also benefits from better motors and controllers. You would most likely do well with a Joe2006. These can be made for around 1,200. Double this for a hybrid.

[Sawcnc]

Thanks for all the advice. If I can keep the budget under $5,000 for everything, including computer and software, I am pretty sure I can convince them to do the project.