Best CNC router!?

[Mr.Moustache]

Im thinking of getting a cnc router to cut aluminium and i have a budget of about $300.

Things to consider:

Country/Currency: AUD (australia)

Must be able to cut at least 1.0 mm thick of aluminium

Under $300 or slightly above, eg. ($325)

Im also new to cnc so something mainstream with decent online support is appreciated

If it is possible to buy from iconic stores like amazon and ebay it is a bonus

 

Thats all!

 

[Kilrah]

What dimensions? That has massive impact on the price...

 

But basically, nothing at all.

 

At AUD300 the best you get is a tiny no name tabletop 3018 straight from China with a simple DC motor as spindle that's going to at most do some PCB/wood/plastic with much wobbliness, not alu.

[Mr.Moustache]

@KilrahNoname for me is fine, dimensions preferably is 300x180x45mm.

Also whats the minimum price for a cnc router that can cut aluminium

(desktop cnc) 

[tikker]

I think you'll have to adjust your budget upwards quite a bit for a decent desktop CNC, for safety reasons I'd say you don't want to cheap out on such dangerous equipment. Then if it's even possible it most likely needs to cut very slow.

[Kilrah]

Looks like the 3018s can be coaxed into cutting some alu plates once in a while with some level of success, but it's a bit sketchy and the spindle is probably not going to last long.

 

 

 

 

If you want to do that regularly you'll probably want to go with a 4030 and a decent spindle, gonna cost you around US$1000-1200.

One of the big issues with those DC spindles is they've got no torque at the speeds you'd want to use to cut alu, so you've got to run them too fast, and then they'll rub more than they cut.

 

[Mr.Moustache]

@Kilrah can you post some links for the cheapest but "decent enough" router to cut aluminium. Is there anything lower than cnc 430 that i am able to cut Aluminium? 

 

@tikker what the minimum i am able to pay for a decent cnc desktop router?  

[Mr.Moustache]

@Kilrah

@tikker

I forgot to note that im only cutting 1.2mm thick aluminium and under!

[LogicalDrm]

-> Moved to Hobby Electronics

[Mr.Moustache]

Soz for putting it into general discussion.

[GhostRoadieBL]

i'd be looking at the 3018 to be honest, investing the rest of the budget into carbide or cobalt bits and slowing down the pass rate to reduce stress on the spindle. You can easily cut most metals with minimal power by taking longer and most importantly having wickedly sharp bits, muscling through a piece works for larger machines as they can have junkyard bits and still have the power to just rough cut through. 

[Mr.Moustache]

@GhostRoadieBLOk ty! Have any particular cnc 3018? Also will getting a new spindle with a high quality one be able to cut faster? 

[GhostRoadieBL]

1 hour ago, Mr.Moustache said:

@GhostRoadieBLOk ty! Have any particular cnc 3018? Also will getting a new spindle with a high quality one be able to cut faster? 

i'm a big fan of this one with the standalone controller for centering 

https://www.amazon.ca/SainSmart-Genmitsu-3018-PROVer-Switches-Emergency-Stop/dp/B07ZFD6SKP/ref=sr_1_16?dchild=1&keywords=cnc+3018+pro&qid=1602091800&sr=8-16&tag=al05a-20

 

but this one also does everything the same, less convenience of standalone setup and then just plug scripts in and go

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08G4J1XR8/ref=sspa_dk_hqp_detail_aax_0?psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUE4UUo1MUxRVFdPOFUmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA4NTA1NTIyNU5QWFI0SkZZR0FUJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA1NzUxODMyU1BJRkJMQUkyNk5SJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfaHFwX3NoYXJlZCZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

 

for bits you'll end up wanting ones like these

https://www.toolstoday.com/v-14444-45773-k.html

be careful of "wood working" bits as most are aluminum with a cheap carbide coating, full carbide are best but get crazy expensive as you start building your set. 

 

**edit - couldn't find the link but found it now 

https://www.toolstoday.com/in-groove-cnc-insert-engraving-tool-body-replacement-solid-carbide-insert-knives.html

the replaceable insert bits are wonderful, replacing just the tips saves huge $ in the long run

[GhostRoadieBL]

1 hour ago, Mr.Moustache said:

getting a new spindle with a high quality one be able to cut faster

that's a complicated question, the rest of the system needs to support the added torque from stronger spindles down to things like the xyz motors needing to be bulked up to prevent vibration, the spindle in the 3018 is the weakest point but you won't really notice until your bits dull and you start making 50+ thou passes instead of 2x 25thou passes. 

 

once you have one start slow and walk up the speed until you have to add cooling fans or cutting fluid to keep the bits cool so they stay sharp. it's a balancing act but you'll probably be surprised how fast you can go with good bits.

[Mr.Moustache]

@GhostRoadieBL Thanks man! I currently have $250 rn, after some time doing physical labourer for a few weeks im sure im able to save up to $500. Cant wait to get this one https://www.amazon.com.au/Genmitsu-3018-MX3-Switches-Emergency-Stop-Upgraded/dp/B08G4J1XR8/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Genmitsu+CNC+Router+Machine+3018-MX3+with+Mach3+Control%2C+Limit+Switches+%26+Emergency-Stop%2C+XYZ+Working+Area+300+x+180+x+45mm%2C+Upgraded+Version&qid=1602132307&sr=8-1

Also down the line ill be adding some upgrades like some endmills, of course cheap ones as they might break and also get on e of those coolers when cutting.