Cheap Chinese for Milling

**3Dsigns** · 14th January 2015, 05:22 AM

Hi everyone. It' been awhile since I last posted, but I'm going to try to get back into my CNC project. This is my first CNC controller and it's for a large hot wire foam cutter. https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v...type=2&theater I need something to get me started making aluminum parts for some CNC machines I want to build like gantry ends for routers, bearing cars and other parts for the foam cutter.
I figured I could design the parts in my Sign program, make the 3D toolpaths in Aspire, and cut them with Mach 3. If I take I slow, would one of these little machines work for this? Thanks http://www.ebay.com/itm/3040-CNC-ROU...77350397&rt=nc

**BaronJ** · 14th January 2015, 06:26 AM

No not really. These things are designed for PCB's, vinyl signs and the like. They can't handle any real thickness. But for that sort of money I would look at something like this

http://oceanfriendgroup.en.made-in-c...16-Vario-.html

or this

http://gngmachine.en.made-in-china.c...del-Db25V.html

OK they are a little more money, but I'm sure that you can find something more suitable than the one you linked to.

**3Dsigns** · 14th January 2015, 07:05 AM

Thanks. I suppose I could convert one of those to CNC.

**bwal74** · 14th January 2015, 07:23 AM

Hi 3DSigns,

My friend from work recently bought one of those printers from work off ebay. It is tiny and poorly made. All the software and instructions are in badly translated English. He got it to work by getting pirated software off the net (I don't know what it was). It does work and will do what he wants it to do - engrave small trophy/plaque plates but struggles to do much more. I wouldn't recommend it.

Ben

**3Dsigns** · 14th January 2015, 07:33 AM

Thanks!

**Blu_Rock** · 18th January 2015, 10:06 AM

I think the base mill that you would be looking at to machine/CNC aluminium would be an X2 dovetail column or one of its clones. Hoss is The Man when it comes to X2 CNC conversion. I've an X2 that I bought on eBay from this seller (when the Oz $ was a bit more favourable) and will CNC it one day when I get the time. The X2 handles aluminium pretty well but can only do light cuts it other harder metals. The next step up is probably something like this dovetail and then up to something like this round column.

**BaronJ** · 18th January 2015, 10:25 PM

Hi 3Dsigns,

My mill is very similar to this one <http://www.machineryhouse.com.au/M649> the main differences are that mine has a much longer table and the spindle speed readout.
Oh, and its green.

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