Tag: CNC Routers

What is a CNC Router Used For?

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CNC Routers are used to make anything and everything. They are a machine typically with 3 (x,y,z) axis, using Computer Numerical Control to do carving, milling, and cutting. The most basic is for cutting sheets of wood and automating the trim process. CNC routers can help ensure part repeatability, accuracy and efficiency to allow mass production or one-off designs. Many users make products using a light industrial or prosumer CNC router which can make a plethora of items, such as:

  • wood carvings
  • specialized signs
  • door carvings
  • frames
  • crafts
  • musical instruments
  • cabinetry
  • gifts
  • furniture
  • aluminum engravings
  • plastic parts

Commercial CNC machines (~$50,000k and up) are used in mass production for industrial applications like making parts for engines, vehicles, aerospace, and medical devices. Hobby class CNC machines are the most inexpensive and primarily used by DIY users making simple carvings that do not require the precision or accuracy of higher class machines.

A CNC machine uses a mount for an off the shelf trim router or a spindle designed for CNC applications. The spindle and tooling can cut a variety of materials, depending on capabilities, such as aluminum, steel, plastic, glass, foam and wood. CNC routers are controlled by a computer running a G-code interpreter called the CNC control computer. The motors on each axis are sent signals through a stepper motor driver (one for each motor). Each driver will connect to a breakout board that sends the signals to the motors out a communication interface, often a DB25 connected parallel port.

Typically a CAD program is used to first create a design, and a CAM program translates the tool paths to G-code program instructions in vertical (z), horizontal (y) and perpendicular (x)coordinates. As with CNC milling machines, CNC routers can be controlled directly by manual programming, but CAD/CAM allows wider possibilities for contouring, speeding up the programming process or creating programs where manual G-code would be impractical.

The human operator selects the machine tool and determines the center point of the part, clamps the part onto the table, moves the bit directly above the marked center and down to the face of the part. This is marked as the origin (starting point) and can also be automated using CAM. The operator selects the run G-code function in the CNC control software, and machine begins to cut the design.

PROBOTIX™ is a leader in digital machining and a domestic manufacturer of fully assembled, tested, and turnkey CNC solutions – right here in the United States. Call us today at 866.492.9262 or email support@probotix.com to chat with an applications specialist to help find the right machine for your needs.

CNC Machine Market- Know the 3 Major Classes Before You Buy

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When you first get into the world of CNC you often find overwhelming information that can be challenging to navigate. Contrasting each manufacturer and product is akin to comparing apples and oranges. Each product line, manufacturer, and model falls into different places on the CNC spectrum.

In this article we will breakdown the 3 primary categories of CNC Routers: Hobby, Prosumer, and Professional. Each has a set of metrics that can do a lot of the initial heavy lifting when researching a machine that is optimal for your specific needs and budget. Lets dive into the many factors that determine a machine category such as size, cost, production capabilities, options, and breakdown the pros and cons for each.

  1. Hobby – CNC Kits
    Hobbyist kits are the least expensive type but require the most amount of experience, time, and patience. These router kits have to be assembled and calibrated and getting one up and running is a whole project by itself. Hobby CNC machine kits are best for non-commercial use and can be hit or miss when using in a production model. Understanding of electronics, mechanics, computers, and software is a must to have an efficient running machine for the desired utility. Hobby machines are not nearly as rigid or reliable as other CNC types.For the hobbyist who has time to fidget, troubleshoot, and hack away – it can be a fun activity with rewarding outcomes. Other hobbyists who lack in-depth knowledge of the mechanical, software, or both sides to a CNC machine often find kits to be frustrating and time-consuming and would opt for a more turnkey, ready to run machine. Inventables and Shapoko are a couple of brands that are popular in the hobbyist market. These kits often use cheaper components belts that can stretch and wear more than the alternative lead screw systems. The cheap plastic wheels for the linear drive mechanism in hobbyist CNCs is a disadvantage in both precision and replacement.
  2. Prosumer
    Prosumer lines of CNC machines run off of inexpensive PC based controls. They should have professional drive systems to include linear rails using ACME or ball screws. These machines are more rigid, precise, and reliable. Prosumer class CNC machines are a perfect option for small business and startups. The cost of entry is lower but you can still do high quality production work.Prosumer CNC machines also have a plethora of options the consumer can choose to customize the machine to their needs. You can often choose any spindle or router and explore additions like 4th axis, handheld jog pendants, touch-off plates, engraving lasers, CAM software, threaded inserts, and more -which is rare in the hobby or commercial/pro class CNC machines.  PROBOTIX fully assembled GX machines fall in the prosumer CNC category and are used for a multitude of applications from hobby woodworking, educational and university teaching, light industrial applications, and even commercial mass production.

    GX3725 Asteroid
    Shown is the PROBOTIX GX3725 – a new and improved GX series of machines matching the work envelop from our Galaxy Series Asteroid. Pictured is an installed 4th rotary axis (permanent location w/ split spoil board), MPG Jog Pendent, 1/4-20 threaded inserts plotted along a grid on the spoil board for lining up stock. The aluminum machine stand pictured here (with leveling feet – locking castors are the other option). It includes a mounted KVM arm to hold the monitor, mouse, and keyboard for convenience and aesthetics.

     

  3. Professional/Commercial CNC
    This class of CNC machine is the most expensive and best for larger application and companies with the capital and need to run high capacity heavy-duty industrial work. These machines run on proprietary control systems and require a higher learning curve to master the control systems. HAAS is the largest manufacturer of this class of cnc machine but bear in mind replacement parts are expensive. If your business depends on your machine running at high capacity or you can’t afford downtime when a problem occurs, you can get service calls on site but they are very expensive. Navigating the typical dealer network these class machines use can be a hassle. Typically a commercial machine requires a high dollar machinist and high level of technical skill to operate.

PROBOTIX™ is a leader in digital machining and a domestic manufacturer of fully assembled, tested, and turnkey CNC solutions – right here in the United States. Call us today at 866.492.9262 or email support@probotix.com to chat with an applications specialist to help find the right machine for your needs.

 

 

How Much is a CNC Router? Top 5 Price Factors to Know

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How much is a CNC router? PROBOTIX is the leader in digital manufacturing and has sold thousands of high precision prosumer class CNC machines for the educational, industrial, healthcare, and hobbyist markets. In this article we will explore the top 5 factors to consider when purchasing a CNC machine.

 

  1. Work Envelope
    In order to narrow down your search for a router and estimate how much you will need, size matters. Manufacturers vary in their table sizes from 12 x 12 tabletop cnc routers to large scale 5×9 machines. Expect to pay between $2,000 and $4,000 for a small bench-top router and $9,000-$30,000 for a large table that can cut full sheets of plywood.
  2. Manufacturer
    Price is also driven by the manufacturer. Expect to pay a premium when buying from an established brand in the industry especially the 800lb gorillas like HAAS and ShopBot. For Hobby market and Prosumer line CNC routers, name brand or brick-and-morter distributed products such as Rockler, Laguna, Inventibles, and Shapeoko, will add to the price. Buyer beware of Manufacturers who buy their machines from China and rebrand them (ie Laguna) as these products require consumers to sacrifice the craftmanship, service, and support from a true U.S. CNC manufacturer.
  3. Accessories
    Options options options. When factoring the price of a CNC machine, you will need to consider what accessories you need to include.  For instance, a $50,000 HAAS includes a $2,000 option upgrade to turn on rigid tapping function – even though the software already knows how to do it. Prosumer market accessories run between $500-$5,000 additional to machine cost and can include CAM software, dust collection, sensors, laser engraving, stands, and other options. Hobbyist market options run an additional $100-$2,000 depending. Most machines have a base price and a list of accessories or upgraded features that will add dollars to your total cost of a full CNC solution.
  4. Craftsmanship
    Typically you will pay a premium for superior craftsmanship which encompasses the quality of raw materials, machining, assembly, and aesthetics. Prosumer market routers run $3,000-$20,000k, and Professional models run $20,000 and up. Hobbyist market machines will cost you between $1,000 – $3,000. While a good value, the precision and parts are inferior so they will always require a considerable time investment.
  5. Service
    Customer service and support is critical to gain full utilization and peak operating capacity of your machine. In the CNC industry, look for suppliers that have a phone number for sales, tech support, and customer service preferably to the manufacturing facility itself where you can speak with the mechanics engineers designers or owners of the company you buy from. This is rare in the industry, and even more so when you are able to call the source directly and domestically. Look for manufacturers that have a developed help desk, online wiki, forum, phone and support email.

PROBOTIX™ is the leader in digital manufacturing with fully assembled prosumer line precision CNC routers. Our machines are 100% American owned, manufactured and supported. Contact us today at 844-472-9262 or email support@probotix.com and speak with an Applications Engineer to determine the best CNC machine and accessories to fit your budget and production requirements.

Choosing the right CAM software – Three Basic Operations

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The CAM software you choose depends upon the types of parts you want to make. There are three basic types of operations that you can do with a CNC router:

  • Bitmap relief carving
  • 2.5D carving
  • 3D carving

The first and simplest type of operation is bitmap relief carving. This is for working with photographs… jpeg and bitmap images. The software converts the image to grayscale. Then you define the maximum and minimum depth of cut, and the software creates the tool paths to carve a 3D relief carving of the images. The 3D lithophane is an example of this type of carving. Vectric’s PhotoVCarve works very well for this. (Other Examples)

The second type of operation is called 2.5D – pocketing, profiling, drilling, and text engraving. These are basically flat features in flat parts. With this type of operation, you can make ribs for your model airplane wings, coasters, Christmas ornaments, wooden clocks, parts for your quadcopters, signs, and plaques, and so on. At only $150, Vectric’sCut2D is the easiest way to get started with these types of parts.

The third type of operation is a 3D carving. This is for more organic shapes with curved surfaces. To do this type of operation, you use a ball end mill. The amount of detail that you get is determined by how small a tool that you use on the finish pass. There are limitations to this type of carving because the tool is always perpendicular to the table. Most 3D carving software will allow you to do 2-sided machining, and also to slice your model into manageable pieces that you can glue together to make objects that are much larger than you CNC router’s work envelope. MeshCam and Cut3D are both great 3D carving programs.

All three of these types of software programs will export g-code that can be run on any CNC router.

PROBOTIX™ is the leader in digital manufacturing with fully assembled precision CNC routers. Contact us today at 844-472-9262 or email support@probotix.com and speak with an Applications Engineer to determine the best CAM software and CNC accessories for your business needs.