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I'm looking for a CNC mill to do quite a number of things, mostly aluminum but some steel. I've used Solidworks before and sent things off to be 3D-prototyped elsewhere. I toyed with the demos of available CNC software (Bobcad, Mach3, meshcam). I think I will be doing a LOT with this machine.
I've browsed several makers (deepgroove1, Nick Carter) and eBay. Deepgroove seems like a better price (but I could easily be getting suckered not understanding exactly what is and is not included in what I'm buying) and I've heard they're not good after the sale, and since their company has no phone number and even bothers to point that out and make excuses that may indeed be the case. I've heard some mentions here and there that the best thing to do is put your own together. Actually I'm very good with microcontrollers and such so building my own someday is possible but I don't know enough about the specific task of CNC and g-code and interfacing with the available software to do this right now.
If I were to "put my own together", who all makes the motors, controllers, and motor mounts? Would I really end up better off?
I figure I need the 12" X-travel and the 1/4hp motor for sure and I assume if I want to run steel then the heavier steppers would be a good idea and ~280oz seems to be "heavy".
I see mention of "bronze leadscrews", is this something different than the standard Taig has and how important is it? The ER16 seems to be the modern collet design which would be something I want. I also don't want to wait weeks for a backlogged manufacturer. I keep seeing these controllers have parallel port interfaces, which seems bafflingly archaic to me. I have a printer port on my current laptop but new ones often don't have that, so USB sure would make sense (right now my laptop only has the slower USB1.1 however). There are USB-to-parallel-port bridges but this seems kinda wacky to have to deal with this for a new controller.
Anyhow, could anyone give me some advice on whether my assumptions of what I need are basically correct, and what a good plan might be for what I need to get and from whom?
What are you looking to spend on a machine? I have one and had purchased it from Deepgrove. I don't come to this forum a lot so if you want to talk just email me at jda3@cox.net and let me know what you are emailing me for and I will answer you.
Thank you,
Joe
Parallel ports are the standard on machines of this size. It is a cheap and reliable way to go. USB is not real-time and you must have the pulsing hardware on the controller if you want a machine that attaches like this. USB to parallel port adapters will not work.
Most people are wise to put a cheap older computer on the machine itself and use their laptop or newer desktop to do their CAD CAM work.
The parallel port is not at all archaic in this sense - in fact it is the only really appropriate and certainly the only purpose-built interface for CNC machine control.
It may be one of the oldest interface types around, as back in the seventies it was designed to drive the old line printers and teletypes. These items did not have the buffers and embedded processors of todays "smart" printers and accessories. They used stepper motors and relays and limit switches and were controlled directly from the host computer and therefore required interface in realtime. Sound familiar?
In a very real and literal sense teletypes were simple CNC machines. The parallel port was really originally designed for running CNC and if it didn't exist and we had to sit down today to design an interface specifically for CNC mills we would end up designing something virtually identical even now.
Parallel really is the right tool for the job in our case.
Let me tell you that I love my Taig. I bought from Cartertools and couldn't be happier. I bought the CNC Ready Taig from Nick, then later bought a separate cnc system (Steppers, Boards etc) I love my machine and would suggest you do the same. I found it very useful too do things myself, put the cnc together myself because you understand things better.
I love my machine and love the CNC.
-Jason
Well, help me out here with specifics; I'm already aware Taig is good. What separate CNC system did you get?Originally Posted by SpeedsCustom
Well, I bought a basic 3 axis system from Ebay, 300.00 This was a basic system. Keling 300 oz Steppers and the boards were designed by the seller. Because I want too keep my computer safe, I opted too buy from CNC4pc, a Multifunction Break Out Board, 124.00 this board is in the mail but it will control everything. Emergency stop, Limit/homeswitches, Coolant pump, Spindle. It does it all.
I run my Taig machine using EMC2, which I freaking love! It's so awesome and it's free too download, you would never think something like this would be good, but let me tell you, it's better then good!
-Speed
Alright! This is the kind of info I need!
Now help me out here in understanding this:
I see I can get a "CNC ready" 2019 with 1/4hp & ER16 for $941. The basic 3-axis system ran you $300. Did that hook straight on or did you need motor mounts? Because although once it's set up and I get a bit of skill I could surely MAKE motor mounts, but there's a chicken-and-egg problem here. And I'm doing "taig CNC" on eBay and not seeing any controller-with-steppers packages like this.
Deepgroove has a 4-axis 2019 machine which looks ready-to-go for $1500. This isn't all that much more, and I'm probably going to need a 4th axis one day. Am I missing something about what I'm getting as far as features and quality? The fact that a lot of people have used deepgroove gives me some degree of confidence. Well, limited confidence, people say he doesn't do a lot to service after the sale but I fear getting completely oddball equipment if I just order from the lowest price website I've never heard of. I can diagnose and fix simple electrical problems and replace stepper drivers if that comes up. I've seen on the board where people have had deepgroove machine problems but people were able to answer the question because they knew that specific hardware.
I'll certainly be having a look at that EMC2 software, though Linux may be a problem...
The CNCReady Taig from Nick already come with the stepper motor mounts. http://stores.ebay.com/HUBBARD-CNC-I...QQftidZ2QQtZkm
Here is the seller, E-mail him and ask him if he has anything for you, system wise.
I looked at the deepgroove, but there was something about it that made me stay away. I guess at once I did not want to spend 1500, so I bought from Nick and in a few months time, built my CNC machine.
Do not be afraid of EMC, Linux is very easy too use. Trust me. it's simple.
-Speed
Are those going to fit just about any of these CNC steppers I find?
EDIT: Also, the ER16 thing... what all collets do I really need? I'd like to start trolling eBay for some good mill deals soon... what actually will and will not fit the ER16?
Last edited by Oznog; 01-25-2008 at 11:27 PM.
Off the Top of my head, I don't know what the size goes up too on the Spindle. It's on Nick's site, but I would get better quality collets. Don't get the stock Taig ones.
Email Brent Hubbard, he will let you know what fits. Right now, the system I bought is not on there, but he may have some good stuff.
-Speed
Hey Oznog,
I just purchased a 2019 CNC Ready from Nick as well (received it 3 weeks ago).
I also went with a Xylotex 4th axis controller with (4) 269oz steppers. It only took me about an hour to attach the steppers to the motor mounts (taig included).
Considering I work for that little company that develops Windows, it would be frowned upon if I ran EMC2 on a Linux machine.
Therefore, I use Mach3 and absolutely love it!
The Xenotex controller works great; however, I wasn't completely satisfied with the components so I'm now building a custom controller with a Campbell design combo board that will allow me to use relays to control my spindle as well as a chip extractor. I'm also adding an electrical E-Stop and homing switches on all axis. It will also have the "Cool" factor like Loco's controller (very nice controller!).
Best of luck!
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