Review on the KT1414

[Anubisbot]

Hi, here is a new review on a Kt1414 router from k2.

I got the machine from ebay (from K2) and also ordered some upgrades.
Like the aluminum table top and the 5 inch Z axis. I also ordered the porter cable router. The electronics and motors i have got from kelinginc.com
And the as a main controller i use the smooth stepper USB controller

Shipping:
The shipping from K2 to Canada, was not nice and a lot of hassle.
350$ shipping is already agood price and the pack the router in a nice wooden box, what later can be used as a stand. The bad thing was, they use ups supply chain. And one morning i got a phone call from ups and they asked me if i had a broker ?????? No i am a private person i don't have a broker, so what can i do to get my router delivered ?? Answer: get a broker or drive 160 km down here to the air port and act as ure own broker. Great !!!

So after spending a lot of money in gas and my nerves i was a broker for a day.And cleared the box at customs.

So finally after another 2 days they delivered the router, since my car was to small to take it with me from the airport...

The setup went smooth and the router was running in about 4-5 hours.
My first notice was when i twisted the leadscews by hand with out the motors mounted, that the z axis makes some funny noise like cracking.

After all setup and wiring, i started to tune the motors in Mach3 and ended up with 35 inch/M as max speed all over that will cause the motor to stall.
But that s ok.

What i find relay disappointing is the unsupported Lead screw of the z axis,
and that the screw is almost to short and has bad marks on the end.
Oh and yes its not relay straight , while turning u can see that it has a bent in it.(I will contact K2 about that,and see what they have to say about that.)

The x and Y screws are fairly ok, but also not straight, but since they are supported on both sides , it does not matter so much.

The home switches on the x and y are ok, but the one on z was a nightmare.
When u move the axis higher than the switch, the screw what triggers the switch gets behind the switch leaver and on the way back down u can hear a funny noise??? It was the leaver from the switch what has got bend out off shape.

So now to the cutting resolutes, when cutting a wood square 2 inch i end up
with 2.016 with a 1/8 flat endmill with the brass adapter what K2 offers.
Thats a lot of run out. But the good thing is it is constant so when i cut aluminum 6061 T6 it is the same.

What would be nice to see on future models OF the K2 routers is limit switches, and a litle more detail on the lead screws.


Best regards
Anubisbot

[j9k]

@ your sizing problem you have to adjust your "pulses per inch" in the motor tuning. i'm using 9980 right now. i got it pretty close by just using a dial indicator.

and the un supported rails do suck but they do sell a more expensive machine with them.

good luck

[Anubisbot]

Follow up,
my motors are tuned fine,
since i only got the frame from K2 ,
i have on a 1/8 step mode with the 0.1 inch per turn 16000 steps per inch.
And that works fine. Now after playing around a bit more, i found that the
x axis rails are the biggest problem. 1 they should use instead of 16mm 20mm like they do on the y. Or better supported rails. The worst point is when i have the router in the middle position of the x axis, and then u plunge into the stock, and can see how the rails bent, and u get nice marks on ure work peaces
so u need to go with a lead in and out. And the x axis it self climes up,
when moving to the right. no its not the workpiece. i checked it , its the table top for 175$. Its relay frustrating when u try to engrave pictures.

But over all the machine is ok ,
but don't get it when u love perfection, like me.

And for metal work, i will get my self a Syil X4 Mill, they dont bent out of shape.

Best regards
Anubisbot

[ger21]

Screws are not perfect, they have some amount of lead error. You need to adjust the steps/unit to correct for any lead error.

[Anubisbot]

Screws are not perfect, they have some amount of lead error. You need to adjust the steps/unit to correct for any lead error.

I know, but thats not my problem,
on a cutting area from 12x12 inch, u dont feel so much of the screw errors.
But my screws have dents in them , and grind up the nut from the inside.

I hope they send me the replacement they offered.

Best regards
Anubisbot