Thinking of getting a cheap CNC any suggestions?

[pappasmurfsharem]

These are what I am looking at.

Does anyone have any experience with any of them?

Many a Youtube vid on these ones and can't really decide.


http://www.shapeoko.com/
http://www.mydiycnc.com/complete_kit
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BRNAD-NEW-UPGRADE-3020-CNC-ROUTER-ENGRAVER-DRILLING-MILLING-MACHINE-/290874709578?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43b97bd64a

[defaced]

What is your planned use of this equipment?  That will single-handedly drive most of the requirements of the equipment. 

[Ice-9]

It all depends on what you want to use it for, I have looked into CNC milling before and the type of machine you are looking at won't be very good unless you just want to do a bit of engraving  (ie enclosure lettering). I also think that these machines require a com port or printer port  which unless you have a really old PC then you won't have the correct port. One of the links you suggest uses a usb so this could be an option.

[pappasmurfsharem]

What is your planned use of this equipment?  That will single-handedly drive most of the requirements of the equipment.  

PCB's and enclosure etching.

It all depends on what you want to use it for, I have looked into CNC milling before and the type of machine you are looking at won't be very good unless you just want to do a bit of engraving  (ie enclosure lettering). I also think that these machines require a com port or printer port  which unless you have a really old PC then you won't have the correct port. One of the links you suggest uses a usb so this could be an option.

Correct two of them require COM ports which I can get a $40 Pentium 4 at our local PC recycler. The Shapeoko uses an arduino controller for the usb to resolve any clock issues on newer machines.

Mainly PCBs and the odd enclosure detail. My Fiance may use it to make some jewelry from various woods or plastics

[Gurner]

Most cheap CNC machines are of the moving gantry type...fine for cutting wood/acrylic etc, but IMHO a bit too much vibration for milling fine trace PCBs. If you aren't wanting to mill metal, the the Zentoolworks is fixed gantry type....

http://zentoolworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=14&products_id=74

or even better watch out for a secondhand Sable 2015, which has a very rigid frame (all aluminium)

[pappasmurfsharem]

Most cheap CNC machines are of the moving gantry type...fine for cutting wood/acrylic etc, but IMHO a bit too much vibration for milling fine trace PCBs. If you aren't wanting to mill metal, the the Zentoolwroks is fixed gantry type....

http://zentoolworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=14&products_id=74

or even better watch out for a secondhand Sable 2015, which has a very rigid frame (all aluminium)

The Gantry on the MyDIYCNC seems to be solid.

Also It seems to do throughhole PCBs just fine. I don't intend on getting into SMD stuff anytime soon.

[Gurner]

The Gantry on the MyDIYCNC seems to be solid.

Also It seems to do throughhole PCBs just fine. I don't intend on getting into SMD stuff anytime soon.

Then that one should be fine.

[pappasmurfsharem]

The Gantry on the MyDIYCNC seems to be solid.

Also It seems to do throughhole PCBs just fine. I don't intend on getting into SMD stuff anytime soon.

Then that one should be fine.

Truthfully there are videos of all 3 doing PCBs with seemingly good quality.

I did not see the ZENWORK one, downside is having to assemble your own controller just the extra hassle. Although cheaper all around.

[Ice-9]

I think the time they would take to route a pcb would drive me mad, although the fact that I didn't have to manually drill the component holes would outway that, the other problem I would have with these types of CNC routers is that I doubt there accuracy would last very long, if you don't use it very often then this won't be a big problem but there very lego like in construction.

[pappasmurfsharem]

I think the time they would take to route a pcb would drive me mad, although the fact that I didn't have to manually drill the component holes would outway that, the other problem I would have with these types of CNC routers is that I doubt there accuracy would last very long, if you don't use it very often then this won't be a big problem but there very lego like in construction.

Most only seem to take 30 mins or so for a reasonable size board, not to bad. Enough time to make sanwhich, heat up the iron, drop a deuce.

[newperson]

Any suggestions on a CNC that would cut up to 1/8 aluminum panels for synth panel type work?  Would be looking to cut out all the holes for the knobs, jacks, sliders, ect, and maybe do the lettering/levels engraving.  

[artifus]

if just the occasional hobby project might be worth seeing if you have a local hackerspace: http://hackerspaces.org/wiki/List_of_Hacker_Spaces

*edit* or fablab: http://fab.cba.mit.edu/about/labs/

[bcalla]

if just the occasional hobby project might be worth seeing if you have a local hackerspace: http://hackerspaces.org/wiki/List_of_Hacker_Spaces

*edit* or fablab: http://fab.cba.mit.edu/about/labs/

Or this site:
http://themakermap.com/

[newperson]

I have been looking for a nice used whitney jensen 58 punch but they are around $800+ with die / punch sets.  Simple CNCs seem to be around the same price or less and have the possibility to do more with them.  I have seen a lot of DIY CNC kits also.  

[kodiakklub]

i said it before here and ill say it again...can someone smarter than me please mod a 1st gen makerbot with a drilling head for PCB etching please. you would make a mint selling those.

[pappasmurfsharem]

i said it before here and ill say it again...can someone smarter than me please mod a 1st gen makerbot with a drilling head for PCB etching please. you would make a mint selling those.

At a starting price of 2100$ those are in no way ...affordable

[Mac Walker]

The Gantry on the MyDIYCNC seems to be solid.

Also It seems to do throughhole PCBs just fine. I don't intend on getting into SMD stuff anytime soon.

I'm curious, the MyDIYCNC video shows @ 0:26 - "20 deg PCB bit"- I'm wondering if this type of bit would truly work to do a thru-hole board, I am wondering if you would have to go back and finish the hole on a drill press......

[pappasmurfsharem]

The Gantry on the MyDIYCNC seems to be solid.

Also It seems to do throughhole PCBs just fine. I don't intend on getting into SMD stuff anytime soon.

I'm curious, the MyDIYCNC video shows @ 0:26 - "20 deg PCB bit"- I'm wondering if this type of bit would truly work to do a thru-hole board, I am wondering if you would have to go back and finish the hole on a drill press......

The bit it's too carve the traces you switch to a small bit too do the holes in another pass

[pickdropper]

A buddy of mine has a dedicated PCB mill.  It was rather pricey ($10k, IIRC).

According to him, the reason that it works better for PCBs than a standard CNC mill is that it rides the surface of the copper clad, resulting in an even etch.  He was considerably less enthusiastic about etching PCBs on a standard CNC mill, but that doesn't mean it can't be done.

[pappasmurfsharem]

A buddy of mine has a dedicated PCB mill.  It was rather pricey ($10k, IIRC).

According to him, the reason that it works better for PCBs than a standard CNC mill is that it rides the surface of the copper clad, resulting in an even etch.  He was considerably less enthusiastic about etching PCBs on a standard CNC mill, but that doesn't mean it can't be done.

as long as you level your cutting area (just cut a large square out of some MDF) it should be solid results