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I stumbled into a thread last night where I discovered affordable CNC routers. I'd seen non-affordable (at least in my hobby budget) CNC routers before, but didn't know affordable ones were a thing. I might have good uses for it apart from rocketry, as well as it supporting rocketry in materials including wood, G10, phenolic and carbon. Might even be able to use it to slot boat tails and stuff like that. The biggest rocket I've thought about so far is 3 inches, and that's kinda big, dumb, low, slow and fun territory. Pretty sure I have no interest in going bigger, as almost all my interest is 24-29mm MD, maybe BT-55 stuff.
Of course, I've jumped down the rabbit hole on CNC routers. Started off looking at the Genmitsu line, as links to it were posted in the other thread. Was most comfortable with the 3020-Pro Max due to its rigidity. Followed that theme, read some reviews, ended up looking at the FoxAlien x Woodmads CNC Router WM3020.
https://www.foxalien.com/collections/cnc-router/products/foxalien-x-woodmads-cnc-router-wm3020
It's similar in size and concept to the 3020-Pro Max, but has upgrades like limit switches at both ends of each axis, linear bearings and ball screws on all three axes, and is easily adaptable with parts from FoxAlien to use DeWalt or Makita trim routers, which provide a massive increase in speed and torque. They say a table extension kit is in the pipe, presumably to convert to 3040 (I'm straight up making up that 3040 thing, but it makes sense to me as the likely target).
It's available for $676 with free shipping for the next week or so, rather than the $899 it is on Amazon, but still shipped from a "US Amazon" warehouse. https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804459064615.html That's a lot cheaper than upgrading the Genmitsu 3020 Pro Max.
Between a lower-cost machine like a Genmitsu 3018 upgraded to 3040 and the more rigid machine with massively more HP easily available, I lean toward the more ridgid and powerful. Just thinking about all the likely uses I might put this to, I think they'll all fit just fine in the 3020 cutting box. Space is also at a premium because of the amount of stuff I have in my garage. Having the router take up a significant chunk of workshop/bench space would probably be a bigger negative for me than a few hundred bucks cost plus or minus on the program, to be honest. If I unexpectedly end up wanting to use it for larger stuff enough to justify the cost and space requirements of a larger system, I don't think the cost of the new machine will bother me at that point.
I kinda figure if I hit that deal linked above, I'll end up in it for $1000 +/- with the Makita router and some basic other extras.
I know there are people here making runs of parts on a Genmitsu, and others set up on a full-scale metal mill. I drive a desk at work, but have access to a real mill with a DRO. Even had a little spindle time earlier this week. However, it's not CNC. So I'm not looking at this CNC router and thinking I'll use it for things it really shouldn't be used for. I'm thinking about moderately complex stuff that's fairly small and light duty.
Owning equipment does have to be weighed against "sendcutsend" and other options such as the several people offering those services through the forum here, but I like the ideas of rapid turnaround rather than waiting days, being able to do-over if my design has an issue or I think of an improvement once the parts are in my hands, and being able to make just one or a couple little parts without getting eaten by lot charges. It would be neat to think of something while my mind wanders at work, come home, draw it up, and have it in my hands, made with precision, that night. Especially if the parts can get cut out while I make a snack.
Does anyone have experience with this machine in particular or FoxAlien stuff in general? Any concerns that I should think about or consider alternatives for?
Of course, I've jumped down the rabbit hole on CNC routers. Started off looking at the Genmitsu line, as links to it were posted in the other thread. Was most comfortable with the 3020-Pro Max due to its rigidity. Followed that theme, read some reviews, ended up looking at the FoxAlien x Woodmads CNC Router WM3020.
https://www.foxalien.com/collections/cnc-router/products/foxalien-x-woodmads-cnc-router-wm3020
It's similar in size and concept to the 3020-Pro Max, but has upgrades like limit switches at both ends of each axis, linear bearings and ball screws on all three axes, and is easily adaptable with parts from FoxAlien to use DeWalt or Makita trim routers, which provide a massive increase in speed and torque. They say a table extension kit is in the pipe, presumably to convert to 3040 (I'm straight up making up that 3040 thing, but it makes sense to me as the likely target).
It's available for $676 with free shipping for the next week or so, rather than the $899 it is on Amazon, but still shipped from a "US Amazon" warehouse. https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804459064615.html That's a lot cheaper than upgrading the Genmitsu 3020 Pro Max.
Between a lower-cost machine like a Genmitsu 3018 upgraded to 3040 and the more rigid machine with massively more HP easily available, I lean toward the more ridgid and powerful. Just thinking about all the likely uses I might put this to, I think they'll all fit just fine in the 3020 cutting box. Space is also at a premium because of the amount of stuff I have in my garage. Having the router take up a significant chunk of workshop/bench space would probably be a bigger negative for me than a few hundred bucks cost plus or minus on the program, to be honest. If I unexpectedly end up wanting to use it for larger stuff enough to justify the cost and space requirements of a larger system, I don't think the cost of the new machine will bother me at that point.
I kinda figure if I hit that deal linked above, I'll end up in it for $1000 +/- with the Makita router and some basic other extras.
I know there are people here making runs of parts on a Genmitsu, and others set up on a full-scale metal mill. I drive a desk at work, but have access to a real mill with a DRO. Even had a little spindle time earlier this week. However, it's not CNC. So I'm not looking at this CNC router and thinking I'll use it for things it really shouldn't be used for. I'm thinking about moderately complex stuff that's fairly small and light duty.
Owning equipment does have to be weighed against "sendcutsend" and other options such as the several people offering those services through the forum here, but I like the ideas of rapid turnaround rather than waiting days, being able to do-over if my design has an issue or I think of an improvement once the parts are in my hands, and being able to make just one or a couple little parts without getting eaten by lot charges. It would be neat to think of something while my mind wanders at work, come home, draw it up, and have it in my hands, made with precision, that night. Especially if the parts can get cut out while I make a snack.
Does anyone have experience with this machine in particular or FoxAlien stuff in general? Any concerns that I should think about or consider alternatives for?
