[CGeldmacher]

hi rocket67 My name is Chris and I distribute the Excitech routers in SA(South Africa) I have realy looked for a value for money machien around the world and you have just baught it. I sell my machines with the software from Vectric called Vcarve pro and I believe that this is the simplest way to get going. Your machien was probably delivered with type 3 and some other software but you first have to learn the program befor you can get a job out so take my advice and download the demo ver of vcarv pro and have a look and see just how easy it makes everything. www.vectric.com

cheers
Chris

[dougie329]

eadya: where abouts in the UK are you based?

[rocket67]

G`day Eadya and C Geldmacher - Welcome aboard. Glad that you joined us.
We have had our Excitech Router now for just over one month and we are absolutely thrilled to bits with it. These machines are extreme value for money and are quite easy to operate.
We purchased V Carve Pro software late last year. This is fantastic software at a bargain price.
It is a relatively simple process to design our patterns using V Carve Pro and then downloading to the supplied usb stick. The usb stick fits into the DSP controller which in turn interprets the program and operates the machine. Too easy.
We have not even used the supplied Type3 or Ucancam software.
A couple of very minor issues that we have had are -
1) The adjustable feet on the base had worked loose during shipping and this resulted in the threads being damaged .
2) The connection on the control box for the DSP cord is a bad fit so we had to secure the connection to make sure that it cannot be dislodged.
3) The vacuum table top has a dip on one end that we believe was caused by the vacuum pump sitting on top of the table during shipping. The pump is extremely heavy. The dip is about 2mm and we are waiting for a spoilboard bit so that we can surface our spoil board flat and overcome the problem.
For the price that we paid for the machine these minor issues do not concern us.
At this moment we are waiting for a set of "replaceable insert bits" that have been made specifically for the patterns that we use for our doors.
They were supposed to have arrived yesterday. Unreliable suppliers! Seems to be normal since xmas.
So what do we think of our Excitech - FANBLOODYTASTIC!!!

Rocket.

[Jimmy007]

The control cabinet is huge....

Is that a servo machine?

look at the touch screen wincnc at bottom of page jim

http://camaster.com/cs/photos/default.aspx

rocket, whos got the 6090 for ceelt?

jimmy check this, this is one of bill glenns

heres the rest of them

http://camaster.com/cs/photos/gallerylisting.aspx

[cabnet636]

big servo i am going to Ga later this week as bill is in fla installing a tool changer machine and will have video and photos soon jim

[KustomKoncepts]

jim did the camaster and easystreet sign files work? was I way off on my settings? I was just using v carve defaults.

[cabnet636]

i was in charlotte all day and did not get back to shop i did air run it on my home computer and it looks good i will run it tomorrow, jim i just got home

[rocket67]

G`day , I can`t believe how unreliable some suppliers are. We are still waiting for our replaceable insert bits to arrive. Should have been here Monday.
Got sick of waiting - so we used a 1/2 inch three flute spiral bit to surface our spoilboard today. It took about 2hrs 20 mts to complete the job. Worked like a charm. After that we decided to go ahead and start routing some door panels for production using the bits from Whiteside.
Success is ours! The profiles came out very even and smooth with minimal fur.
I think we will continue with the bits that we have and tell the unreliable supplier to stick it. We can get some bits made in melbourne from another supplier.
Therefore anybody waiting for their machine to arrive would be very wise to be prepared before it arrives. I suggest you obtain the following -
1) A grease gun with a very small nipple.
2) The correct lubricants. For Aussies there is a grease that Jimmy suggested which is available from Anglomoil in Sydney. They also have a spray on oil in a pressure pack which you simply spray onto the guide rails. If anybody wants the company details just do a google search for Anglomoil.
3) A good selection of the bits that you will require, including a spoilboard bit.
4) Plenty of practice with your chosen software. We are using V Carve Pro. At about $600 it is a bargain and you will find it easy to use.
If you are well prepared you can be up and running very quickly.

Rocket.

[Big S]

I guess that means me, I received confirmation of payment today, I still need to find some work for the machine when it arrives though.

I already have quite a few (cheap) router bits that I will be able to get started with,

The other items I still need to sort out....

Shannon.

[howzat]

Hi guys,

I haven't been able to do a whole lot with my 0609 machine lately, but it's still going well. I've made a very dodgy dust extraction setup with a Tupperware container, kitchen sink plug, and super glued plastic that I will have to post pictures of soon :-)

Someone asked about high-density foam in Australia are a couple of pages back, there is multipanel (www.multipanel.com.au) who will send out sample squares. 2400 x 1200 x 25 mm sheets cost $360 plus GST. I'll buy a sheet to try sometime in the near future.

[rocket67]

G`day howzat, Your dust extraction system sounds very inventive. Can`t wait to see the photos of it. Does it work well?
That high density foam sounds terribly expensive. Maybe i am used to paying around $60 for mdf board at that size.

Shannon, have you been given an eta for your machine yet?
Linbide is a NZ supplier of router bits. We have their catalogue and it is very comprehensive.
I think your software skills will not be an issue, but make sure to have some lubricants ready.
Will take those measurements for you tomorrow - We were too busy in the shop this arvo.

Rocket.

[Big S]

I should be getting mine around the end of march, I'm supposed to be on holiday but keep getting asked to do jobs on the CNC because my bro doesn't want to do them (chair)

Shannon.

[leef]

Hey howzat

Im onto my third attempt for my 0609 dustshoe.
1st, i did the same thing with the plastic container. With a toilet roll
instead the brush bristles! (dont ask!, 1st attempt!)
Then i used a short piece of 80mm PVC downpipe.
Then back to another smaller more compact square clear container.
Just finished the 3rd attempt last night so havent tested it yet.
Will post pics too soon.
The vacuum cleaner that i have attached to the dust shoe keeps
blowing the paper dust bags, dunno how to get around that.
Maybe ill get a bagless vacuum cleaner. Cant afford a proper
dust exstraction unit.

Also Ive routered/leveled 1mm off the black foam table top.
Dunno if anyone else has done that? Figured it would be level
from the factory? I guess not! Got the idea when Rocket was
talking about waiting for his spoilboard routing bit.
I used that 22mm routing bit. Tired of cutting parts out
and the parts not coming out with a clean cut all the
way around. Because table being uneven, the blade was not cutting
deep enough in some places.
Im now using those cheap 300mm cork tiles as a cutting mat, seems to
work well. And can arrange them for the clamps if im cutting a
smaller than 600x900 sheet.

Also my router crashed on one occassion. I think i had the processing
speed up too high? Or i may have taken the usb stick out before
I did the 'safe to remove' procedure.
Anyway the spindle, drove into the part i was cutting in a 100mm
seemingly random wiggly cut. Fortunately it was only PVC foam (signfoam?)
and the line was only on the x,y axis! So pleased it didnt cut down into
the table top. Thankfully I was watching at the time so was able to
press stop.

When the my router working, most of the time im watching it!
Is this normal?

Im a lurker, Thanks everyone for the good reads!
Cheers
Lee

[Big S]

When the my router working, most of the time im watching it!
Is this normal?

IMHO I think it is a good safe working practice to be near the machine when it is running, It also saves materials and tools when things don't go as they should.

Shannon.

[Greolt]

Someone asked about high-density foam in Australia are a couple of pages back,
there is multipanel (www.multipanel.com.au) who will send out sample squares.
2400 x 1200 x 25 mm sheets cost $360 plus GST.

Thanks for that. I'll look it up.

[leef]

Sup Shannon in NZ!

Thanks for info, good to know im being productive

Congrats on your machine purchase, Im sure youll be
pleased with the quality.

I was down at the local hardware store.
Is there any reason why i cannot use standard wood router bits?
Do bits need to be from specialised CNC shops?
How about the dremel brand bits? (bit more expensive)
Im guessing the expensive special CNC bits are precisely balanced
and therefore more suited for high rpm's?

Wont need any bits for a while tho, the 20 bits that came
with the router are working great.

Cheers
Lee

[Big S]

You can use normal router bits for wood, but for plastics or alloy you may need spiral fluted bits to remove the chips. The straight flute standard router bits tend to clog up in these materials. The other thing to watch with standard router bits is they need to be run slower as the diameter increases, usually the packaging has the speed ratings on them.

We use single flute spiral cutters for most of the material, and occasionally a router bit for shaped edges.

Shannon.

[howzat]

Hey howzat

Im onto my third attempt for my 0609 dustshoe.
1st, i did the same thing with the plastic container. With a toilet roll
instead the brush bristles! (dont ask!, 1st attempt!)
Then i used a short piece of 80mm PVC downpipe.
Then back to another smaller more compact square clear container.
Just finished the 3rd attempt last night so havent tested it yet.
Will post pics too soon.
The vacuum cleaner that i have attached to the dust shoe keeps
blowing the paper dust bags, dunno how to get around that.
Maybe ill get a bagless vacuum cleaner. Cant afford a proper
dust exstraction unit.

Sounds like I'm not alone in dodgy dust shoes then! I bought a $90 shop vac which does a fairly good job of sucking, makes a bloody racket though. I'll buy a proper dust extractor sometime soon, but don't like the thought of shelling out more hundreds of dollars just yet :-)

Also Ive routered/leveled 1mm off the black foam table top.
Dunno if anyone else has done that? Figured it would be level
from the factory? I guess not! Got the idea when Rocket was
talking about waiting for his spoilboard routing bit.
I used that 22mm routing bit. Tired of cutting parts out
and the parts not coming out with a clean cut all the
way around. Because table being uneven, the blade was not cutting
deep enough in some places.
Im now using those cheap 300mm cork tiles as a cutting mat, seems to
work well. And can arrange them for the clamps if im cutting a
smaller than 600x900 sheet.

I figured it would have been machined level from the factory as well! I was having the same problems of cutout passes not cutting through evenly. I taped a bit of MDF to the surface yesterday to machine that, and found that the centre had a fairly large, shallow depression in it. I wasn't game on machining the tabletop directly, did it cut fairly cleanly and leave a good surface?

Also my router crashed on one occassion. I think i had the processing
speed up too high? Or i may have taken the usb stick out before
I did the 'safe to remove' procedure.
Anyway the spindle, drove into the part i was cutting in a 100mm
seemingly random wiggly cut. Fortunately it was only PVC foam (signfoam?)
and the line was only on the x,y axis! So pleased it didnt cut down into
the table top. Thankfully I was watching at the time so was able to
press stop.

I have had one instance of it malfunctioning. When we pressed the combo buttons to use the auto tool sensor it made a strange noise. Then when it came to running a program it just drove straight down into the table. Luckily the bit bogged down before it went into the black tabletop. Next time I hear a noise like that we'll be restarting the machine I think.

[leef]

The surface is now a little porous. As the black foam looks
to be the same sort of stuff as sign foam. Which is as far
as i know high density PVC foam?
Sealed surfaces, but foam inside.
Not as cleaner cut as i would hoped, but least its level.
If the porous is a problem, i figured ill rip all that black foam up
and redo it with rigid PVC or something.
You can sort of see what the surface is like from the edge of
the foam. (pretty much the same just, a little more dense than that)

That dip in the middle of the table must have been
from when it was shipped with control box sitting on it.

Yeah my vacuum cleaner is louder than the router.

Once or twice the machine reported "-x axis limit"
(only when manually moving the spindle)
Just press the opposing axis key and it comes back in line.
Somehow it got past the 0 sensor.

I still havent used the tool sensor. Will have to try that soon.
And if i hear strange noises ill restart the machine!

Thanks Shannon good clearing that up for me.
Theyve got a reasonable selection our local mega mitre 10.

[rocket67]

howzat and leef, If you keep an eye on Grays Online Auctions they quite often have woodwork machinery for auction and you can pick up a dust extractor for around $100. I believe that Grays operate in New Zealand as well.
As far as router bits are concerned you can get a catalogue from Linbide in New Zealand, or check out Routerbits.com in USA. They sent me some Whiteside bits which are great and only took one week and one day to get here.

Rocket.