Hobby grade CNC

[Coligny]

Since I'm not at my furst (good) coincidence with the hobbies of youz people on this forum, I was wondering if some of you are into CNC.

I got a small proxxon milling machine (yeah I know, got to be a genius to live in japan and buy foreign for these kind of tool machine). Which is not exactly wonderfull got backlash, z axis use is dreadfull, but worse is she's a bit wobbly. And the only thing i'm really good with is -accidentally- send aluminum stock of every size flying all over the workshop.

I found this local brand/maker of cheap CNC http://www.originalmind.co.jp/cargo5/haku/. I don't have real "need" beside maybe engraving backlit panels in plastic, it's more about discovering cam with CNC rather than starting a business.

Since i'm a total beginner I don't want to build machine and driver on my own and would rather focus on using the machine.

Do you have any experience in the field/ brand recommandation ?

[waruta]

This might help: http://cnczone.com/

Also, HackaDay and HackedGadgets, Maker and Instructables has a lot of info on people building their own. I would probably splash out the 1,000 USD or so for an entire kit thats semi-built and just do the rest myself, since the local home centers are not as well equipped/priced as Home Depot or Lowes in the US. Good luck, and let me know when you're done....I might want to outsource some milling to you for a price of course....

[Ketou]

I think without the link the vast majority of us would have had no idea of what you were talking about....with the link, the slight majority...
As long as you are having fun it's all good....and I have no idea how to discover a cam except by taking off a rocker cover.

[Ol Dirty Gaijin]

Like to try and help, but I work in a slightly different scale and with a couple of extra axis.
http://www.toshiba-machine.co.jp/machinery/lineup/mpcb/index.html
If you can hold off a little in time there is the DMS shows you could look around in Tokyo and Osaka.
http://www.dms-tokyo.jp/english/exhibit/outline.phtml

What sort of CAM are looking at, 2D 2.5D at that size? Might be able to help there. If it's just 2D and you know the G codes you could almost write you own code or even macros from a basic CAD system...

[BigInJapan]

I have made quite a few carved signs using a handheld router, and have considered getting a CAM myself for a few years. Since I work in wood only, the unit I have thought about getting is the Carvewright (aka Compucarve) hobby unit. It is sold only the US as far as I know, so getting one sent over here would take a bit of work. In addition to wood, it can handle some softer plastics.
Demo video here.
You mentioned backlit panels, on the Carvewright forum, some users have posted their "litho" photos (lithopane or French: lithophanie).
Litho example.

[Coligny]

I know aboot cnczone and the others, but they always reference to US/euro based companies... Transport fees for any order would be criminal...
That's why I was inquiring aboot the local options. There might be also a crap load of good deals on yahoo auctions these days... but there's kinda a language barrier... especially when you don't know what you want...


On a side note, Toyohashi being a city were they certainly put LSD in the tap water, we have a local company that make pla-model of milling and CNC machines...

http://www.finemolds.co.jp/iroiro/FP1.html
http://www.finemolds.co.jp/www/V33i.html

(we also have at least 2 world wide known maker of RC car performance upgrade parts (eagle racing and Kawada...) but there is only 2 hobby shops, none of them selling their products and the nearest racetrack is lost in the moutains between Nagoya and toyokawa... so I usually order from hongkong and race... alone in one of the hundredth of local parks... that are for 99% of them cleaner than my kitchen but as empty of any living beings...)

[Coligny]

Like to try and help, but I work in a slightly different scale and with a couple of extra axis.
http://www.toshiba-machine.co.jp/machinery/lineup/mpcb/index.html
If you can hold off a little in time there is the DMS shows you could look around in Tokyo and Osaka.
http://www.dms-tokyo.jp/english/exhibit/outline.phtml

What sort of CAM are looking at, 2D 2.5D at that size? Might be able to help there. If it's just 2D and you know the G codes you could almost write you own code or even macros from a basic CAD system...

Back on topic (i'm on and Off since 3-4 years on this... way too many things going on at the same time)... Will one of you'z go to the expo ? Is pre-registration required ?

[Blah Pete]

I ordered a small cnc mill from the USA when I was in Japan and the shipping wasn't too bad. I added the motors and electronics myself.
For the software use Mach 3 http://www.machsupport.com/
As mentioned cnczone has a lot of good information.
I think the cheapest solution for Japan is to buy one of the Chinese made 3-axis mills (Central Machinery, etc.) and cnc it yourself. Add motors, electronics, Mach 3.

I am currently (for the last 2 years...) building a 5-axis tool. Hope to get it done in the next few months.

[waruta]

I ordered a small cnc mill from the USA when I was in Japan and the shipping wasn't too bad. I added the motors and electronics myself.
For the software use Mach 3 http://www.machsupport.com/
As mentioned cnczone has a lot of good information.
I think the cheapest solution for Japan is to buy one of the Chinese made 3-axis mills (Central Machinery, etc.) and cnc it yourself. Add motors, electronics, Mach 3.

I am currently (for the last 2 years...) building a 5-axis tool. Hope to get it done in the next few months.

Here's some CNC Pr0n for you engineers out there:

(Its a Matsuura MAM72-42V 5 axis CNC machine)

[YT]<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GU32Q6QXtWQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GU32Q6QXtWQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>[/YT]

And the actual build....

[YT]<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Q34xIzTj8fQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Q34xIzTj8fQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>[/YT]

[Ol Dirty Gaijin]

Meh.. 3+2 programming. At least show full 5-axis, sorry for the music..
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Been a couple of years since I've had to work with this stuff.
Think the Matsuura and Mori-Seiki machines are pretty solid. Yasda are sweet, very high accuracy but at a price. Mazak don't impress me too much but they do have some big turn mills. OKK are pretty good guys to work with for smaller machines.
Given all that though I'd get picky on the controllers. In 3-axis they are all about the same. Fanuc does very little special in 5-axis, Mitsubishi are marginally better. Would much rather be working with a Heidenhain. Some of the Japanese makers work with them as an option.

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Coligny, I'll PM some stuff tomorrow, got some passes I won't be using.

[waruta]

Coligny, I'll PM some stuff tomorrow, got some passes I won't be using.

Just received some passes....anyone else planning on going?

[Coligny]

Just received some passes....anyone else planning on going?

I thought it wuz just something to print ?

>>>>>>

Your request is sent.

Thank you for requesting invitation tickets of DMS.

However, as mailing the Invitation Tickets would take time, we would like you to bring the "Invitation Tickets Exchange Form" to the venue. In a short time, you will receive an E-mail titled "Invitation Ticket Exchange Form", so please print it out and bring it with you to the visitor registration counter.

For more inquiries, please contact Show Management.


>>>>>>>

[waruta]

I thought it wuz just something to print ?>>>>>>>

You can print as many as you like? I only received three passes, blueish flimsy paper folded into three. I'm more looking to the CNC/Machining while my colleague is eagerly awaiting the 3D expo...

[Coligny]

You can print as many as you like? I only received three passes, blueish flimsy paper folded into three. I'm more looking to the CNC/Machining while my colleague is eagerly awaiting the 3D expo...

I wrote that I only needed 1, so I can only ask for 1 with my form. But the website didn't really speak aboot any limit... and the default was 2.