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Get a CNC router with a 2.2kW watercooled Variable speed spindle

Advice --- don't get an X carve

I agree.
Get a proper CNC router with a 2.2kW watercooled Variable speed spindle that will take 1/2" shank router bits. The X-carve use a std noisy 1/4" router.
A chinese made CNC machine is NOT very expensive.
I've got a Chinese made 6040 CNC and run Mach3.
I use a cheap CAM software called HEEKS CNC (US$10-20) with which I can do 3-D carvings with it.
CAM software can be very expensive and hard to learn. So I recommend the cheap MACH3's wizards add-ons to get 80% of your cutting or carving jobs done very quickly.

 

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I endorse Chinese CNC with qualifications

Wow, this is the first time I have seen someone endorse a Chinese product. I will look at the reviews, thanks.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

Hi
I wish to clarify why I endorse the Chinese CNC router. Price and Upgradability.
I've got one and I could tune it myself, add limit switches to it and get fairly good results without changing control boards. Many others however think that mechanical parts of Chinese CNC machines are OK but they prefer better electronics and upgraded with USA GECKO CNC control boards and drivers for better speed and performance. The Chinese mechanical parts and stepper-motors are reusable.
When you upgrade you will probably be happier. BUT you can learn or probably earn some income even with slower speed first. With the x-carve - you will be disappointed very soon.
MACH3 is American as are most CAM software. There is MACH4 but MACH3 has more users and free user support and the license permits commercial use. Mach4 commercial version is very expensive and the hobby version is OK but CRIPPLED.

I am actually still an IT consultant - computer reseller. I still custom build PCs every month for my customer who sells American made PlasmaCAM machines for metal working in Australia. They are much better than any Chinese machines and I won't recommend any Chinese Plasma Cutting machines.

 

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Maybe I don't push it very hard but in the last 18 months I have found no limitations in Mach4 Hobby. Works great for me.

David

Mach 4 Hobby US200 Mach4 Industrial US1,400 (Mach3 FULL $175)

The Following are ALL NO for the Hobby version..(Yes refers to Industrial (commercial version)
Tool Life Management (G10 L3 command) Yes
Screw Mapping Yes
Professional Screen Designer (advanced G.U.I.) Yes
- Screen Animation Control Yes
- Screen Integrated Tool Table Control Yes
- Screen Integrated Work Offset Control Yes
- Screen Integrated gcode editor Yes
- Screen Artsoft Wizard Package Integration Yes
Macro B gcode Programming (#variables) Yes
- User definable gcodes via marco calls Yes
- Macro Calls: G65, G66, G66.1 Yes
- gcode via marco call (custom G codes via macro B) Yes
- mcode via macro call (custom M codes via macro B) Yes
- mcode via sub code (custom M code via sup program) Yes
- Conditional gcodes Yes
- set VN call - define variable names Yes
gcode Editor Included

MACH3 also listed as not able to do those things but because MACH3 uses C++ and original MACH programmer taught and allowed others to extend Mach3, many people have been able to enhanced MACH3 in creative ways.
MACH 4 uses LUA script with limited API, so if it is NO, you can do nothing about it but pay for the Industrial (commercial) version.

 

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If you are happy -please don't be grieved

Ditto. Mach 4 hobby is not crippled, I’ve been using it for two years. Much better than Mach3 (but much smaller installed base).

Which of those industrial features do you actually use? They are mostly there so OEMs can customize it. You can write all the custom macros you want, you have access to far more inputs and outputs than most CNCs have. It is plenty for home CNCs.

Please correct me if I am wrong
I think you cannot use a Microsoft 360 games controller to jog x,y,z a axis with Mach4 (yet?)
I use a webcam for digitising. Possible with Mach4 hobby yet?
I have auto zeroing of Z-axis, x, Y using other users C++ codes written by others and shared. Possible with Mach4 yet?

Thanks for sharing your experiences. Mach3 users can always upgrade.

 

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If you have US$1500 what would you buy?
Arguing over Mach3 vs. Mach4 would be a digression.

I had mentioned mach3 because if you buy a Chinese 6040 or 9060 CNC machine with parallel port + USB to parallel port interface, you can start using Mach3 first.
The machine usually come with an EARLIER OEM version of MACH3 (winxp only) for free. Some call that a "pirate" copy, because that free bundled version can already run MORE than 500 lines of G-codes. It cannot support add-ons etc but to cut and route wood it works.
I consider that an "OEM version" just like you get a free limited Burner software when you buy a DVD Writer. If you want more functions you pay for an upgrade. That is the time you buy Mach4 (hobby).
But I chose to buy Mach3 + Mach3 integrated wizards add-on because at that time, Mach4 (hobby) did not have an integrated wizards-add-on. The NF wizard add-ons was only an external program outside of Mach4 (hobby).
Chose the largest router you can afford as long as the min. size is 60cm by 40Cm. I prefer the 2.2KW water cooled VFD drive that can take 1/2" router bits.
If you start without paying for Mach3 (YET), you already save about $200.
Learn and earn income with the machine then only you spend more to Upgrade Hardware and or software..
I think $1500 would be enough if you go for a 3 axis instead of 4 axis. If not try to a 2nd hand.
Find out
https://www.chinacnczone.com/en/3-axis-cnc-router_l66_1.html
Even US, Australian and other Universities buy those machines.

 

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Please do comparison of the specs

So do you reccommend these Chinese CNC machines over the X-carve?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

Please do comparison of the specs first. X-carve is for carving mainly.
Those CNC machines have height and more accuracy and can do more. You can even add a 4th axis and even make precision soft metal parts for YOUR OWN bigger CNC machines if you want to build one.
CNC is more than carving and sign making. If you learn Mach3 or Mach4 gcode programming, you can even mount a circular saw on a track to just cut straight. It would be even better than a table saw since the reference is the track and not just a fence.
Plasma, waterjet, laser systems all use the same G-CODE principle so you will be be learning how people cut metal, glass, marble, wood, cardboard, food TOO.

There are a lot of happy users of those machines on YOUTUBE. They bought them locally from US importers.

I had helped a church member import & installed a full-size CNC router from USA. It cost 30,000. His son is now still using it to make money making building materials. They also 2 large CNC lathes.

 

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I would not know where to start if I wanted to build one. Don't know how far I can get with $1500. I don't want to start. If I decide to build the machine and I end up running out of money I don't want to be stuck with half a machine.

Buy the first Machine.
You can build the 2nd machine (if you need or want too) ONLY after you have know how they work.

 

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Swap the x and Y axes

Here is a Chinese 6040 type machine, sold and supported by a US distributor. Not as cheap, but supported.
https://www.automationtechnologiesinc.com/products-page/cnc-router/3-axis-6040/

A tip..
I recommend buyers and users of the Chinese 6040 CNC machine to immediately Swap the x-axis with the y-axis.

The machine usually come as a 4060 rather than a 6040. The China people don't understand.
This means that the x-axis is shorter and the Y-axis LONGER
It is LESS useful that way.
If you swap the x-axis with the Y-axis, you now have a LONG x-axis about 580mm and the y-axis becomes 380mm.
Because the Gantry is narrow you can use then use an x-axis NOT limited to just 580mm.
With some planning you can make say a 12 FEET long hard wood sign for a school or company by routing 580mm of that 12 feet plank 580mm at a time, shifting your long plank 580mm to the left. Of course your plank need support so buy/make 2 or 3 height adjustable saw horses.

You can LEARN and EARN money with your small 6040 CNC machine this way.
Use you imagination..

 

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A tip..
I recommend buyers and users of the Chinese 6040 CNC machine to immediately Swap the x-axis with the y-axis.

The machine usually come as a 4060 rather than a 6040. The China people don't understand.
This means that the x-axis is shorter and the Y-axis LONGER
It is LESS useful that way.
If you swap the x-axis with the Y-axis, you now have a LONG x-axis about 580mm and the y-axis becomes 380mm.
Because the Gantry is narrow you can use then use an x-axis NOT limited to just 580mm.
With some planning you can make say a 12 FEET long hard wood sign for a school or company by routing 580mm of that 12 feet plank 580mm at a time, shifting your long plank 580mm to the left. Of course your plank need support so buy/make 2 or 3 height adjustable saw horses.

You can LEARN and EARN money with your small 6040 CNC machine this way.
Use you imagination..

Here is another e.g. of the benefit of a long x-axis
How about making a cooktop template for your handheld router with a long 1/2' bit and a 30mm guidebush out of hardboard or MDF or AL like this one.

 

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Going to have to disagree that you need to buy a machine before building a machine. My first CNC will be the CNC that I am currently building. To get the machine up and running, I will probably be pretty close to $1500, so that is a very reasonable budget for building a machine. The machine will also be a much more stout machine than equivalent sized machines that cost 2-3 times more. Also, the added benefit of building the machine is each step of the process I learn more and more about how the CNC will run.

What got me thinking about building my machine was I saw a couple machines that someone had built at a local woodworking show, and looking at it, decided that it was a feasible project. After doing some research, I got in touch with someone I knew who had successfully built a machine. He mentored me through the design process. Also between the him and the forums, I have found avenues to get questions answered as I have proceeded through the build. There is a wealth of information out there for those who want to try building a machine.

To me the biggest drawback is the time commitment. This is minimally a year long project. But then, the journey is what makes the project fun!

If you want to build your 1st machine it is praiseworthy aspiration.
My friend (an electrical engineer) built his own CNC mainly out of plywood after doing research on the internet and is very happy and proud of it. BUT, he complains to me that he had to run his CNC router slowly because his stepper motors are overheating.
On the other hand, I had been to the factory of MULTICAM company about 30 years ago soon after they first started as prospective customer. The owner had a large CNC router and with that FIRST CNC router he made all AL and Wood parts in-house for smaller CNC machines for sale made to order. Multicam also made steel stand in-HOUSE. Today Multicam is quite large and manufactures and exports MULTICAM CNC machines worldwide.

So Build or BUY it is up to you. It depend on what your first CNC machine going to be used for.