New hobbyist - Purchasing help - What would you buy with $5000AUD?

[joeavaerage]

Hi,

I just modelled the heavy C beam extrusion in Fusion 360 but didn't realise the FEA part is in the paid subscription part of the program

Is it? I know that if you have a large and/or complex model then you can buy compute time on the cloud, but all my models are simple enough to run on my PC.
I'm just trying to recall when I first started using FEA, before I paid the subscription....I think.....but I can't be sure. I wont say I use FEA regularly but whenever I'm designing a
part it is of immense value to illuminate those material and section constraints. You'd think its all obvious but until you've modeled and simulated it you just don't know.

Craig

[thommo17]

Hi,



Is it? I know that if you have a large and/or complex model then you can buy compute time on the cloud, but all my models are simple enough to run on my PC.
I'm just trying to recall when I first started using FEA, before I paid the subscription....I think.....but I can't be sure. I wont say I use FEA regularly but whenever I'm designing a
part it is of immense value to illuminate those material and section constraints. You'd think its all obvious but until you've modeled and simulated it you just don't know.

Craig

I bet it's very useful for production of parts and things and would save a lot of money on trial and error etc.

Maybe one day I'll need to pay for the subscription but for now I'll stay with the free version

[RCaffin]

C-Beams: basically, NO.
The trouble with C-beams is very basic: they have little strength against twist. And if they are weak in twist, that is what they will do in any CNC. And the shape can also distort even with simple bending, so they will do that too.

The difference in weight between a C-beam and a square box section is not great, but the difference in stiffness, against both bending and twisting, is large - very large.

Rolled steel C-beams are NOT meant for structural engineering.

Cheers
Roger

[thommo17]

Ok guys so here is what I've found in my searches for a machine.

Thanks for all your help along the way. I really appreciate it.

Model	Size	Work surface	Manufacturor	Price	Link	Shipping
Turbo	1500x1500	1300x1300x100	BlueCarve	$4,910.00	Facebook group	???
Lead CNC	1500x1500	1300x1270x200	Maker Store	$3,867.35	https://www.makerstore.com.au/product/kit-leadv3-cc	$0.00
WorkBee V3	1500x1500	1300x1320x110	Maker Store	$3,712.03	https://www.makerstore.com.au/product/kit-wbv3-cc	$0.00
Outback	1500x1500	1275x1315x135	Maker Store	$5,068.12	https://www.makerstore.com.au/product/kit-otbv1-cc	$0.00
PrintNC	1500x1500	1310x1270x133	ThreeDesign	$2,928.34	https://threedesign.store/metric-frame-size-calculator/#f1p0	$0.00
Scoot 2			Tetra Motion

As you can probably see the DIY PrintNC is much cheaper but comes at a cost of being DIY. Which I am happy to do.

PrintNC is also made from steel tubing so it should future proof my machine if I step up into cutting metals.

So I think that's what I'm going to try and make.

[RCaffin]

These are all routers, not true CNC machines. You get what you pay for, but if woodworking is your thing, then they should be OK.

PrintNC is also made from steel tubing so it should future proof my machine if I step up into cutting metals.
I am sure it will cut softwood and plastics reasonably well. Big area too.
If you go slowly it should also manage to cut soft aluminium with a 2 or 3 mm (sharp) cutter as well. Steel? Forget it.

I suspect that the makerstore aluminium frames will flex with anything harder than wood or plastic imho. But that is what they are made for (or for printing).

There is a reason why even small CNCs made for cutting metal use many hundreds of kilograms of frame.

Cheers
Roger

[thommo17]

If you go slowly it should also manage to cut soft aluminium with a 2 or 3 mm (sharp) cutter as well. Steel? Forget it.

Yeah I doubt steel will be easy but I don't really think I will ever be milling steel. Aluminium is probably my limit.

If I want to mill steel I will get a CNC mill instead.

But for wood, plastic and Alu I think I can get tolerances good enough for my hobbyist self with the PrintNC and have fun putting it all together

[RCaffin]

I think I can get tolerances good enough for my hobbyist self with the PrintNC and have fun putting it all together
I really am not trying to be critical. Really!
If you want to CNC wood and plastic, then go for it.
I suspect that at least half the fun will be in building your machine and getting it to work.

Cheers
Roger

[thommo17]

[I] I really am not trying to be critical. Really!

It's ok I didn't take it that way. You're just sharing your experience which is appreciated.
I just didn't want you to think I was hoping to have a machine that can make space shuttle parts lol

Yeah building things is definitely half the fun... and frustration!

[RCaffin]

Tell me about it!

I have just spent about 2 -3 weeks replacing the drive power supply for the spindle. The KBWT-26 it had died and the company was not forthcoming with help. The internal +15 V rail was reduced to 60 millivolts. They offered no help at all. I don't like companies which do not support their products.

So I bought a Chinese unit from ebay: 220 VDC, 10 A, ucpu-controlled, ... nice control over parameters, $60 + shipping. Very nice.

Cheers
Roger

[thommo17]

Model	Size	Work surface	Manufacturor	Price	Link	Shipping
Turbo	1500x1500	1300x1300x100	BlueCarve	$4,910.00	Facebook group	???
Lead CNC	1500x1500	1300x1270x200	Maker Store	$3,867.35	https://www.makerstore.com.au/product/kit-leadv3-cc	$0.00
WorkBee V3	1500x1500	1300x1320x110	Maker Store	$3,712.03	https://www.makerstore.com.au/product/kit-wbv3-cc	$0.00
Outback	1500x1500	1275x1315x135	Maker Store	$5,068.12	https://www.makerstore.com.au/product/kit-otbv1-cc	$0.00
PrintNC	1500x1500	1310x1270x133	ThreeDesign	$2,928.34	https://threedesign.store/metric-frame-size-calculator/#f1p0	$0.00
Scoot 2	1220x1670	1240x900x190	Tetra Motion	$4,750.00	https://www.facebook.com/ScootCNC/	???

Edited the table to include the Scoot 2 info