Do you have your own CNC? What is it?

[StilgarISCA]

I know people on here are CNCing cabs, but are you paying someone else to do it or do you have your own rig? And if you're doing it yourself what do you have?

I see a lot of these DIY CNC machine plans out there and building a table for it isn't a big deal to me, but properly mounting the motors and router is. Most of the commercial-grade machines that could handle a full-sized sheet of plywood are pretty spendy and the prices vary wildly. I'm just wondering what everyone else is doing.

 

[ArcadeTechGW]

Don't have one. Don't have the space for one.

I'm not a big rehabber - I fix games and make them look as nice as I can. I am amazed at the skill of some people who use bondo and sand a cabinet back, and then replace all the artwork to make it look exactly like new.

CNC work takes some programming skill. It's not like you just get some parts, throw them together, and go.

 

[StilgarISCA]

CNC work takes some programming skill. It's not like you just get some parts, throw them together, and go.

Theoretically whatever you build can take some sort of CAD file like the ones bdn103 throws up at Classic Arcade Cabinets, or you use other software to generate the files which the CNC software converts into your x-y-z in plywood/mdf.

In any case, programming is not scary to me because I do it for a living

 

[bdn103]

I have a modified system based on the CNC Router Parts (www.cncrouterparts.com) on their Pro 48x96 table running a Chinese water cooled spindle in the 4.5kw range. I originally looked at a Shopbot turn key solution (like what dptwiz had) but it was about 2.5x -3x more expensive then the route I went......and I think I have an equal or better machine in most situations. I have about $7500 into it now (been adding on over the last few years) Build time was about a week.... And about 6 months learning my way around and getting the machine dialed in.

Brian

 

[hepgeek]

I'm waiting for the Shaper Origin to get the kinks worked out, then I plan to snag one for cabinet builds / refurbs

 

[DPtwiz]

yep, i had a shopbot, prs standard 97X49 table size, 2.2 hp spindle, vacuum hold down, and dust collection. you also need a good tablesaw, i had a grizzly 74" cabinet saw, and also had a woodpeckers brand router table with a quick lift system and micro adjust fences. Shopbots use Vectric software. It's a stripped down version of artcam pro. You can draw up your parts in vector format, nest them, etc, and generate toolpaths. You don't have to know any G code at all. I had started a guide on how to copy a cabinet for cnc work and a few people started acting douchey, so i never finished it.

I sold it all to a friend who's carrying on with it, i draw up cabinets still.

 

[StilgarISCA]

I know the Maslow setup has been somewhat controversial, but it's got a good price point and the near vertical cutting makes it a space saver. If you look at their user-submitted photos there are several bartops that look decent.

 

[bdn103]

I know the Maslow setup has been somewhat controversial, but it's got a good price point and the near vertical cutting makes it a space saver. If you look at their user-submitted photos there are several bartops that look decent.

I think the Maslow is a great kickstarter that evolved into something more. I still have concerns with the accuracy of the equipment..... but it may be ok for personal use (tolerances of .2" are scary to me).... and can be definitely cleaned up with some wood working tools. There is a youtube video on the Maslow talking about accuracy here....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=285&v=fJQAq2xR30U

I have had a number of Maslow user ask me for help with their CNC projects based on the plans I post on the website.

Brian

 

[DPtwiz]

.2 is way way way too much. mine was supposed to be accurate to .005 in reality, it was closer to + - .03

 

[StilgarISCA]

There is a youtube video on the Maslow talking about accuracy here....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=285&v=fJQAq2xR30U

That test is before the newer ring design, which has helped tighten up the tolerances (somewhat). This guy's test isn't quite as thorough -- he just tested in the upper-left corner -- but you can see the improvement (still not great, but better)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B55p5398DPc&t=1m22s

 

[bakerhillpins]

I'm waiting for the Shaper Origin to get the kinks worked out, then I plan to snag one for cabinet builds / refurbs

I just saw a few vids on the Shaper Orgin... wonder how it's progressed since Dec 2018? Certainly a cool idea.

 

[Tornadoboy]

The beauty of Maslow is it's also open source and all kinds of people are playing around with the design and trying to improve it, some garage genius somewhere will hopefully figure out a few simple but clever ways to greatly improve its accuracy.

 

[Bishop]

I know the Maslow setup has been somewhat controversial, but it's got a good price point and the near vertical cutting makes it a space saver. If you look at their user-submitted photos there are several bartops that look decent.

I have a Maslow. Biggest pain in the ass ever. The thing is not suitable for consumer sales. It is a perpetual work-in-progress project. Getting it to calibrate can take all day or two days. Keeping it calibrated is another matter. The chain system is complete bullshit. If you read the Maslow forums you will get a nice sampling of crazy bullshit people have to do to get it to work. This is just my experience. I'm just an idiot that wants products to work if I pay money for them.

 

[StilgarISCA]

I still look at this stuff from time to time. I think the shaper is what I'd try. Where I landed on this stuff is just finding someone else to cut for me. I'd love to have a real CNC machine, but I'm not convinced I'd use it enough to justify the spend. Also, I'm sure my neighbors would want to kill me for all the noise.

 

[KaBoom1701]

I'd love a garage friendly CNC set up that dosen't cost 10-20K.

 

[offset]

Thought about the Maslow, but I've heard not so good things about it. I've also considered just a smaller cnc (for doing control panels, etc), so many CNCs out there, not sure of a decent one less than $1500 than can cut control panel sized pieces (ie. around 24-26").