[AsiaMagna]

Hi,

I am thinking of buying the X61500GT but reading this thread scares me. I am totally new to this and all problems listed makes me think that better stay out of this. I need one for my business. Would like to see a complete post written by someone who knows how to do the setup and operation. I use SolidWorks 2014 and just now learning CamWorks 2014 I am not sure I can do what i want with this machine. I want to make parts in 316 stainless steel and would need to know if this can be done. I plan to use 0.5, 5 and 10 mm sheet and 25 and 35 mm mm round bar to produce forward controls for motorcycles. Can this be done with this machine? Attached is a rendering of the assembly.

Grateful for any input from you guys. Can it be done and if so how?

Attachment 258802

[daniellyall]

I would not get this machine to do stainless steel you would be better of with a mill as stainless is hard as sh__ and the spindle is a high speed spindle the rpm required to cut stainless is less that what is required for the spindle to self cool.

you could get one and change to a lower speed spindle but to cut 10 mm stainless it would take a very long time to cut it as you cant drive these machines very fast.

so just save your self the pain and get a mill there are low cost options out there that will do what you wont all day every day

[RussellK]

Yup - this machine is a CNC router, ideal for wood, plastic and aluminium using light cuts. Mild steel or stainless requires a *much* heavier, *much* more rigid machine with far more torque, i.e. a milling machine.

[aarondc]

So "notification received" on the DHL website is something I clearly did not understood, but now, 6 days later, it actually shows something useful. As in. "Shipment picked up" and "Departed facility". So either it was sitting at KL for a week twiddling its cables, or it had not arrived yet. Anyway. Progress. Christmas rush looms. "Fastway" couriers cannot deliver a couple of 3D filament spools ~20km in a day. Twiddling my own thumbs waiting for something to play with.

[daniellyall]

we have the same problem over here with Fastway a week from 564km away sometime 2 weeks they are one of the worst

[agurkmedia]

This machine should only be used for wood and plastic..in alu the head bend to much. If you are planning to mill some alu...use 1flute. Theyre built for higher rpms. 2flute and higher will just melt/rub into the flutes, destroying both part and tool. Use lotsa coolant.

A 'router' is built for acryl and wood. A mill is built for metal.

I have both and I started with a router...thinking i could make some cool alu parts..tool wear is ruining da biz on a router. Oh..and the last thing, stainless require about 1k-2k rpm. On the GT you will burn the motor with that speed.

[daniellyall]

you can use coated cutters with routers cutting aluminium they cost a lot but they work well at very high speeds

[klaas123]

You can use uncoated 2 flute carbide cutters with this machine

[daniellyall]

correct but if you have your setting wrong they last about 10 seconds.
I all ways use the coat cutters its harder to destroy them

[aarondc]

we have the same problem over here with Fastway a week from 564km away sometime 2 weeks they are one of the worst

Yeah? I went to their Facebook page to vent, and the "posts to page" section is a litany of "WTF Fastway, where's my fracken parcel?" Delivery guys throwing parcels over the fence, or leaving it in the driveway not even knocking on the door. Franchise gone wrong. My confidence in receiving the filament any time soon plummeted.

- - - Updated - - -

you can use coated cutters with routers cutting aluminium they cost a lot but they work well at very high speeds

Is this kind of stuff summarised anywhere? And do you have a link to a supplier for these coated cutters?

Thanks!

[daniellyall]

I got them from trade tools

[aarondc]

I got them from trade tools

I don't mean to sound lazy but can you give us more info? I found tradetools.com but is that the store? Do you have a direct link to the cutters? As a complete newb this stuff is way over my head.

Thanks!

[daniellyall]

I use these ones as well Carbidenz 3mm 2 FLUTE CARBIDE ENDMILL

[klaas123]

TiAlN coated carbide endmills are not good at high speed milling aluminium for several reasons:

Aluminum Machining, Machining Aluminum, High Speed Machining | Radical Departures

[daniellyall]

its quite funny that I have never had this problem

[aarondc]

@4:45 this morning:

Shipment has been given a release by Customs.
Unless there is an adhoc exam or a stop by another regulatory authority the shipment will proceed to delivery

:wee:

[klaas123]

That is very good news aarondc!

[daniellyall]

hope you get a good one

[aarondc]

:nono:

@07:46
Shipment arrived at incorrect facility. Sent to correct destination

[aarondc]

So the CNC has arrived. One ding in a corner of the bed of the CNC, lots of dents in the foam but I guess that's what it's there for. Covered in "REPACKED" DHL tape, and the boxes inside were opened :-/ One bolt missing from one of the stepper motor mounts which I find very annoying :-/ It looks like DHL went through the entire thing then just tossed the boxes, still open, back into the main box.

It's all unpacked now, and I'm going to wait until I have the CNC-specific computer put together before I bother building this any further than putting the Y-Z gantry onto the bed and all the bits and pieces away in draws. The $40 second hand desk I bought to house it on is just right.

Rather than clutter this thread with more mindless drivel, where's the best place to start my own thread to detail fixing the bits and pieces that need to be fixed (like the unshielded cabling, for example) before I even think about turning it on?