Class Red equipment: Do not use without specific training.
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Equipment / CNC Router

CNC Router

Summary

A CNC router is a computer controlled shaping machine. These are related to the hand held router. Instead of hand held routing, the tool paths can be controlled via computer numerical control. It is a computer-controlled machine for cutting various hard materials, such as wood, composites, aluminum, steel, plastics, and foams. It is one of many kinds of tools that have CNC variants. A CNC router is very similar in concept to a CNC milling machine. The CNC router is controlled by a computer. Coordinates are uploaded into the machine controller from a separate CAD program

Capacity: 1200 x 1200 x 120mm
Rate (X,Y): 6000mm/min (Max) 5000mm/min (Working)
Rate (Z): 30mm/sec
Spindle Speed: 4500 to 24000rpm
Mechanical Precision: 0.01mm
Spindle Power: 1.5KW Variable Speed, Water-cooled
Blade Diameter: min 3.175mm, max 12.7mm
Order Format: HPGL, G code, u00, mmg, plt
Control System: DSP with USB connection

Here are some examples we've made on the Model Mill (please add a photo of yours any time you do a job!)

Using the CNC Router

Owners

The Owners are those who have volunteered to be in charge of the equipment, organising maintenance, training others to use it, and generally being a point of contact. The current Owners of the CNC Router are:

Stephen Woolhead
Chris Abri
Mark Mellors

If you have any questions, problems or concerns around the Model Mill, please use the mailing list thread:

Log : CNC Router

Training

YOU CAN ONLY USE THE MODEL MILL IF YOU HAVE BEEN TRAINED
and have been added to the Trained Users list by one of the Owners

To get trained on the model mill and be added to the qualified user list, you will need to arrange for a training session with one of the Model Mill Owners.

If you'd like to arrange training, please see:

Model Mill Training

Health and Safety

Instructions

Tips & Tricks

Maintenance

The maintenance of the CNC Routeris carried out by the Owners, with some basic maintenance being carried out by Users on every job.

Maintenance Schedule

Maintenance Log

Installed on 21st March 2013.

Maintenance Shopping List

Original Requirements Notes

CNC Controlled
Minimum 4' x 4' cutting bed
- It was generally concluded whilst 8' x 4' would be attractive, it may have limits in terms of floor space and also materials storage and handling - storing and moving 8' x 4' sheets on to a flatbed machine is a pretty impractical task in a full workshop, and certainly not a 1 man job.
- We concluded we could store a lot of sheet material in 4' x 4' and 600 x 900 for the router and laser respectively (and for general use), making storage much more tractable and avoiding the need to cut down such large sheets.
decent software

Maybe a Vacuum bed

Would make jobs quicker to setup (except vacuum beds sometimes require a custom 'mask' cutting to cover all the unused holes)
avoids risk of hitting clamps/bolts
Will be more expensive (new mask needed for each job?)
Unsure how "magical" a solution it is

Options

Shopbot

The defacto FabLab CNC router
Would be from the [PRS Standard Range]
Prices are roughly $11500 and $13000 for the 4x4 and 8x4 models
Ship from US (no distributors), by air or sea, and import duties etc payable
Quote from Shopbot: approx $15k/£10k + shipping/taxes for 4x4, 8x8 would be approx £2k more

Piranha

Look like imports, sold by radecal
Include internal vacuum bed
Available in 4x4 and 4x8. 4x4 and 4x8 both listed as weighing 800kg.
4x8: http://www.radecalmachinesales.com/product.asp?cid=2&scid=&pid=18
4x4: http://www.radecalmachinesales.com/product.asp?cid=2&scid=&pid=70
Quote from radecal: TBC (guessing about £13k and £18k)

HPC Laser CNC

Not clear what is available or specs; assume it is china import again, but could be interesting to go with HPC given great service
1200x1200 looks like it might be: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HPC-CNC-router-1200-x1200-engraver-CNC-Machine-sign-making-UK-stock-/150966295622

Others

Machine	URL	Price (UKP)	Size - X	Size - Y	Size - Z	Weight	Notes
Heiz S400	link	£1595	400	300	110	31kg
Heiz S720	link	£1995	720	420	110	41kg	Videos - Making PCB Machining metal Engraving in wood
Heiz S1000	link	£2395	1000	600	110	51kg	£4012 including all options and VAT
HPCLaser RC6090	link	£3750+VAT	600	900	65	200kg	Up to 24000rpm, 30mm cutting thickness. From same supplier as Laser cutter. Upgraded spindle from one listed. Claimed accuracy of 10 micron.

Weight gives an indication of stiffness and quality for a given size of machine. Shopbots weight is not listed

Notes

http://www.shopbottools.com/mProducts/prSstandard.htm

Equipment/CNC Router

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