CNC Router Purchase Questions

[Toxicscrew]

I'm looking to add a CNC router to my shop and found one with low hours for relatively low price on CL. I was looking to get input from more seasoned users on the machine and it's systems.

Here is the link: http://stlouis.craigslist.org/tls/4702231690.html

And additional information I've gotten from the owner:

"It has a regular computer with desk cnc program as a drawing program and as the cnc controller. I also have the program artcam and on a separate computer I have AutoCAD by Autodesk 2002 that I am going to try and get off that computer and put it on the cnc computer. The cnc has a 3 1/4hp router with a dust shroud but it doesn't have a vacuum table. I have never used it but my son used Artcam (2005) to program a star and than cut it out, and also the cnc guy I work with has used Autodesk AutoCAD 2002 to program an animal cutout for me that I never used. I was going to use it as a hobby machine but I have since started to use my extra time in the housing market and I never played around with it since. The cnc guy at my work said it was a good machine for a small business or a hobbyist, as far as I know the is nothing wrong with it."​

He also added that he thought he could get a more up to date version of Artcam from a guy at work.

Looking for thoughts, comments, questions, etc. Is it a good deal? What will need upgrading? What would you upgrade? What will that cost? Anything you'd rather see? etc I'm the creative type, not all that technical, not a programmer at all. Any help on that side is really appreciated.

A bit about what I'm looking for out of the machine: I do want/need the ability to cut 4x8 sheets, I'm getting more cabinet type jobs from the designers I work with and cutting and boring the material would really speed things up in my 1 man shop. The carving aspect is really intriguing me as an artist though. Would mainly be cutting wood (MDF, particle board, & dimensional) , though plastic and light metals (Cu & Al) aren't out of the question.

Thanks,

Rande

 

[rslaback]

I had a 48x96" shopbot in my classroom. Artcam is a decent program but I would encourage you to take a look at Vcarve pro. It is a 2.5D program which should fit all the needs it sounds like you have. Depending on the version of artcam it might as well.

One thing to keep in mind is that a cnc router is not going to save you any time when cutting large sheets. It may very well take an hour or better to cut one sheet and then you'll likely have some cleanup to remove tabs etc. In order for the router to be able to save you time you need to be trusting enough in your program and your machine to run it unattended. It will save you time doing intricate designs and V-carves even if you watch it because that takes way more time than ripping up a sheet of ply on the table and/or panel saw.

 

[brianh]

I have been using a shop bot for 11 years over time have upgraded on the controller, for the price that machine looks OK the gantry looks a bit flimsy but would not take much to stiffen it up.

Things to know are what is the speed it can travel without loosing steps what controller does it use?

I use mine a lot in my shop, mortises tenons for furniture, signs planing large glue ups that wont fit in the planer the list goes on. Its like having an employee I set it up and work on something else in the shop.

Does it come with a licensed copy of artcam? insignia is around 2500 or more and pro is double that.

CNC zone is a good site for information

Here is a video of doing dovetail drawers on mine
http://vimeo.com/87861666

And some outdoor chair parts

 

[Toxicscrew]

brianh, that is one slick setup for dovetails

Thanks for the input, will add those to the list. I should clarify I'm not looking to just rip sheets, just got a Makita track saw for that. But for more intricate designs that would take forever to layout/make templates for.

 

[paranoid56]

i would also ask if that machine can cut a normal piece of plywood in a single pass, looking at the gantry i am not sure i can.
one nice thing about having a cnc router is you can do your cut sheet and nest the parts to get the most out of each sheet. so much less waste.

 

[Maexle]

I have build my own CNC router last winter, no rocket science behind it:

What I like about it the most, I can always modify, customize and upgrade. Next step is probably, to use linear screw drive instead of belts and build a bigger works space, currently 3 ft x 3ft.