Starter CNC system

[hcpens]

Looking for ideas on a +/- 2k budget CNC machine mainly for small engraving, i.e. pens, bottle stoppers, small bowls and the like. Thanks

 

[More4dan]

Following.

 

[mredburn]

That may be difficult if you have to have a 4 axis machine. Were you thinking Laser engraving or engraving using a cutter? It possible to convert the Y axis to the A axis so that the piece rotates rather than travels in the Y direction. But you will need to be able to generate G code to make it happen. If you can write G code its not to bad for costs but if you have to have software to do it for you, get out your wallet and be prepared to empty it. You may be able to use Fusion 360 to both draw and generate the G code, Im not sure of its capabilities as faar as 4th axis goes as I have not used it. I bought software for what I needed long before it was out and still use it.
You might check out Ebay for used Taig or Sherline cnc mills. THey will come close to your price point.

 

[hcpens]

Thanks, for your info, I guess then I will go with a laser system that can also engrave on a flat surface (like a pen box) and round for pens and salt&pepper mills.

 

[Anglesachse]

I use a Elekslaser A5 converted to rotary and LaserGRBL as software.
even though I am a computer idiot I can still get good results with this.

My son uses the same hardware but with T2 laser software and is trying to convert me to this as it is, according to him "easier and adaptable".

 

[Anglesachse]

This was supposed to be in my last post

 

[hcpens]

Laser engraver

I use an Elekslaser A5 converted to rotary and LaserGRBL as software.
even though I am a computer idiot I can still get good results with this.

My son uses the same hardware but with T2 laser software and is trying to convert me to this as it is, according to him "easier and adaptable".

Anglesachse,

Thank you for the information, one question, how did you modify the basic laser to rotary.

Richard

 

[Anglesachse]

Hi Richard,

Setting up the rotary was not to difficult, I changed the Y axis to a simply by fitting a chuck directly onto the stepper motor and left X as it is.

In the software I had to do a hit and miss with the feed of the Y axis.

I based this o a 16mm diameter pen as average this gives me the possibility to use pics up to about 35 mm wide on the circumference of the blank.

One you get into GRBL you can set it up for this.

Here is the standard GRBL setup.

$0=10 (step pulse, usec)
$1=25 (step idle delay, msec)
$2=0 (step port invert mask:00000000)
$3=6 (dir port invert mask:00000110)
$4=0 (step enable invert, bool)
$5=0 (limit pins invert, bool)
$6=0 (probe pin invert, bool)
$10=3 (status report mask:00000011)
$11=0.020 (junction deviation, mm)
$12=0.002 (arc tolerance, mm)
$13=0 (report inches, bool)
$20=0 (soft limits, bool)
$21=0 (hard limits, bool)
$22=0 (homing cycle, bool)
$23=1 (homing dir invert mask:00000001)
$24=50.000 (homing feed, mm/min)
$25=635.000 (homing seek, mm/min)
$26=250 (homing debounce, msec)
$27=1.000 (homing pull-off, mm)
$100=314.961 (x, step/mm)
$101=314.961 (y, step/mm)
$102=314.961 (z, step/mm)
$110=635.000 (x max rate, mm/min)
$111=635.000 (y max rate, mm/min)
$112=635.000 (z max rate, mm/min)
$120=50.000 (x accel, mm/sec^2)
$121=50.000 (y accel, mm/sec^2)
$122=50.000 (z accel, mm/sec^2)
$130=225.000 (x max travel, mm)
$131=125.000 (y max travel, mm)
$132=170.000 (z max travel, mm)

If you look at $101 this is the travel of the Y axis per mm 16 mm toothed gear with belt.

I changed this to about 80 and I got a good result.

As I said it is trial and error, time consuming but not difficult there being so much info available on the internet.

I hope this is a help for you

Cheers from Germany

Andrew

 

[skiprat]

Great info Andrew:biggrin:I
I had to do a flying visit to Ratingen last week. Stayed at the Relexa and ate grillhaxe twice at the Brauhaus:biggrin:I
I was going to drop in and pinch your machine but was too busy