New chinese cnc machine....looks good for the money!

[No Longer Active]

Would this be a good machine for small parts, alot cheaper than Roland, Umarq and the over priced MerchantDice Machines:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Elven-3020-CNC-Router-PCB-Engraving-Machine-/320619832435?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aa66e6473#ht_2319wt_1059

[Hessel Oosten]

Would this be a good machine for small parts

Alex,

Looks good but beware it's in fact a little bit too small for (most) cockpitbuilders.
The table is 440 x 240 mm but the working size is allways smaller.
Can't find these dimensions, but assume it's 300 x 200 mm (in the name of the mill).
Even if the material is within these dimensions, it's always convenient to have some extra space around (for fixing etc.).

Hessel

[Perik]

Hello Alex

I don't have any experience myself with this China unit though a friend has a
unit (3040) running for nearly a year. Bottom line is that the mechanics are OK with a very nice precision,
but the spindle is not good enough - need to be replaced by for instance a Kress or equivalent.
So be ready to do some upgrades and small addon like limit switches.
Still it's a lot of bang for the bucks.

I believe this is the same product and the link to the company is:
http://cncdiy.org/ or http://sites.google.com/site/cncdiymachines/
You'll find a European distributor here: Switzerland (http://www.cnc-shop.ch/)
And as Hessel indicates - look for one of the bigger units.

Well, buying from China and from a company called CNCDoItYourself you know what you get ;-)

[steveeverson]

Hi Alex, I have the slightly larger one and im really pleased with it:D

http://www.premiersign.co.uk/proddetail.asp?prod=BC-300-200&cat=19
Colin at Premier sign is really helpful and you also get a licenced copy of Mach3 and Lazy cam.Plus all the clamps etc

I found out the hard way that you cannot run it from a laptop because the pulse rate from the parallel port isnt stable so allow about £40-50 for an old desktop. I bought a Dell one from ebay for £40 and it runs really well.

Give me a call if you want to have a look.
Cheers
Steve

[No Longer Active]

Hi Steve,

They look very good for the money, I was just curious about cnc machines as my cnc guy who cut all my cessna panels has a 3 x 1.5 meter cnc table, it's blimmin huge! And was wondering what the hype is all about regarding these home builds and mini cnc machines. I was litterally just curious and has never seen a small desktop cnc before (only videos on you tube), It would be great to see your machine and cockpit if possible one day!

All the best, Alex

[furkan]

You give really approchable machine but to make this concept clearly to go to china factory & to build your confidence about the new conceptual things.To see more options in detail.More detail (http://www.rpprototype.com/services/rapid-prototyping)

[furkan]

I think rapid prototype uses the latest technologies to quickly delivers prototypes services to the customers in all over the world that its wrld class factoy and have different resourc to provides good services.

[Matti V]

wery wery small table have thats router :( i made itself my engraver and have little too i think, 600 x 500 x 100.
next cnc have best what need newer my hobby have 2500 x 1500 x 500. but need first place were can stay and build thats :)

[oboyoberta]

I just bought a Chinese 6040z 800 watt spindle. It came with NO paperwork of any kind. No assembly info, nothing. After contacting china, I finally got a download of the configuration. After a week of trying to get it to work, I was frustrated. The document for configure the motor tuning in Mach3 is all wrong, and they don't have any other docs. After Spending another week for painstakingly adjusting the motor tuning and measuring each cut with a caliper, I finally got it tuned (close). They said the stepper motor steps were 640, when in fact its at 8000. There is not homing switches, and the spindle is not controlled by mach3, only a dial on the control box, which is a number between 1 and 400. There's no reference to speed of the spindle. My advice- spend a little more and buy American.

[Qwseyvnd]

I have roughly same experience with a chinese 6040Z

A few of errors that is written here:

# The seller doesn't have required and proof of competence to sell such machines.

# Mach3 supports only Windows XP; which is obsolute version. It shows that he indirectly encourage me to steal a copy of it to run Mach3.

# The seller wrote misleading information to Amazon, which Amazon says it was a security hole that it passed by filtering system.

# I could be blind, I am already deaf, because of missing documents; as a result, I can sue him.

# The seller asked me to tell to DHL to value it 10% (1200 kr), but I bought it for roughly 11700 kr of what I paid because he reveled that he has avoid some important information that he must inform the exact information to get the declaration from custom before he sent it to the buyer and to the Amazon.Com. This action that he asked me to do is strictly unlawful and DHL is just a freight company that does not interfere what the seller and buyer are doing.

# The seller has done some dubious methods with business...

# The seller don't want to receive this CNC 6040Z without reason while he promised to receive this item and refund everything.

And much more that is not necessary to mention to protect me.

So, when I get back the money, I will buying Step-CNC High-Z S720 in a distributor in Norway.

[AlexB]

I have the 3040 bought off ebay and the controller card died while trying to install homing/limit switches.
I then found a company called YooCNC (google them). They supply the original models of the CNC's off ebay and are comparable in pricing, also their spare parts directly replaced the controller so now all is good to go.
They also have USB lager models which I will go for next time. As far as running a CNC off a laptop, the easiest thing to do is buy a motion stepper interface (check out warp9td.com). I use their USB unit and have not had a problem using my laptop.

Be prepared for a steep learning curve if you have neither cad or cam experience....
I am still learning... :)
AlexB

[388TH_A]

I just bought a 3040 to try and make parts. Watching buch of Videos on youtube it seems to be good.

[Matti V]

I just bought a 3040 to try and make parts. Watching buch of Videos on youtube it seems to be good.


http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=12078&stc=1 my cnc table only 600x550x250 i use cheap chinese main board http://www.ebay.com/itm/CNC-5-Axis-Breakout-Board-interface-Adapter-for-Stepper-Motor-Driver-Mill-pump-/221974910316?hash=item33aebc556c:g:ku0AAOSwJcZWeGuc

and motor drivers 3 pcs, http://www.ebay.com/itm/Single-Axis-TB6600-0-2-5A-CNC-Engraving-Machine-Stepper-Motor-Driver-Controller-/262136734440?hash=item3d089122e8:g:R3kAAOSwKtlWqH3V

400W spinde motor and speed controller http://www.ebay.com/itm/12V-24V-48V-110V-300W-DC-motor-speed-controller-PWM-MACH3-Spindle-Governor-Pumps-/252721567545?hash=item3ad7611739:g:TIsAAOSwo4pYd47U
can use whit mach3(xp) software traight to pwm in computer start/stop/speed.
or potentiometer at manual.
and nema 23 457 oz stepper motors. wery simple and working fine now, thats is my 4th cnc what i has building. work whit wood and aluminium, but frame need made strong if use aluminum.
cost about under 300€

[Matti V]

http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=12079&stc=1

[388TH_A]

http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=12078&stc=1 my cnc table only 600x550x250 i use cheap chinese main board http://www.ebay.com/itm/CNC-5-Axis-Breakout-Board-interface-Adapter-for-Stepper-Motor-Driver-Mill-pump-/221974910316?hash=item33aebc556c:g:ku0AAOSwJcZWeGuc

and motor drivers 3 pcs, http://www.ebay.com/itm/Single-Axis-TB6600-0-2-5A-CNC-Engraving-Machine-Stepper-Motor-Driver-Controller-/262136734440?hash=item3d089122e8:g:R3kAAOSwKtlWqH3V

400W spinde motor and speed controller http://www.ebay.com/itm/12V-24V-48V-110V-300W-DC-motor-speed-controller-PWM-MACH3-Spindle-Governor-Pumps-/252721567545?hash=item3ad7611739:g:TIsAAOSwo4pYd47U
can use whit mach3(xp) software traight to pwm in computer start/stop/speed.
or potentiometer at manual.
and nema 23 457 oz stepper motors. wery simple and working fine now, thats is my 4th cnc what i has building. work whit wood and aluminium, but frame need made strong if use aluminum.
cost about under 300€

I should be getting this http://thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mxtwjI1D5Zz5E-liYf_ad_g.jpg tomorrow.

Before trying any upgrades I'm going to put this together and try it. I keep thinking i could buy this or that and now my thinking has changed to, SWEET I could make one with the cnc.

[388TH_A]

I have mach3 any suggestions for other programs that I might need

[Matti V]

I have mach3 any suggestions for other programs that I might need

acad can made dfx file 2D layout and drawing, example cocpit panel and text.
many cam program can use
program what generate dfx to G-code.
delcam,bobcad,artcam best, many have.
have too jpg picture generate g-code but i no rememeber program name. linux have many free program too.
but important can draw parts and compile to G-code. use what use but Gcode need mach3 (win xp) or mach 4 win 7 etc, linux have linux emc and many little tools.free, windows not have lot free programs

[388TH_A]

acad can made dfx file 2D layout and drawing, example cocpit panel and text.
many cam program can use
program what generate dfx to G-code.
delcam,bobcad,artcam best, many have.
have too jpg picture generate g-code but i no rememeber program name. linux have many free program too.
but important can draw parts and compile to G-code. use what use but Gcode need mach3 (win xp) or mach 4 win 7 etc, linux have linux emc and many little tools.free, windows not have lot free programs

Thanks ill check those out. I think im going to stick with Win 7 vs linux.

[388TH_A]

Cant seem to get my 3040 going with MACH3. Parallel port is active 0x0378, CNC turned on but yet it still doesn't work. Is the Parallel cable Pin 1-1, 2-2, 3-3 etc or is it a normal parallel cable where pin 2-15, 3-13, 4-12, 5-10, 6-11, etc?

[388TH_A]

Thanks ill check those out. I think im going to stick with Win 7 vs linux.
I Have removed win 7 and installed win xp 32 bit but still cant seem to get the cnc working yet

[iwik]

Hi,
It should be a standard Parallel cable. Have you assigned and activated the pins
for x,y and direction. You have to assign and then enable in Mach3.
Les

[lundstren]

How about warranty ? The price is good, but i want to make sure if they guarantee free repairs.

[388TH_A]

How about warranty ? The price is good, but i want to make sure if they guarantee free repairs.

I really doubt they would