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  1. #1
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    Default Lead screw CNC options?

    I will start this off by saying that I know nothing about CNC's but now have a need for one as I try to diversify my business to hopefully help it survive COVID here in Victoria instead of becoming another victim/statistic.

    I've read through the Best small mid CNC thread Best small mid cnc and can see from there that a lead screw machine is going to be best (complex shapes in hardwood).

    Besides the C-Beam what other lead screw options are out there? I will need something with a bigger machining area than the C-Beam, I've got room for a machine that has overall external dimensions of up to 1200mm x unlimited in the other direction.

    Any suggestions would be appreciated! I'm probably going to need to pay one of you for some lessons as well!

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  3. #2
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    Have a look at the machines on this site. It’s in Melbourne and they do some larger lead screw kits as well as C beam.

    CNC Machine Kits - Maker Store PTY LTD

  4. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lappa View Post
    Have a look at the machines on this site. It’s in Melbourne and they do some larger lead screw kits as well as C beam.

    CNC Machine Kits - Maker Store PTY LTD
    Cheers Lappa - they are ten minutes from my factory which is handy!

    Are there any online tutorials on how to program these CNC's to do what you want them to do? Last time I programmed something was on a BBC Model B microcomputer back in the early 80's - and I suspect(hope) that things have changed since then!

  5. #4
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    What are you planning to make?

    Almost none of the hobby machines are suitable for a real business.

  6. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by pippin88 View Post
    What are you planning to make?

    Almost none of the hobby machines are suitable for a real business.
    Cut coasters out with inlay grooves, in them, serving boards etc - not massive production but enough for a CNC to be worthwhile given that it will free up my time. Might also use it for slab flattening.

  7. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by RSD View Post
    Are there any online tutorials on how to program these CNC's to do what you want them to do? Last time I programmed something was on a BBC Model B microcomputer back in the early 80's - and I suspect(hope) that things have changed since then!
    if anything, programming a CNC to do what you want it to do is as complex as it has always been.

    First off is the modelling software you select -- I'm nowhere near across all the available programs but Solidworks or Fusion 360 are but two options.
    Each suite has its own learning curve.

    Then there is the issue of programming the tool paths. This I know almost nothing about. But in essence the spindle (router) needs to know which tool (cutter) is fitted and where to move each cutter in 3 dimensions so that you don't inadvertently cut through a section you want to keep.

    then there is the issue of what control software you use for the CNC itself -- I hear talk of mach 3, mach 4, Linux CNC each of which is optimised for different controller cards and supporting PCs. (I think that mach 3 only works on PCs running Windows XP, but I could easily be wrong.)


    I'm sure there is loads of info that I have overlooked.
    regards from Alberta, Canada

    ian

  8. #7
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    Go onto the openbuilds and makerstore sites where you will find links to forums and builds. YouTube is your best friend for seeing how things work

    I have a CBeam and a Lead 1510

  9. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by steve r View Post
    Go onto the openbuilds and makerstore sites where you will find links to forums and builds. YouTube is your best friend for seeing how things work

    I have a CBeam and a Lead 1510
    Cheers Steve - will do - will possibly be going down the route of a Lead 1510 with the High Z.

  10. #9
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    The first thing I want to do on the CNC is create some coasters from some 19mm decking which I want to cut a groove into to put a resin inlay into. I saw a youtube video where a guy was manually entering the G code to do a slightly more complex shape - I don't know whether that can be done with a Openbuilds Lead 1510 ?Coasters.JPG

  11. #10
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    You can manually move the cutter with any controller, but why would you when you can take a simple Inkscape drawing, place it into a free cnc software like easel or free CAD (simple to use) let it create a gcode then cut as many as you like. I can do the other on my router table.

  12. #11
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    This thread has a few comments on workflow I made a while ago.

    Am I on the right track?

  13. #12
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    Default Lead screw CNC options?


  14. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by steve r View Post
    Y
    That is far far beyond what I'm going to need to do! But it sure is nice!

  15. #14
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    But that is what you can do very simply.

  16. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by BoneInspector View Post
    This thread has a few comments on workflow I made a while ago.

    Am I on the right track?
    Cheers BoneInspector - just had a read of that thread - very informative!

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