CNC machine

[stevenw1963]

Anyone know if this:

CNC 3020 ROUTER ENGRAVER DRILLING / MILLING MACHINE f5 | eBay

Is any good ?

 

[TK woodman]

It might be worth comparing it against this machine. I've seen this one demonstrated and it's very robust. Just a bit out of my price range i'm afraid.
CNC Click N Carve machine to engrave wood and plastic in minutes - By Tooltec: Tooling for the woodworking industry

 

[stevenw1963]

bit out of my price range as well TK, & it's plus vat!!!

Only want something that I can prat around with without too much outlay.
Looking at engraving pens & small boxes or turnings that's all.

 

[Grump]

Sorry but the click n carve is crap, we saw one demo'd at the last meeting, I was not impressed.
Ok if you have all the appropriate ready made programs as they did but no good for a beginner.

Steven that cnc is exactly the one I have, it's great little benchtop cnc if you are prepared to strip it down and rebuild it with proper wiring from scratch
Read this if not there will be trouble ahead.

 

[TK woodman]

I've just looked at the item offered on ebay and the grammar suggests English is not their first language.

 

[Grump]

I've just looked at the item offered on ebay and the grammar suggests English is not their first language.

I would be very surprised if it was, at that price it can only come from one place init?
Uk would be at least double and still same quality cos it's made in China.
Click on his name and a pop up tells you he is registered China 2008 member.

 

[TK woodman]

I've just looked at the item offered on ebay and the grammar suggests English is not their first language. The fact that the package for the clickncarve is expensive doesn't make it crap just out of your price range. However the definition of crap would be buying something that is not fit for purpose within the British market.

 

[Grump]

I've just looked at the item offered on ebay and the grammar suggests English is not their first language. The fact that the package for the clickncarve is expensive doesn't make it crap just out of your price range. However the definition of crap would be buying something that is not fit for purpose within the British market.

You have a different definition of crap to me and you are entitled to it. as for out of my price range, I'll be the judge of that thanks.

 

[stevenw1963]

Cheers Brian, remember reading that before & the trouble you had.
Don't think I'm savvy enough about them to find problems then re-wire the frigging thing!!!

I'll save up a bit more & try find a 2nd hand one where the work has already been done

 

[Jim]

It might be worth comparing it against this machine. I've seen this one demonstrated and it's very robust. Just a bit out of my price range i'm afraid.
CNC Click N Carve machine to engrave wood and plastic in minutes - By Tooltec: Tooling for the woodworking industry

I also saw this while stood with Brian, but i wouldn't call it crap, far from it .. It was cutting a model that looked quite good actually though a tad slow .. It was a good machine but i wouldn't buy it only because it isn't what i want to do ..

 

[Grump]

Assuming they are the same stepper motors as mine and I would think they are.
I can do screen shots of the config for you.
If you use cnclinux I can talk you through that and the soft stops work really well I have never touched my stop switches yet.
It really isn't so hard now I am used to to it.
I was one of the early ones in the country I think and info was sparse so I had to discover for myself but that is not the case now.
The wiring isn't scary its only four wires to each plug and motor, easily and cheaply available these days.
If you're going to York in August I can bring it up and find somewhere to plug in or next time you visit Pompy drop in on the way and play.

 

[Grump]

I also saw this while stood with Brian, but i wouldn't call it crap, far from it .. It was cutting a model that looked quite good actually though a tad slow .. It was a good machine but i wouldn't buy it only because it isn't what i want to do ..

It is actually a lesser machine for a lot more money and is restricted to what it can by a lot compared to what Steven is looking at.
Pauls shiney thing is much more substantial than mine I am envious there for sure but if I wanted to upgrade to the same all I would have to buy it is gantry / bed, all my parts would fit.
If I had the demo machine I could use nothing from it It is not upgradable.
Now young David JIMJAM has one to die for all home built which I keep promising myself I will do but that is another shelved idea.

 

[paulm]

Of the two, I would also go with the ebay one. With a spindle and power supply thats a good price and you will learn a lot about the machine if you have to fix it and do some wiring... I would get it also because there is a perfect person on this forum to help you should you need assistance and he's never shy at giving a hand.

I've seen the trend version of the click'n carve and while in grumpish its 'crap', I would say it's good but for making small things the size of nameplates. If you look at the lion they've carved its not very big and they're obviously demonstrating the best they can. Another thing about this machine is you are tied into a supplier for parts, with the other they are probably universal that you can get anywhere.

When I was looking for a machine, David told me to get as big a one as possible and although I didn't get the 600x400 he suggested I'm very glad I listened to him and I've now got a reasonable machine.

 

[Grump]

I had a proper look at their website during the sleepless hours and came to the conclusion it's nothing more than a BLOODY EXPENSIVE toy.
The software is childish, you will learn nothing from it.
And as Paul points out being in house built you are knackered for peripherals.
You can't change the controller or even a collet without going to them, I tried to change ny view and see benefits in it but there are none.
I stick with my initial judgement of CRAP.

 

[stevenw1963]

Assuming they are the same stepper motors as mine and I would think they are.
I can do screen shots of the config for you.
If you use cnclinux I can talk you through that and the soft stops work really well I have never touched my stop switches yet.
It really isn't so hard now I am used to to it.
I was one of the early ones in the country I think and info was sparse so I had to discover for myself but that is not the case now.
The wiring isn't scary its only four wires to each plug and motor, easily and cheaply available these days.
If you're going to York in August I can bring it up and find somewhere to plug in or next time you visit Pompy drop in on the way and play.

Thanks for that Brian,

Will have a think about it & great to know there is someone on here with the knowledge, you.

 

[Jim]

I stick with my initial judgement of CRAP.

Good to know that it is your judgement Brian, if you do find of anywhere else you see others saying it is crap, please share ..

 

[Grump]

I didn't have to look far to find this Jim, I rest my case init?

The size of the table isn't a problem for me. Be aware, thought, that the 12.8" capacity is not correct. The actual cutting area is about 6x8 inches.

The manufacturer is BravoProdigy and there are many videos online about the company and two models. The larger one seems to have been discontinued. On one of the youtube videos the presenter says the bits for the machine are inexpensive and readily available. I wish that were true! The bits are 4mm shaft and I've found a few here and there, which need to be ordered from China, with a 4-6 week wait. The 'official' bits are available from Rockler, are $50 each and until recently were 'oversold'!

Will this machine cut rubber to make rubber stamps without causing problems Sep 6, 2013
I don't have it, it was defective, never made one cut, returned and didn't order another
Sep 6, 2013 by Dave L.


can this machine carve deer horns? Jul 6, 2013
No the machine does not scan the materials you are going to carve. You would have some hard work ahead of you if you wanted to do that.
Jul 6, 2013 by KSLY Innovations




is it 220 V &50-60 HZ May 31, 2013
it is 120 V--60 HZ
May 31, 2013 by beavor

 

[Jim]

But were is it that they say it is crap? Not able to find cheap bits or carve Deer Horn doesn't make it crap, i don't believe that this machine was made to cut rubber either ..

 

[Grump]

Get back to watching your ball games and leave me alone.
If I say it's crap then to me it's crap init?
Everyone else can love it but it's still crap.

 

[Jim]

Not while 5pm my friend ..