[cpurious]

Awesome. Thanks for the response. I like the dust extractor too, I was thinking about something like that.

The 402 pad cuts are really impressive, those suckers are small.

I thought of another question, is the spindle motor's speed controlled through the control box or is it independent and built into the motor or something?

I asked the seller if I could spend less by not getting the control box. I've had previous experience building stepper motor controllers and could do that on my own if it's worth the money. I'll post the info when he replies.

I also asked him about the machines table layout. (4 sections or more)

[mr_westie]

Valisk,
the important stuff.
But if you are completely new to cnc like I was some things may not be obvious.
I will assemble a document if you guys like.
It is quite easy once you know how.
Info compiled by rayellam including the supplied doc.
http://www.island-instruments.com/stuff/TonsonCNC/


cpurious
Speed, via the box I am guessing? You can control it via MACH3.
I would get the control box as well so you have a running machine quickly.

Here are some pics of the box
-

[cpurious]

Ah, yea, it must use the control box if you can control it through MACH3. I will probably end up getting the box, unless there's a large price difference, which I doubt, if he even will sell the machine without the box.

Out of curiosity, how does the spindle motor attach to the control box? I see there's an outlet plug on the box, is that where the motor plugs in? If the control box has a transformer to output the motors 220V that would be nice, since I don't have access to 220V in my place right now. Or did you have to connect it to 220V yourself and there's just some control line from the box that adjust the motor speed?

[cpurious]

Also, the seller hasn't responded to my questions yet, but he did just update his page on eBay with more pictures of the unit that look like the ones mr_westie has posted. Though he didn't take the old different looking ones off the page... It looks like an updated version to me.

http://cgi.ebay.com/CNC-router-engra...d=p3911.c0.m14

[mr_westie]

It looks like a plain brushed motor, no electronics.
There is an AC speed control of some sort in the box.


The box and motor should come in the same voltage so no transformers necessary.


For a faster quieter motor I was looking at burshless motors from the RC hobby.
But I don't think I will need the feed rates that going to 100k would give.

this might do for 50k
http://hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store...idProduct=8144

Even with a speed controller and psu it still seems cheap.
http://hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store...idProduct=3731
http://hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store...idProduct=9205
You could cheap out on the psu by using old pc PSU in parallel.


Just needs an adaptor of some sort.

[cpurious]

That little brushless DC motor looks cool. Anyone have an example of someone using one like that?

[mr_westie]

Thread is a bit old but some info.
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2621

I wouldn't use direct drive due to potential run out issues.

Another attempt but he was using too small amotor I think
http://www.cncathome.com/spindles.html

Unfortunatly I don't have any high rpm motors in my box of spares.
I have the rest of the bits required though, esc, psu.

To combat noise with the current system I might just run it at 10k rpm and lower feed rate.
I am in no hurry most of the time.

[cpurious]

Got a response from the seller jarod:

Price for the frame, stepper motors and spindle motor, without the control box: $530
Price for the frame and stepper motors alone: $500

He also mentioned that the control box is used to convert the 110 wall voltage to the 220V that the motor's looking for.

So, $80 for the control box and the spindle motor. Not really something I can pass up. Oh well, worth a try It will be nice to have them anyway.

I'm getting closer and closer to ordering one.

[Valisk]

I ordered mine last night! Now where's that Mach3 manual...

Valisk,
the important stuff.
But if you are completely new to cnc like I was some things may not be obvious.
I will assemble a document if you guys like.

If you could, that would be fantastic! I have to say thanks for all your posts, thay have been a great help in making my decision!

I'll post my experiences when the kit arrives. I'll be using it to make parts for my home flightsim cockpit - Edgelit panels and flight instruments mainly.

[m_elias]

Anyone controlling this unit with EMC2 or just Mach3? I have mine sitting at home now. The task of configuring EMC2 or Mach3 is intimidating me. Is it possible to share config files?

[petnnw]

Hi mr_westie,
did you try to mill aluminium with your CNC router? Is it possible?
Furthermore, did it come with any drill bit, end mills, etc.?
Regards

[cpurious]

I've ordered mine now!

Thanks again for all the information provided.

rayellam, I dropped your name to the seller since I originally found the machine from your posts, and you mentioned referrals.

Now the waiting game....

[deg_18]

if your looking for a good machine i have a 2006 warthog sidewinder. Great machine things have slowed in this area. David

[mr_westie]

Valisk, I'll put something together in a day or so
Sound like an interesting use for it.
I can only imagine how far they have some sine I last looked at flight sim software, go ms flight sim 99.


m_elias, mach3 is easy.
It looks like there are at least 2 versions out as the doc posted by rayellam is slightly different to mine.
I had a quick look at emc2 but flagged once I got mach3 going without the demo limit.
Hopefully once my docs are posted it will help you a little


petnnw, no aluminium yet.
Do not have any suitable bits, unless I use old drill bits.
The closest thing will be engraving some chinese pot metal soon.
It comes with 1x V cutter, 1x ? not sure, I think it was an end mill will recheck and post.
I killed the v cutter very early on by plunging it into a pcb with bad gcode.


After using it a few times I have not run into the ground problem that rayellam mentioned.

The bit I am using is rated at 64ipm at 24k rpm.
The feed rate listed in the auction is 1000mm/m , 39.4ipm.
That is if more than 1 axis is moving, otherwise it's 700mm/m, 27.6ipm.
So even running at 10krpm I can just feed the cutter at full speed.
I have not done a speed test to see when it starts loosing steps.

I did make a programming mistake that made it run at 1800mm/m where it did loose steps and almost wreaked a board I was milling.

[mr_westie]

I ran a speed test, it starts to sound funny after 800mm/m

A feed test I did at 10krpm , 100-700 mm/m
This was before I got the tool data from supplier.
Below 600 mm/m was too slow for the tool and results in ragged edges from rubbing.


I am starting to feel the need for speed
Bah, 5 mins is not that long to wait, better than the toner method.

[mr_westie]

Here is a setup doc care of rayellam
http://www.island-instruments.com/st...CH%203.doc
http://www.island-instruments.com/stuff/TonsonCNC/

The one that came with my machine.
http://www.box.net/shared/ylfz531rm6
Slightly different motor values.


Still putting together my manual .

[Valisk]

Many, many thanks mr westie We really appreciate the time and effort you've taken to share the info. I look forward to reading your doc.

Shame the ebay vendor hasn't shown the same commitment (although, I suspect it's something to do with the language barrier!).

[Valisk]

I notice the seller on ebay has three different sizes of machine for sale - what sizes have you guys gone for? I've bought the 180x250 version...

[cpurious]

Same here. The price jump wasn't worth the larger size for what I want out of it.

[mr_westie]

Draft manual is up.
http://www.box.net/shared/diz6309gkl
2.8Mb

To add the final steps of actually milling a board.