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  3. Best CNC for milling/routing wood?

Best CNC for milling/routing wood?

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  • N NeverDie

    @rfm69 Is this it?
    alt text

    Hmmm. That does look clever. I suppose one could scale it to use whatever bigger/stronger pipe might be needed to make it rigid enough. Pipe/tubing is usually plenty cheap, so I guess it might even be affordable.

    If needed, you could maybe even replace the plastic joinery with Kee Klamps or similar: https://www.simplifiedbuilding.com/pipe-fittings/kee-klamp

    When will you be done making yours? I'd love to hear how well you like it.

    RFM69R Offline
    RFM69R Offline
    RFM69
    wrote on last edited by
    #21

    @neverdie The same web site has a few other designs for larger machines.

    N 1 Reply Last reply
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    • RFM69R RFM69

      @neverdie They've already answered the concrete idea, many people consider that, but a simple center support I think solves the problem. They have nice forums over at the vicious.com link I shared.

      N Offline
      N Offline
      NeverDie
      Hero Member
      wrote on last edited by NeverDie
      #22

      @rfm69
      Ah, OK, that makes sense for the side supports:
      alt text
      The rods that move, though, remain unsupported, especially in the middle. What about those?

      RFM69R 1 Reply Last reply
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      • RFM69R RFM69

        @neverdie The same web site has a few other designs for larger machines.

        N Offline
        N Offline
        NeverDie
        Hero Member
        wrote on last edited by NeverDie
        #23

        @rfm69 said in Best CNC for milling/routing wood?:

        @neverdie The same web site has a few other designs for larger machines.

        Hmm.. That Low Rider MPCNC does looks interesting. They're using just two stainless steel tubes for that. Should be relatively cheap to make, and it can handle large formats. :)
        !alt text

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        • N NeverDie

          @rfm69
          Ah, OK, that makes sense for the side supports:
          alt text
          The rods that move, though, remain unsupported, especially in the middle. What about those?

          RFM69R Offline
          RFM69R Offline
          RFM69
          wrote on last edited by
          #24

          @neverdie Generally I get the feeling from reading other peoples experience that its a mistake to quickly make the machine too big because of rigidity. But people do make mods to address this issue or to add heavier spindles.

          Heres one mod i/d like to do link text

          But to change the size just need to get new pipes which even if you use SS they are they cheapest part.

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          • S Offline
            S Offline
            scalz
            Hardware Contributor
            wrote on last edited by scalz
            #25

            same here, a while I'm looking at the MPCNC. It's a nice and affordable project when you want to build a cnc.
            Unfortunately never jumped into, because I have different requirements, need something more "powerful" for my job, not only for wood or thin sheets.
            I don't think it's comparable with the others machine above (strength, speed, raw material that can be machined..). But if you don't need so much power, it might be pretty cool, you can make lot of things with it :)

            RFM69R N 2 Replies Last reply
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            • S scalz

              same here, a while I'm looking at the MPCNC. It's a nice and affordable project when you want to build a cnc.
              Unfortunately never jumped into, because I have different requirements, need something more "powerful" for my job, not only for wood or thin sheets.
              I don't think it's comparable with the others machine above (strength, speed, raw material that can be machined..). But if you don't need so much power, it might be pretty cool, you can make lot of things with it :)

              RFM69R Offline
              RFM69R Offline
              RFM69
              wrote on last edited by
              #26

              @scalz Agreed, It might be anough for me, but a good cheap learning platform :)

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              • S scalz

                same here, a while I'm looking at the MPCNC. It's a nice and affordable project when you want to build a cnc.
                Unfortunately never jumped into, because I have different requirements, need something more "powerful" for my job, not only for wood or thin sheets.
                I don't think it's comparable with the others machine above (strength, speed, raw material that can be machined..). But if you don't need so much power, it might be pretty cool, you can make lot of things with it :)

                N Offline
                N Offline
                NeverDie
                Hero Member
                wrote on last edited by
                #27

                @scalz Do you have a CNC? If so, which one did you pick?

                S 1 Reply Last reply
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                • N NeverDie

                  @scalz Do you have a CNC? If so, which one did you pick?

                  S Offline
                  S Offline
                  scalz
                  Hardware Contributor
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #28

                  @neverdie
                  no, I haven't yet. still studying :) because i'll built mine, custom I think (inspired from multiple builds), for my job I need stronger than mpcnc (so far asking local subcontractor when I need it).

                  if it would be for personal use, low cost, for soft materials, no speed concern, maybe I would pick the MPCNC as I already have a 3dprinter for printing parts (I think i've maybe just a few missing parts to build one though).

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                  • N Offline
                    N Offline
                    NeverDie
                    Hero Member
                    wrote on last edited by NeverDie
                    #29

                    This guy took a very different approach, yet he took deflection into account and has supported rails. For its size, it may be the least expensive:
                    https://www.ebay.com/itm/BobsCNC-E3-CNC-Router-Engraver-Kit-includes-the-DeWalt-DW660-Router/222859180982?epid=530593462&hash=item33e3713bb6:g:HjsAAOSwJvpalajY

                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-e2IVQUh1k

                    Also, the Y-axis is easily extensible:
                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k44hWAIadjc

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                    • B Offline
                      B Offline
                      bjornhallberg
                      Hero Member
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #30

                      Yes but can he do this? ;-)
                      https://youtu.be/Nz8k2MSAasI?t=47s

                      N Y RFM69R 3 Replies Last reply
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                      • B bjornhallberg

                        Yes but can he do this? ;-)
                        https://youtu.be/Nz8k2MSAasI?t=47s

                        N Offline
                        N Offline
                        NeverDie
                        Hero Member
                        wrote on last edited by NeverDie
                        #31

                        @bjornhallberg I'm sold! ... except I'm not, because they won't sell a kit to anyone in the United States. Go figure. I don't understand why.

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                        • B bjornhallberg

                          Yes but can he do this? ;-)
                          https://youtu.be/Nz8k2MSAasI?t=47s

                          Y Offline
                          Y Offline
                          Yveaux
                          Mod
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #32

                          @bjornhallberg said in Best CNC for milling/routing wood?:

                          Yes but can he do this?

                          Something tells me that machine needs some big red E-Stops...

                          http://yveaux.blogspot.nl

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                          • B bjornhallberg

                            Yes but can he do this? ;-)
                            https://youtu.be/Nz8k2MSAasI?t=47s

                            RFM69R Offline
                            RFM69R Offline
                            RFM69
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #33

                            @bjornhallberg Any estimate on the cost of mechanical parts ?

                            B 1 Reply Last reply
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                            • N Offline
                              N Offline
                              NeverDie
                              Hero Member
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #34
                              This post is deleted!
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                              • RFM69R RFM69

                                @bjornhallberg Any estimate on the cost of mechanical parts ?

                                B Offline
                                B Offline
                                bjornhallberg
                                Hero Member
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #35

                                @rfm69 I think the mechanical stuff is ~$1400 and then ~$600 for steppers and spindle and a few other things.

                                Of course the machine we're building at the makerspace is the biggest suggested model. Working area ~100x150cm with steel reinforced Y and X and with laser cut steel plates instead of aluminum. So I don't think he ever sold that as a kit internationally because of weight and size. A smaller machine would be much cheaper obviously.

                                @neverdie Yeah the guy behind the RawCNC has been a bit difficult. This is sort of his side project and he keeps changing his mind on how to proceed. He actually rolled back some of the features to make the machines lighter and easier to ship. But then he didn't sell internationally anyway. At least not for long.

                                RFM69R N 2 Replies Last reply
                                0
                                • B bjornhallberg

                                  @rfm69 I think the mechanical stuff is ~$1400 and then ~$600 for steppers and spindle and a few other things.

                                  Of course the machine we're building at the makerspace is the biggest suggested model. Working area ~100x150cm with steel reinforced Y and X and with laser cut steel plates instead of aluminum. So I don't think he ever sold that as a kit internationally because of weight and size. A smaller machine would be much cheaper obviously.

                                  @neverdie Yeah the guy behind the RawCNC has been a bit difficult. This is sort of his side project and he keeps changing his mind on how to proceed. He actually rolled back some of the features to make the machines lighter and easier to ship. But then he didn't sell internationally anyway. At least not for long.

                                  RFM69R Offline
                                  RFM69R Offline
                                  RFM69
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #36

                                  @bjornhallberg Thanks for the info, I got a bit frustrated trying to find this on the rawcnc website... i was in some loop, very frustrating.

                                  I'm going to learn with the mpcnc and then posisble upgrade if I can justify it, or feel more flush. But thanks for the info...

                                  This shipping costs, can be a big factor, so I do understand, but the openness and transparency or generally communicating well, which you don't get at all from most china suppliers, and some closer is just as important.

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                                  • B bjornhallberg

                                    @rfm69 I think the mechanical stuff is ~$1400 and then ~$600 for steppers and spindle and a few other things.

                                    Of course the machine we're building at the makerspace is the biggest suggested model. Working area ~100x150cm with steel reinforced Y and X and with laser cut steel plates instead of aluminum. So I don't think he ever sold that as a kit internationally because of weight and size. A smaller machine would be much cheaper obviously.

                                    @neverdie Yeah the guy behind the RawCNC has been a bit difficult. This is sort of his side project and he keeps changing his mind on how to proceed. He actually rolled back some of the features to make the machines lighter and easier to ship. But then he didn't sell internationally anyway. At least not for long.

                                    N Offline
                                    N Offline
                                    NeverDie
                                    Hero Member
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #37

                                    @bjornhallberg said in Best CNC for milling/routing wood?:

                                    I think the mechanical stuff is ~$1400 and then ~$600 for steppers and spindle and a few other things.

                                    Seems like a very good price for the rigidity and such a large format, at least compared to other offerings.

                                    1 Reply Last reply
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                                    • B bjornhallberg

                                      The MPCNC is a smart project but I would assume it would struggle with a bigger motor.

                                      The 2.2kW we are going to use weighs A LOT. Around 5kg at least I'd guess. The 1.5kW is not much better. With a smaller spindle, or router like a Kress things would be different. Still I'm glad to have the extra power, and standard ER20 collets up to 13mm. Plus these chinese spindles are really quiet compared to a regular router. And the speed can be set and spindle can be started from the control panel or from the computer. The downside is the low quality VFD I guess, but if it works it works. And you can always use shielded cables everywhere.

                                      Muhammad IbrahimM Offline
                                      Muhammad IbrahimM Offline
                                      Muhammad Ibrahim
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #38

                                      @bjornhallberg said in Best CNC for milling/routing wood?:

                                      The MPCNC is a smart project but I would assume it would struggle with a bigger motor.

                                      The 2.2kW we are going to use weighs A LOT. Around 5kg at least I'd guess. The 1.5kW is not much better. With a smaller spindle, or router like a Kress things would be different. Still I'm glad to have the extra power, and standard ER20 collets up to 13mm. Plus these chinese spindles are really quiet compared to a regular router. And the speed can be set and spindle can be started from the control panel or from the computer. The downside is the low quality VFD I guess, but if it works it works. And you can always use shielded cables everywhere.

                                      Thankyou for sharing. i was looking for best cnc router i got alot of information here

                                      N 1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • Muhammad IbrahimM Muhammad Ibrahim

                                        @bjornhallberg said in Best CNC for milling/routing wood?:

                                        The MPCNC is a smart project but I would assume it would struggle with a bigger motor.

                                        The 2.2kW we are going to use weighs A LOT. Around 5kg at least I'd guess. The 1.5kW is not much better. With a smaller spindle, or router like a Kress things would be different. Still I'm glad to have the extra power, and standard ER20 collets up to 13mm. Plus these chinese spindles are really quiet compared to a regular router. And the speed can be set and spindle can be started from the control panel or from the computer. The downside is the low quality VFD I guess, but if it works it works. And you can always use shielded cables everywhere.

                                        Thankyou for sharing. i was looking for best cnc router i got alot of information here

                                        N Offline
                                        N Offline
                                        NeverDie
                                        Hero Member
                                        wrote on last edited by NeverDie
                                        #39

                                        @Muhammad-Ibrahim I suggest you look into PrintNC, which didn't even exist 4 years ago when this thread began. I'm aware of a number of people who have recently "upgraded" (their words) from MPCNC to PrintNC.

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