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  1. #1
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    Sep 2014
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    Default Anyone with a CNC Shark that could give me a demo in Brisbane?

    I am really close to pushing the button on purchasing one, but would really love to site down with someone who can show me a design from whoa to go.

    Carbatec wont do it because they dont have an enclosure, OWHS stuff apparently.

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Newcastle
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    549

    Default

    Without having used one, I've heard generally quite poor reviews. Very pricey for a lightweight machine.

    I'd suggest checking cnczone Australian forum as well as you may find someone there.

  4. #3
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    Sep 2014
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    Australia
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by pippin88 View Post
    Without having used one, I've heard generally quite poor reviews. Very pricey for a lightweight machine.

    I'd suggest checking cnczone Australian forum as well as you may find someone there.

    Thats the problem, I have heard so many good reviews, but heard just as many bad reviews. Short of building your own though, there is not much on the market for that little amount of dollars.

    I will go have a poke over at cnczone and see what I can find.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
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    Up North
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    1,799

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Pearo View Post
    I am really close to pushing the button on purchasing one, but would really love to site down with someone who can show me a design from whoa to go.

    Carbatec wont do it because they dont have an enclosure, OWHS stuff apparently.
    Carbatec won't do it because they don't have anybody who knows how to operate it.
    Simple as that.
    Take it from someone who knows and has battled them since 2011 to get my machine working properly.
    Carbatec carries very few spares and getting anything from the manufacturer in USA takes months.
    It took me from before Christmas until last month to get spares.
    I am still waiting for my so-called anti-backlash nuts.
    I would happily tell you about my problems but it would take weeks to write down.
    I have been ill so I don't know whether mine is working after the last bit of patchwork.
    STAY AWAY FROM THE SHARK.
    Spend a bit more money and buy a decent machine.
    Every day is better than yesterday

    Cheers
    SAISAY

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    melbourne
    Posts
    19

    Default

    Does anyone know what these are like?
    http://xyz-cnc.com/

  7. #6
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Somerset Region, Qld, AU.
    Age
    66
    Posts
    602

    Default

    Have a look at these two posts from the Stu's Shed blog site (Stu is the sponsor of the Toy Making Forum)......

    http://stusshed.com/2014/08/12/redback-cnc/

    http://stusshed.com/2014/09/12/cnc-progress/

    Stu is referring to a new CNC Router, called the Redback, made in Queensland by YAS Engineering. It's still a work in progress, but is expected to go on sale in the next month or so.

    Regards,

    Roy
    Manufacturer of the Finest Quality Off-Cuts.

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Oxley, Brisbane
    Age
    79
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    3,041

    Default

    Hi Pearo My advice to you is "DON"T BUY IT". Rodm was asked by saisay about these machines when she bought one some time ago. When we all panned the machine I asked her to ask rodm about them. At the time, she was, naturally, very defensive of the shark she had just spent a lot of money on. I knew that rodm was aufait with the machines and apart from that, he is generally condidered to be the father of this CNC forum. He wrote quite a damning article on them when they are compared to almost any other CNC machine. I did a quick search for it (the article) but I don't have the time to look for it right now. Possibly others can help. Listen to saisay, she is talking from personal frustration.
    Bob Willson
    The term 'grammar nazi' was invented to make people, who don't know their grammar, feel OK about being uneducated.

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Australia
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    Default

    Well I ended up buying a Carving-CNC X6-1500GT-USB, which is the updated chinese 6040. The bed is a little narrower that what I wanted, but it will do for now.

    My main reasons why I went with this option:
    • It gets some pretty good mentions in CNCZone, and whilst they are not free from problems, they seem less than others.
    • Carving-CNC have the more recent driver options and have the USB MACH 3 driver card.
    • Its a about $4k Cheaper, which means I can invest that save money into upgrading a few bits (thinking the gantry for increased Z-Axis).
    • My father uses Mach 3 and has some experience with these CNC Machines, so I have got some good support nearby.
    • Lots of common add ons/ hacks and accessories etc.


    I decided not to go for the 4th axis, mainly because the review I have read rubbish it, and to be honest I dont really have any use for a 4th axis.

    For now, my immediate need is for producing NACA foil sections for my racing catamaran and my largest foil comes in at 330mm wide so the x6-1500 will do the job. I would like to eventually make a CNC that has a 2m long bed so I can do a whole foil section in one go. My current method means I have to manufacture special jigs and spend hours with the router. The CNC opens up a new world of opportunity allowing me to experiment with more exotic composites and techniques! Making foils is about to get a whole lot easier!!

    Anyway, I am sure its not going to be as good as a $50k machine, but given this is just a hobby and my sailing is an amateur sport I think it should fit the bill nicely. I have been researching these machines for about 18 months now, so its nice to be able to finally say I have one on its way. Given my control systems background, combined with my electronic eng. training I should be ok. My father is a mech eng and should be able to cover off that aspect. To be honest, I reckon he might be more excited than me about it!

  10. #9
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    Feb 2004
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    Oxley, Brisbane
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    Great That is a MUCH better buy than the Shark and you still have $4K in your pocket for buying some good tooling and possibly upgrading the electronics. You shouldn't need to make a 2metre long CNC if the width is sufficient. All you should need is a good way of indexing the part so that it can be moved when you have machined the first half, and then remachined in the new position. For instance, I made some fence panels from 6mm aluminium that was 900mm wide by 3 metres long. My machine has a bed length of only 1600mm so all that was necessary was that I CNC two locating holes so that I could accurately reposition the panels for the second half of the cut. There was of course slightly more than that to it as I also had to design the G code to cut the panel in two parts but that was fairly easy to do.
    Bob Willson
    The term 'grammar nazi' was invented to make people, who don't know their grammar, feel OK about being uneducated.

  11. #10
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    Sep 2014
    Location
    Australia
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Willson View Post
    Great That is a MUCH better buy than the Shark and you still have $4K in your pocket for buying some good tooling and possibly upgrading the electronics. You shouldn't need to make a 2metre long CNC if the width is sufficient. All you should need is a good way of indexing the part so that it can be moved when you have machined the first half, and then remachined in the new position. For instance, I made some fence panels from 6mm aluminium that was 900mm wide by 3 metres long. My machine has a bed length of only 1600mm so all that was necessary was that I CNC two locating holes so that I could accurately reposition the panels for the second half of the cut. There was of course slightly more than that to it as I also had to design the G code to cut the panel in two parts but that was fairly easy to do.
    Yup, at the end of the day it does not need to be a 2m bed, its just means I can set and forget if it is.

    Anyway, this is a good starting point. Bonus is there is a heap of other things I can use the CNC for as well!

    Question: I was born and bred on Autocad, however there is no way I will be paying for a licence for it. So the question, whats the best open source cad program? I have had a look around, and at this stage thinking FreeCad might be the go. Any thoughts?

  12. #11
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    Feb 2004
    Location
    Oxley, Brisbane
    Age
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    I don't use autocad or anything like that complicated a program. If you do need something like that then may I suggest that you try draftsight http://www.3ds.com/products-services...ight/overview/
    Bob Willson
    The term 'grammar nazi' was invented to make people, who don't know their grammar, feel OK about being uneducated.

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Australia
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Willson View Post
    I don't use autocad or anything like that complicated a program. If you do need something like that then may I suggest that you try draftsight http://www.3ds.com/products-services...ight/overview/
    So what are you using?

  14. #13
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    Aspire Quite expensive but easy as to use.
    Bob Willson
    The term 'grammar nazi' was invented to make people, who don't know their grammar, feel OK about being uneducated.

  15. #14
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    Australia
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Willson View Post
    Aspire Quite expensive but easy as to use.
    I was playing around with that today. Seems simple but decent.

  16. #15
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    Dec 2004
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    Up North
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    Default

    Well, happy to say the Shark is, at last, going and going very well.
    Had a problem with sizing, everything was half size i.e. 100mm became 50mm.
    However, after finding a small program called diagnostic, the problem solved itself.
    Now, everything is SPOT ON.
    Can't wait to finally start making sawdust.
    Eyebrows, ears and everything else crossed that I won't have any more problems.
    Every day is better than yesterday

    Cheers
    SAISAY

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