UK CNC Guru required

[Drakkn]

Looking for help with cnc - total newbie with this stuff - so much to learn
I am in West yorkshire - even if you only have a machine I can look at it would be a great start for me.

[gridley51]

Are you building/retrofitting a machine or do you have a cnc machine that you need help programming?
Mark.

[Drakkn]

Hi Mark

I am in the early stages of my project - once the machine is built I have no idea about the cad or gcode side of things.

[gridley51]

You don`t say what you are cnc`ing or what control you are going to use.If it`s Mach I can put you in touch with a good guy I know who`s retrofitted a Boss Bridgeport with Mach and is now retrofitting an old Churchill lathe.He`s also quite good on cadcam.Send me a PM with your email address and I`ll put you in touch.
I mainly repair cnc`s and only programme enough to check that the repair I`ve done is ok.I am thinking of retrofitting a machine with either Mach or EMC but have concerns about closing the control loop.
Mark.

[Drakkn]

Hi my intention is to make guitars and also speaker cabinets,also I am doing the jrgo build.Will pm you with my details

[heathrow_b_line]

Hi

Sorry to add to the thread but i am also from the Uk [London] and would like someone local to help me through things. I wish to make a cnc capable of cutting up 8x4ft sheets of wood. I am a professional user of CAD, beginner at CAM.

Any advice would be greatfully recieved

[rickharris]

Originally Posted by heathrow_b_line Hi Sorry to add to the thread but i am also from the Uk [London] and would like someone local to help me through things. I wish to make a cnc capable of cutting up 8x4ft sheets of wood. I am a professional user of CAD, beginner at CAM. Any advice would be greatfully received

Although this is an American company perhaps it will help your problem.

Shopbot

Large CAM Router machines are in general VERY expensive in the UK although by and large they should cost little more then a much smaller machine as the control system is much the same.

[rickharris]

Originally Posted by Drakkn Hi my intention is to make guitars and also speaker cabinets,also I am doing the jrgo build.Will pm you with my details

If you have CAD experience have you thought of offering your services to a local school - They often these days have extensive CAD/CAM facilities up to and including Laser and Rapid prototyping machines but little CAD experience to fully utilise them.

Yes I am a teacher! WE have 2 CNC routers A3 in size, a CNC lathe and Mill as well as laser cutter. We use "2 and 3D CAD packages for our design work. Unfortunately for you in Lincolnshire.

Getting permission to work in schools can be hassel these days but may be a route to help you and them.
Even going in to look at the machines in use may help you.

On average a CNC router A2 costs about £10,000 with the software, the laser cutter about £14,000. The CNC lathe cost £14,000. Many schools trash their old CNC lathes because the cost of updating them is almost the same as buying a new one.

[Drakkn]

Hi - getting closer - have just moved to Barnsley - I have finished the cnc machine - will fit end mill which has just arrived and do some testing tomorrow.