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  1. #16
    Join Date
    Aug 2018
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    Eltham, Vic, Australia
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    55
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    Well after seeing the extent This Old Tony went to to build a stable CNC, that's out.

    I've been thinking about getting an optimum mill for around $2500 and then converting it to cnc using some nema34 motors.
    Also adding a ball screw conversion and coolant kit.

    The way I figure it will be 100x more stable than a Chinese diy cnc
    And half to a third of the price of q tormach. I know the tormach is heaps better but I think this might be good enough for my needs.

    Thoughts?

  2. #17
    jatt's Avatar
    jatt is offline Always within 10 paces from nearest stubby holder
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    Aug 2008
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    Always interesting to see what home workshop guys come up with.

    But I'm with
    caskwarrior --
    CNC is pretty much a pay to play kind of arena.
    Went to National Manufacturing Week this year at Jeff's Shed. Wasn't even game enough to ask the price on the stuff I was casually looking at....
    Frisky wife, happy life. ​Then I woke up. Oh well it was fun while it lasted.
    From an early age my father taught me to wear welding gloves . "Its not to protect your hands son, its to put out the fire when u set yourself alight".

  3. #18
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    Aug 2008
    Location
    Melbourne
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    34
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    Some awesome toys at NMW, very much a case of "if you have to ask, you can't afford it"
    Taiwanese machining centres can be had new under 100k, but once you move to Japanese/European I'd imagine starting prices are well into the 6-figure range for 3-axis, our DMG Mori 5-axis was a cool million bucks

  4. #19
    jatt's Avatar
    jatt is offline Always within 10 paces from nearest stubby holder
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    Taiwanese machining centres can be had new under 100k, but once you move to Japanese/European I'd imagine starting prices are well into the 6-figure range for 3-axis, our DMG Mori 5-axis was a cool million bucks
    Yep she sure adds up, espec when you start throwing tooling at it. That yellow thing in my signature block (not even a proper "CNC" by definition) was supposed to be a 6-figure commitment. Scaled down the table size from standard base model - shop space/$ issues to make it work in practice. Less than a year to go tho and its fully mine
    Frisky wife, happy life. ​Then I woke up. Oh well it was fun while it lasted.
    From an early age my father taught me to wear welding gloves . "Its not to protect your hands son, its to put out the fire when u set yourself alight".

  5. #20
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
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    Melbourne
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    34
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    This one looks like it has potential. Ball screws and prismatic rails on all axes and a decent amount of power https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCUPKkaWlVg

  6. #21
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
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    71
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    5,942

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    I bought a 6040 machine that had been upgraded by the owner, (an electrician) it was a plug and play situation. Only trouble is I plugged it in, but I can't play on it as though I was shown how, it happened that fast I'd forgotten most of it.
    So unless you're real savvy with CNC, it's a REAL learning climb, not a curve.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  7. #22
    Join Date
    Aug 2018
    Location
    Eltham, Vic, Australia
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    55
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    I'm assuming it's like 3d printing. Huge learning curve at the start then it kinda starts to click after a while. After you have learnt the same 10 things over and over they all suddenly stick and it starts to make sense.

    I'm assuming cnc is basically the same as the 3D design for 3d printing (except you're removing instead of adding)
    And it's a bit more important to keep in mind the order, direction and speed you remove stuff. Also multiple tools for the same item. (like having a bunch of different size filaments made of different stuff that you would mix together)

    Anyway, I'm sure it will be fun and rewarding.

  8. #23
    Join Date
    Aug 2018
    Location
    Eltham, Vic, Australia
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    55
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    So I've been looking at some of the chinese 6090 routers, which have a very solid build (Welded or cast frame, not extruded), and then I found an interesting thing...
    |
    A 6060 mold making machine.
    The work area is a little smaller than 6090, however the x axis is a moving bed and the head only movies Y and Z so it is very precise.

    It's also made for doing aluminium.

    https://www.alibaba.com/product-deta...075093578.html

    there are a bunch that look similar, but you will get the general idea from that.
    I'd also like to know, how do you find out who *MAKES* the thing. they all SAY they do, but clearly there is ONE factory who makes them and everyone does a re-badge.

    Anyone had any experience or thoughts on these particular cnc mills??

  9. #24
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
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    Melbourne
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    35
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    I don't think any usable mould would ever come off a router. That's just a straight up lie. You would really have to look at something like a datron.

    I have seen that cast iron router kits in roughly that size are available though.

  10. #25
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Toowoomba Qld
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    401

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    What are you planning to make ? What material and how big ?

    No point spending heaps on a machine that won't suit your needs in the end. If you are new to CNC and wanting something to play and not planning on hard materials might be best to get something cheap to cut your teeth. You are correct in that it's similar to 3D printing but it is a bit more involved. You need to pay a lot more attention to work holding, orientation, order of processes, ect ect. You also need to account for tooling costs, it's not buying a $20 roll of filament, it's the tool holders, milling cutters, special cutters for anything fancy you might wish to do.

    I have a Taig CNC which I have had for years, I'd hazard a guess it's as rigid if not more then the bigger routers. Would be heaps more rigid then like a 6040 CNC. I find that the small work envelope is a pain but I can normally work around it. The beauty of it is I have it inside the house in an enclosure, so you don't need workshop space for it so you still have space to buy some bigger, heavier machines.

    If you consider the DIY route check out David DeCaussin
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISzkthutKnA

    Marco Reps
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvqjIOG0fi0

  11. #26
    Join Date
    Nov 2019
    Location
    NE Victoria
    Age
    75
    Posts
    14

    Default CNC purchase

    Hi,
    I hunted around and found a DM3000 (Dyna Mechtronics) lathe that had been sitting in a warehouse for some 15 years, aparently they are ex Tech schools. I would think there are more around. Just have to keep looking and hope.

    They are programmed in basic (conversational programming) with 999 lines, which may not be enough but I have a friend that is very savvy with computers and he set up a program in a laptop, so now I can write in the laptop and send to the controller and back, works extremely well and saved the hassles of fitting different steppers and controller.
    Cheers

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