Thread: $15k - Which off the shelf machine?

I believe your only choice would be chinese for 15K or sometimes a second hand unit comes up for sale on ebay or machinery sites (machines4u ect.), I've seen a Basic Multicam 2.4x1.2M+ machine sell for under 20K.

Camaster in the US manufacture some full size sheet machines but start at around 25K USD, I don't think there is anyone currently building and selling machines anywhere near this price in Australia, entry level multicam start at around 50K last I remember.



CNCzone has posts about the chinese machines, both good and bad, plenty of aussies who have imported one also.
Chinese Machines - CNCzone.com-The Largest Machinist Community on the net!



{EDIT}
Had a quick look and if you're not wanting to import yourself it looks like this company in Australia does, I've never dealt with them myself.

CNC router engraver 1.3mx2.5m 3KW air cooled spindle ideal for MDF - ON SPECIAL | eBay

{EDIT}
On machines4u apparently Titanmachinery is selling cnc routers now ? nothing on their website, cheapest 1325 machine looks to be $8400

New 2012 Xintech Cnc 1325D Flatbed/Nesting CNC's in Central Coast, NSW Price: $14,980 <62111>


And yes I have nothing better to do

Cheers.

Chinese would probably be my best bet.
Hopefully from someone who imports and supports them.

Full sheet is probably not a 100% priority.

I would struggle for room anyway so could go smaller, maybe down to half sheet.

This would be an exploratory move into cnc so starting small may not be a bad idea.

Hi Jack
$15K sounds reasonable for a machine - especially if you are OK with buying one made in China.

Size of machine
Maybe the decision about a machine that can take a standard sized sheet (1.2M x 2.4M) would best be decided upon the sort of projects you intend to use the machine for. In my case I would not have been happy with something that only handled half sheets, but the amount of space available in your workshop might also need to be taken into consideration.

Area required
My CNC area is about 3.5M x 4.5M. between the end of the machine and the back wall there is about 400mm and just under 1M at the other. On one side there is 400mm gap between the wall and the gantry. It is a bit tight getting down that narrow side to do maintenance on the machine, but not impossible. On the other side there is about 1.4M which is enough for the cabinet housing the drivers and computer etc as well as moving around and changing bits in the spindle. Ideally, 1.5 to 2M all around would have made everything much easier. The height above my table is also limited, but enough to flip a board over if required.

Budget
Does your budget include spindle, dust extraction, vacuum table, software and installation? All these start to add up. I also wish I had had a better idea of the types of bits I would require. MDF & plywood are both very abrasive and I was surprised at how quickly standard straight flute bits deteriorate - So far the bits (combination of up cut and down cut) which do a really good job cost just over AUD $100 each.

I already had 3 phase in my shed, but I think the two runs for the vacuum and dust extractor cost another AUD $1000. I also added Hall Effect limit switches to the machine which added another AUD $200 or $300.

Cheers, David

Space in the workshop will be the key.

I don't think a full sheet machine will fit.

For a smaller machine the Shark seems like a good plug and play option.
Especially with a 4th axis on it's way.

I do have access to a full sheet machine so could use a Shark for scaled prototyping.
This would be handy as access time to the bigger machine is limited so knowing projects will work first time will be beneficial.

The shark is NOT an alternative.

See various other threads about this machine.

Ask saisay about his experiences with the Shark.

Send a private message to Rod and ask him about the Shark.

It is going from a Boeing 787 to a WW1 biplane. From a mansion to a hut. From a diamond to glass.

For that same money, buy a ticket to China, visit thefactory where CNC machines are made, buy one, Come back home again. Jingle (or rustle) the $2K still in your pocket.

Hi Bob,

I have seen some of Saisay's posts which seemed to me to say the Shark was a good machine for him.

I don't know who Rod is?

Could you point me in the direction of some of the posts as to why it is a bad machine?

Cheers, Jack

Originally Posted by Jack E

Hi Bob,

I have seen some of Saisay's posts which seemed to me to say the Shark was a good machine for him.

I don't know who Rod is?

Could you point me in the direction of some of the posts as to why it is a bad machine?

Cheers, Jack

First of all SAISAY is a SHE not a HE

Secondly, if you are prepared to do some upgrading yourself, the Shark is not a bad little machine. I just happened to get the white elephant but Carbatec never let me down, they had more of a problem with the USA manufacturer.
Apparently consumer laws are not as tough in the States as they are here, so the manufacturer needed to be educated.
Once I got a new control box, I have never looked back, it all depends what you want to do with it.
The new MAKO seems like it has been improved a lot, I like the specs. However, I am not sure whether it will be available here.
I have seen many people building their machines from MDF or ply and I am not so sure whether that is better than HDPU at least not up here in the wet tropics.nor whether it is more or less rigid.
At the moment I am more or less rebuilding my Shark, replacing the HDPU with aluminium.
When mine is finished it will be a White Pointer not just a Shark, tough and aggressive.
After taking my machine totally apart, I was actually impressed how well it is designed, pity they want to save a few pennies by using cheap screws.
If you do decide on the Shark, make sure you get a 1/2" variable speed router or better, a wapercooled spindle (on my wish list now) those 1/4" bits break too easily when you do aggressive cutting like in 20mm aluminium.
Also get some GOOD bits, not el cheapo from Bunnes or such, although I have just cut some large pockets in 20mm ply with an old cheap straightedge bit from Bunnies.
Not terribly many CNC bits available here, I get most of mine from the States or eBay.
I tested my Shark today after adjusting the bearings. On a 550mm run it was +0.005mm. I doubt I could ask for better in this price range.
Be prepared, whichever machine you buy, there is a learning curve and sometimes it can be steep.
If you want to know anything else, feel free to PM me.

rodm is the father of this CNC division.

saisay, you weren't meant to be telling him how good it is, but how poor it is. The fact that you are now engaged in replacing all the HDPE parts should also be a good guide as to how strongly constructed the machine is (or rather isn't).

Any of the Chinese machines that have had the elcetrics electrics upgraded to Geckos will pi$$ all over the shark.

For what they are (over)charging for the Shark, it is a rip off.

Having looked around a bit here it seems a 6040 or 9060 from China would be the way to go.

I am considering buying a pretty much bare machine and installing some control gear myself.

Is here a comprehensive list of what is required for either of these models?

It seems a few people hare have gone through the process but collating the requirements could be a bit of an effort.

Neither the 6040 (600mm x 400mm) or the 9060 (900mm x 600mm) will meet your requirement of a full sheet machine.

Yeah, I kind of revised that requirement above

I have been looking at your 6040 build, good to know there is someone only a couple of hours away

I grew up down your way...Grove.

I have asked some questions about a 6090 in this thread.

A full sheet machine really won't fit in my workshop, plus a cheaper option is probably a better starting point.

Thanks for all the advice so far, I will need more

As soon as I get mine finished, you're welcome to try it out.
Mind you, at the rate I'm going, it could be a while