Help picking out a CNC Machine
August 26, 2012 6:37 AM Subscribe
Looking for advice on purchasing a CNC machine. I know there are a lot of crafty people on here and thought this might be a good place to ask.
I've been looking at a lot of the DYI kits and with some help from a friend I think it is possible to utilize one of these. The problem is that there are so many different kinds its hard to narrow down which would produce what I need.
I'm making trays to hold gaming miniatures. Right now I'm using a Zund router but that is way outside my price range. I'm boring holes out of closed cell pvc, each hole is 20mm, 30mm, or 50mm. The hole has to be pretty tight to that to keep the miniature secure.
Any suggestions or sage advice would be wonderful.
I've been looking at a lot of the DYI kits and with some help from a friend I think it is possible to utilize one of these. The problem is that there are so many different kinds its hard to narrow down which would produce what I need.
I'm making trays to hold gaming miniatures. Right now I'm using a Zund router but that is way outside my price range. I'm boring holes out of closed cell pvc, each hole is 20mm, 30mm, or 50mm. The hole has to be pretty tight to that to keep the miniature secure.
Any suggestions or sage advice would be wonderful.
I would suggest that if just a high-end router is outside of your price range, then a CNC machine is for sure going to be out of your price range. Since a CNC machine is a high-end router connected to a bunch of other expensive stuff.
posted by gjc at 8:39 AM on August 26, 2012
posted by gjc at 8:39 AM on August 26, 2012
There are a gadzillion DIY CNC routers you can build along with inexpensive kits. Here's why I built a Solsylva 25x25-inch router from plans.
Also, there better places to ask your question. You might want to start at CNCzone.com
posted by 14580 at 9:01 AM on August 26, 2012 [2 favorites]
Also, there better places to ask your question. You might want to start at CNCzone.com
posted by 14580 at 9:01 AM on August 26, 2012 [2 favorites]
I could swear that Wired magazine had a collection of cheap hobbyiest CNC machines a few issues ago. Unfortunately, I'm not finding it online right now. Anybody else remember seeing that?
posted by scottatdrake at 9:40 AM on August 26, 2012
posted by scottatdrake at 9:40 AM on August 26, 2012
oops, *hobbyist
posted by scottatdrake at 9:43 AM on August 26, 2012
posted by scottatdrake at 9:43 AM on August 26, 2012
Response by poster: How many trays are you making a day? The sheet material comes in 4'x8' sheets, probably 2-3 sheets a week.
What are your finances like, and how much space do you have in your workspace? I'm thinking of starting a kickstarter for this, so that is really the question, how much is it going to cost? Ideally I'd like a 4x4 machine to save space.
What are your fabrication skills and tooling like? I'd rather have a kit then do everything myself, but my buddy has a full woodshop. Router, tablesaw, bandsaw, etc.
Would you want to use the tool in the future to do larger pieces? A big yes. I'm hoping the tray business can pay for the machine and I can find new products to make.
posted by Astalon at 9:51 AM on August 26, 2012
What are your finances like, and how much space do you have in your workspace? I'm thinking of starting a kickstarter for this, so that is really the question, how much is it going to cost? Ideally I'd like a 4x4 machine to save space.
What are your fabrication skills and tooling like? I'd rather have a kit then do everything myself, but my buddy has a full woodshop. Router, tablesaw, bandsaw, etc.
Would you want to use the tool in the future to do larger pieces? A big yes. I'm hoping the tray business can pay for the machine and I can find new products to make.
posted by Astalon at 9:51 AM on August 26, 2012
Hobbyist CNC tends to become a hobby in itself in addition to whatever it is you're manufacturing. There's a lot of tweaking and fiddling and keeping up with forums and trying out modifications to your machine. If this interests you, then great; but know that it's not really plug-and-play.
(As an aside, I wonder if the tray-making would be better served by having a set of punches / cookiecutters made that cut out the specific holes you need?)
posted by hattifattener at 1:24 PM on August 26, 2012
(As an aside, I wonder if the tray-making would be better served by having a set of punches / cookiecutters made that cut out the specific holes you need?)
posted by hattifattener at 1:24 PM on August 26, 2012
Do you need the holes to go to a certain depth, or can they go all the way through the material? You might be able to more cheaply have the parts laser cut instead of milled if it is ok to have a through hole. This won't work with PVC (the "C" means that chlorine gas will be released as it burns, which is bad for lasers and their human operators), but there are many other materials that work well on laser cutters.
posted by autopilot at 2:15 PM on August 26, 2012
posted by autopilot at 2:15 PM on August 26, 2012
Response by poster: The problem with a cookiecutter is that the material is 1/2in thick and has a step. The holes are .3625 and .25 inches deep and a large card slot that is .3625 deep.
posted by Astalon at 2:18 PM on August 26, 2012
posted by Astalon at 2:18 PM on August 26, 2012
What is your REAL problem?
Is it achieving your machining goals or optimizing a function these holes are intended to provide?
Your extremely brief description of what you are attempting suggests you might benefit from a punch and some inserts. From a stacked laminate. From revisions in the gaming pieces that transfer the function from the holder to the piece. Maybe a stepped drill?
Many ways to address a problem other than looking for the solution you have pre-identified.
At the end of the day, the single most important factor is volume. It drives the economics of all solutions, in my experience. For one in a row (a joke!), it doesn't matter what method you choose. For 1,000,000 a day, it does. You are seeking the optimum mix of non-recurring effort and recurring effort.
The benefit of re-examining the problem is almost always a very valuable exercise.
posted by FauxScot at 8:23 PM on August 26, 2012
Is it achieving your machining goals or optimizing a function these holes are intended to provide?
Your extremely brief description of what you are attempting suggests you might benefit from a punch and some inserts. From a stacked laminate. From revisions in the gaming pieces that transfer the function from the holder to the piece. Maybe a stepped drill?
Many ways to address a problem other than looking for the solution you have pre-identified.
At the end of the day, the single most important factor is volume. It drives the economics of all solutions, in my experience. For one in a row (a joke!), it doesn't matter what method you choose. For 1,000,000 a day, it does. You are seeking the optimum mix of non-recurring effort and recurring effort.
The benefit of re-examining the problem is almost always a very valuable exercise.
posted by FauxScot at 8:23 PM on August 26, 2012
Response by poster: I guess the real question is, do people have experience with DIY CNC machines? if so which did you build and why?
posted by Astalon at 9:08 PM on August 26, 2012
posted by Astalon at 9:08 PM on August 26, 2012
I bought a table-top (50x70cm) CNC router for my home workshop a few years ago. I researched the DIY options some first, but ended up getting a commercial router fairly cheap (US$1200). If I was going to do it again, I'd build one big enough to take a full 4x8' sheet of plywood, and I'd want a 1/2" collet rather than 1/4". That being said, though, if all you're doing is cutting recesses in foam board, you could probably get by with a dremel-based machine. I'd recommend one of the designs based on 80/20 aluminum extrusions.
posted by twisted mister at 9:57 PM on August 26, 2012
posted by twisted mister at 9:57 PM on August 26, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
What are your finances like, and how much space do you have in your workspace?
What are your fabrication skills and tooling like?
Would you want to use the tool in the future to do larger pieces?
posted by sebastienbailard at 8:17 AM on August 26, 2012