[jhawk]

Hey everyone,

So a little background:
I’m currently shopping for a 2’x4’ CNC router. My purpose for the router is manufacture of electric guitars, so I’ll be cutting mainly hard/softwoods, plastics, and maybe occasionally some metal. Wanting an air-cooled spindle, probably 2.2kW or better.

My goal is to get up to producing 50-60 guitars a year, so I need a machine sturdy enough to handle such a workload. The machine won’t be running every day, but will get a fair amount of use.

The machine currently at the top of my list is the Avid CNC Pro4824 with the NEMA 34 and Avid

Now the actual point of my post:
I recently spotted an Avid CNC/CNC Router Parts machine on my local classifieds (actually 2hrs away). The machine is from 2015, single owner, light use. It has a Chinese 2.2kW Huanyang water cooled spindle, and a 4’x4’ bed. (I would likely change out the spindle for something air cooled, and collapse the machine down to a 2’x4’ bed, as space is a premium for me.)

Here are the listed specs for the machine:
-CNC Router Parts Pro 4848
-Pro cable track kit
-4x 960 oz. NEMA 34 motors
-Pepper I + Fuchs proximity limit switch kit
-2.2kW water cooled spindle w/inverter
-ER20 precision collet set
-Kent CNC dust shoe
-Spindle mount
-4x motor cables
-Ignus chainflex
-2.5”x2.5” steel tubing table
-Mach3 software license
-Triple edge finder
-2HP Harbor Freight dust collector w/hose
-Control system, including PMDX-126, PMDX-134, PMDX-107, and 4 Gecko G-203V drivers

Asking price is $6,300. Is there much that’s changed since 2015 regarding Avid’s machines? Other thoughts? Any insights are appreciated. I know relatively little about CNC at this point.

 

[difalkner]

Welcome to the forum! Fwiw, if the water cooled spindle is already set up I would use it until it fails and then switch to an air cooled spindle. I love our water cooled spindle - extremely quiet and very reliable. Now, if he's had issues with cooling or leaks or anything then yes, consider a change right away.

I'm not in the market and haven't checked around but the price doesn't seem out of line to me for that machine.

David

 

[RainMan 2.0]

I’m not sure which year it was ,but they used to have roller bearings prior to sourcing a company that could supply linear bearings that were cost effective.
Without a pic I don’t know what your getting , and to transition to linear bearings would be another expense .
In Canada the whole package come to just under 20K , but that’s with their spindle

 

[jhawk]

Here are a couple pics of the CNC machine in question:

66989ECD-9E0C-41A7-A053-AADBC47E2E37.jpeg

• jhawk
• Nov 1, 2020

C422D068-F743-42FC-ABEA-8B03F32B3067.jpeg

• jhawk
• Nov 1, 2020
• 1

 

[RainMan 2.0]

Looks like the old system to me with the V bearings . Can be upgraded at a later date if you want

 

[old55]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[jhawk]

Looks like the old system to me with the V bearings . Can be upgraded at a later date if you want

I see...well I’ll mull it over a bit. Do you know the cost for the linear bearings a la carte?

 

[RainMan 2.0]

I see...well I’ll mull it over a bit. Do you know the cost for the linear bearings a la carte?

Not really , but their not cheap . I’ve read that they make for a more stable machine , plus obviously their a lot less maintenance.
You can inquire and ask Avid about pricing . Their really nice people to deal with in my past experiences .
just make sure your sitting down

 

[jhawk]

Not really , but their not cheap . I’ve read that they make for a more stable machine , plus obviously their a lot less maintenance.
You can inquire and ask Avid about pricing . Their really nice people to deal with in my past experiences .
just make sure your sitting down

Haha well maybe I don’t want to call in that case! Actually, the listing has disappeared, so the router may have sold.

 

[ger21]

The new linear bearing Pro machines are far superior to the older V bearing models.
I'd expect the cost for linear bearings would be in the $1200-$1500 range, but I'd expect modifications to be required to switch over.

 

[jhawk]

The new linear bearing Pro machines are far superior to the older V bearing models.
I'd expect the cost for linear bearings would be in the $1200-$1500 range, but I'd expect modifications to be required to switch over.

Ah I see. I’ll keep that in mind if I come across another older machine. The cost of upgrading probably isn’t worth the trouble.