Eyeball Engineering

[rob_b]

Cut2D is what I started with Have since moved on to more advanced software but even it isn't too hard to use.

One more note on Mach3. I've ran in excess of 260,000 lines of code though my mill in the last 3 days and only had one hiccup coming out of a tool change. I just restarted mach, homed the machine, and went back to cutting. Pretty impressive stability really.

[Duuuuuuuude]

Ordered the big 'ol cnc book and downloaded the trial of Cut2D. Drug all the old pc's out of the closet and none were worthy, so I'll have to hit up the Salvation Army in the coming weeks and see what they've got.

[BigSki]

Originally Posted by Duuuuuuuude

Purchase date is drawing nearer. Kinda comparing the Fireball and the Zenbot. FB is only a couple hundred more, has more usable travel (though that isn't super important), and faster rapids (also not super important). FB has lead screws, ZB has belts...

I'm also comparing routers. I could spend around $100 for a small one, or around $200 for a larger one. The larger ones seem to have a greater rpm range and can spin considerably slower. I would also think that their larger spindles and bearings would live longer than the small ones.

Leadscrews, hands down!!!!!

[Duuuuuuuude]

Been eyeballing this one, no major issues that I can find with it other than crappy cabling...

New CNC Router ENGRAVER Milling Machine Engraving Drilling 3 Axis 3040 Desktop | eBay

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Duuuuuuuude

Been eyeballing this one, no major issues that I can find with it other than crappy cabling...

New CNC Router ENGRAVER Milling Machine Engraving Drilling 3 Axis 3040 Desktop | eBay

I have the 3020, only difference is the tables smaller. From what I know and can see the only down side is the spindle speed. Its an upgrade I'm doing soon but its been working good sofar.

Check all your screws before trying to produce anything lol. Few of mine got forgotten by the kids putting it together.

[Duuuuuuuude]

The hardest I'm going to work it in the foreseeable future is cutting parts out of 1/8" aluminum plate. Working speed is not a huge factor, just having it do stuff with minimal involvement from me is what I'm after right now.

I really like the aluminum vs the mdf/pvc or hdpe construction of the FB and ZB units.

And yeah, upgrades are plentiful and will come in time.

[rob_b]

Glad to see you moving forward with this. It really is fun

Originally Posted by Duuuuuuuude

having it do stuff with minimal involvement from me

I wouldn't count on that for some time though... odds are that you are going to be hovering over the machine at all times until your process is bullet proof.

[Duuuuuuuude]

Oh I'm sure there will be lots of hovering...lol. Just looking forward to the time when I won't have to. Increased productivity ftw.

[Robbob]

Beats standing there with the shop vac ....... and the '*****' when you suck something up

[Duuuuuuuude]

Originally Posted by Robbob

I have the 3020, only difference is the tables smaller.

What are you cutting with yours? I kinda realized tonight that there isn't much z travel, which puts the kibosh on a thing I wanted to do with it.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Duuuuuuuude

What are you cutting with yours? I kinda realized tonight that there isn't much z travel, which puts the kibosh on a thing I wanted to do with it.

Just been cutting CF up to 3mm single sheets, dont trust stacking them. It will do it but Im still learning a lot and dont want to waste material. Ive cut .125 delrin also with no problems, nice and smooth.

[Duuuuuuuude]

Oooo...I didn't even think about cf.


I was hoping to cut wheel designs with it, or at least the faces. I guess I could choke up on the bit and keep wheel thickness down...

[Duuuuuuuude]

Happy Biiiiirthday to Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!




You know its high quality when it says so right on the packaging. How many M's are there? We may never know.



The included semi-freshly burned trial copy of Mach3 (you know, for "testing").



Lots more Z travel than indicated. 1.25" tall 2.2 wheel for scale and the spindle at full height...



And in case you feel like taking your machine work on the road, an international power adapter. Works in the US, Europe, and Australia. Super handy.



Overall its a surprisingly stiff and beastly little machine. Actually a bit bigger than I had imagined. Motion on all axes is nice and smooth with just a slight bit of slop on the x axis, and a noticeable amount on the z. I'll get some hard #'s when I start doing the actual setup. The table has got a pretty fair cup side to side, but nice and flat front to rear.

The pc that will be running it is on its way from Memphis, so I may actually see it by the weekend. At this point I'm planning to load up Ubuntu and try out all the free linux software first before plunking down $$$ on windows based stuff. In the mean time I've got limit switched to instal and a work station to build. Yeeha!

[Szczerba]

I liked the post and I am saying that I like the post.

[rob_b]

Yay! New machine day.

I would think your best bet is a low profile fixture mounted on a thin slab of aluminum. I'm planning something like this next time I make wheels. Scaled back to 4 at a time though.

[Duuuuuuuude]

Nice, I hadn't seen that. Definitely going to be some fixturing going on.

The spindle height really has me stoked. All the pics I had seen had it parked pretty low, and I wasn't entirely sure I'd be able to get much under it that wasn't relatively flat. This should expand my wheel design portfolio quite nicely.

[BigSki]

Nice machine ! Great to see you moving forward w/ new technologies.

[Duuuuuuuude]

One can only be so productive on manual machines. I could be a lot busier and profitable than I am now, but there just isn't enough time in the day. So yeah, cnc was inevitable if DCW achieved any kind of success at all.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Duuuuuuuude

The included semi-freshly burned trial copy of Mach3 (you know, for "testing").



Overall its a surprisingly stiff and beastly little machine. Actually a bit bigger than I had imagined. Motion on all axes is nice and smooth with just a slight bit of slop on the x axis, and a noticeable amount on the z. I'll get some hard #'s when I start doing the actual setup. The table has got a pretty fair cup side to side, but nice and flat front to rear.

The pc that will be running it is on its way from Memphis, so I may actually see it by the weekend. At this point I'm planning to load up Ubuntu and try out all the free linux software first before plunking down $$$ on windows based stuff. In the mean time I've got limit switched to instal and a work station to build. Yeeha!

Mine had X slop in it too - found it at the bearing cap behind the spindle.


If its the same 'demo' it seems like all the machines get then I think its limited to how many lines of code it will run. After to register it eventually.

[rob_b]

Mach3 is "free" if your programs are never going to be longer than 500 lines...