Affordable CNC...

[Matt Clara]

I understand what's affordable will vary from person to person, but I'm trying to get the lay of the land, and here's what I see so far. As a personal "I might be able to slip this one past the wife" criteria I set $3500 as the ceiling. Feel free to add to the list, or chime in in any way you see fit (the dimensions listed are for travel):

• Modular CNC = $850+ 12 x 11 x 4.5
  S&H = $78
  Extras = electronics

• Carvewright = $1800 14 x ? x 5.5
  S&H = $79

• CNC Shark = $2500 13 x 24 x 4.5
  S&H = $45.95
  Extras = $100 trim router

• Mini Maxpath = $3000 18 x 22 x 6
  S&H = ?

• PCnC Automation = $3000 25 x 47 x 4.5
  S&H = $1 ?

• Sidewinder CNC = $3200 26 x 40 x 6
  S&H = $300
  Extras= $300 router

• Romaxx HS-1 = $2500 12.1 x 19.6 x 3
  S&H = $99
  Extras = router/trim router, software ($$)

[Daniel Johnson]

Great question! I posted the same basic question just now (I guess that'll teach me to walk away before clicking "Post" ).

Hope we get some good replies!

Dan

[james mcgrew]

i started with the carve wright and out grew it in six weeks cute but no long term recommendation here, i went on to larger gcode machines, ther are two new table tops coming from both camaster and shopbot and i expect we will see the shopbot in april and possibly the camaster near or before that. both of these machines are expected to run shy of 5.000 to start and with camasters industrial quality and shopbots hobbiest history they both will kick butt!!

there are places wher one can learn more about some of the other routers mentioned, but i like to try and keep it on the up and up here on the creek!!

oh an i still have the carve wright and soon i might just crank it up again

and actually the modular looks cool, too small but cool, you may also consider building a joes cnc!! he has a great plan and a strong following, i had the pleasure of meeting him in dallas and he is one heck of a nice fellow, an engineer who just created it!!


jim

[Gene Crain]

talkshopbot.com/forum/messages/11097/51173.html?1265917818 this could get you started...


Gene Crain
www.plantasymaderas.com

[James Leonard]

Here is an analysis I did on a 2' x 3' bolt together router table.

2' x 3' bolt together router on CNCZone
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73670

2' x 3' router kit mechanical parts - $1300.00
http://www.finelineautomation.com/store/show/FLA100-00

electronics - about $600.00
http://www.finelineautomation.com/st...NC+Electronics

router - Bosch Colt - about $100.00
http://www.amazon.com/Factory-Recond...4095909&sr=8-5

router mount - about $65.00
http://www.k2cnc.com/shop/products.asp?cat=31

Collets from PreciseBits - about $70.00
http://www.precisebits.com/gateways/ColletsNutsHome.htm

Router Bits from PreciseBits - varies

Software

Mach3 - about $170

CorelDRAW about $150 with a beginners class and a tutorial

DXFTool $59.95

Vectric Cut2D $149.00 (or SheetCAM $170)

Total = $2663.95

-James Leonard

[Matt Clara]

Here is an analysis I did on a 2' x 3' bolt together router table.

2' x 3' bolt together router on CNCZone
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73670

2' x 3' router kit mechanical parts - $1300.00
http://www.finelineautomation.com/store/show/FLA100-00

electronics - about $600.00
http://www.finelineautomation.com/st...NC+Electronics

router - Bosch Colt - about $100.00
http://www.amazon.com/Factory-Recond...4095909&sr=8-5

router mount - about $65.00
http://www.k2cnc.com/shop/products.asp?cat=31

Collets from PreciseBits - about $70.00
http://www.precisebits.com/gateways/ColletsNutsHome.htm

Router Bits from PreciseBits - varies

Software

Mach3 - about $170

CorelDRAW about $150 with a beginners class and a tutorial

DXFTool $59.95

Vectric Cut2D $149.00 (or SheetCAM $170)

Total = $2663.95

-James Leonard

Thanks--nice break down.

[james mcgrew]

camaster has finnished my 4x4 and sent these to me a few minutes ago, there is a buyer in GA looking at it and i just told them to tell him i am going to get it next week if it is not sold by them. machine is at 706 602 2500 ask for joey

jim

[John McClanahan]

I recommend skipping over the Carvewright machine. They "speak a different language" and for the most part have you locked into their hardware/software "system". Just my opinion.

John

[AL Ursich]

I recommend skipping over the Carvewright machine. They "speak a different language" and for the most part have you locked into their hardware/software "system". Just my opinion.

John

Snicker..... I have 4 of them.... Yes, limited, but able to make stuff to help my business. Someday I will have a real CNC.....

AL

[John McClanahan]

My main gripe with the Carvewright is that it doesn't work with CAD/CAM programs like other CNC machines do. If you start with a Carvewright, then move to something else, you have to learn a new "language".

John

[AL Ursich]

Good Point... I started with nothing.... A Shop Bot was 3 years or more into my future of my business... Started with one new and the other 3 I got broken for about $500.00 each. I am a Mr. Fix it... Retired Navy Analog and Digital Tech plus 8 Years with Sony in CRT production with Fanuc Robots and Factory Automation. Then Fixing Play Stations, DVD's and Tivo's.

My format is limited to 11.25 wide 99% of the time so the CW is a fit. I visited Guy Mathews last summer as he is just up the Road and WOW what a SHOP.... So I know what I am missing....

I do Wine Racks, Small Name Signs, and the Fire Dept stuff so it fits my needs. I am doing art for 8 small signs today and will heat the wood shop tomorrow to cut them.

Anyone who is planning to do bigger signs and projects is better off skipping the CW... It has serous limitations when you are thinking Production. It is a Hobby Grade machine.... It has a length limit of about 10 feet.... More about weight limit due to the small servo moving the board in the X Direction and backlash... For me a 1 x 12 Pine 10 feet is taxing the servo system. I try to work with shorter boards.

With the direction my business is going I may never be a big sigh maker like I had thought, it's more like Fire Dept Products. I make the Accountability Tags too, cutting the blanks with the CW too on a carrier board.

The Designer Software is a Hobby Grade Version as it is easy to learn and use. With a .75 inch carving depth it has limitations. LHR has released STL for the machine and it can do layers and look at the Kids section where they make Drag Cars using a jig and rotating the project to do 2 or 4 sides.

There is talk of LHR releasing the Designer Software to run something like the Buddy or something bigger. I have not been following that so I am not sure of the truth in that.

So my opinion too is if you are doing it as a business do it with a main stream machine.... LHR can void your warranty if you use it for business.... I blew thought the first 200 hours and warranty in a short time and they do not warrant the second owner no matter what the Hours it has.

Good Luck,

AL

Here is another post on CW / CNC

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=113760

[Matt Clara]

(I added a couple new ones to the list, including the Romaxx and several Zenbot models--if I could have simply updated the original post, I would have.)

I understand what's affordable will vary from person to person, but I'm trying to get the lay of the land, and here's what I see so far. As a personal "I might be able to slip this one past the wife" criteria I set $3500 as the ceiling. Feel free to add to the list, or chime in in any way you see fit (the dimensions listed are for travel):

• Modular CNC = $850+ 12 x 11 x 4.5
  S&H = $78
  Extras = electronics
  
  
• Zenbot Mini CNC = $1010 6 x 8 x 2.75 (price includes dremel)
  S&H = $48.92 (to Michigan)
  
  
• Zenbot 1216 = $1250 12 x 16 x 4
  S&H = $58.08 (to Michigan)
  Bosch Colt = $100
  
  
• Zenbot 1624 = $1650 16 x 24 x 4
  S&H = $84.36 (to Michigan)
  Bosch Colt = $100

• Carvewright = $1800 14 x ? x 5.5
  S&H = $79
  
  
• Zenbot 2424 = $2050 24 x 24 x 4
  S&H = $102.15 (to Michigan)
  Bosch Colt = $100

• CNC Shark = $2500 13 x 24 x 4.5
  S&H = $45.95
  Extras = $100 trim router

• Mini Maxpath = $3000 18 x 22 x 6
  S&H = ?

• PCnC Automation = $3000 25 x 47 x 4.5
  S&H = $1 ?

• Sidewinder CNC = $3200 26 x 40 x 6
  S&H = $300
  Extras= $300 router

• Romaxx HS-1 = $2500 12.1 x 19.6 x 3
  S&H = $99
  Extras = router/trim router, software ($$)

[Jerre Griffin]

I realize you are trying to sneak under 3500 for the start, but with tooling software and accessories you will easily double the 3500 in a very short time.

Jerre

[Bob Savage]

I realize you are trying to sneak under 3500 for the start, but with tooling software and accessories you will easily double the 3500 in a very short time.

Jerre

I can attest to this, having recently entered the CNC router arena. I always allow about 30% over what I think I'll spend after doing my research, but putting this shop together has spanked me and is going to keep spanking as far as I can tell. Granted, there's a lot of "want" involved, but as I jump into new projects I find I need more tools.

[Matt Clara]

I realize you are trying to sneak under 3500 for the start, but with tooling software and accessories you will easily double the 3500 in a very short time.

Jerre

The Zenbot 1624 comes with everything, including Mach 3, for less than $2000. I have a Bosch Colt. What else do I need?