Ordered a Shapeoko XXL and wanted to see if anyone here messes with a CNC for a hobby?

Yes, but don't have one of those?

Lemme google it.

Been a machinist for about 18 years. I dabbled in routers for fun awhile back. What software are you planning on designing with?

I built most of an MPCNC a while back, but other projects took priority and I never got it fully operational. I have been thinking about getting back into it.

Did you mean command and conquer?
Just kidding. Watch this (3d printer but I've seen a cnc copy before):

I run a CNC every day at a sign shop. Mostly aluminum and acrylic.

I have a 3018 and a K40 laser but am working on getting a larger format setup going. Been looking at the Sienci Longmill, Shapeoko XL, QueenBee Pro, PrintNC and (a little more expensively) an Avid CRP4848. I do like the rack and pinion design of the Avid and the associated speed, but it is just a good bit more expensive. Originally I was looking at a MillRight V, but the owner was a jackwagon, and I'd rather just deal with a company that has decent service, especially to those who find production problems and report them back.

Wood and light aluminum are what I'm looking at doing, but some people are even getting stainless steel cuts going on some of these.

My family has owned a CNC machine shop in Marshall since 1961. We make mostly mortar rounds and bomb components.

www.Lewisengineeringco.com

What kind of stuff do you do with the k40?

I have a grizzly mill that I bought new and paid a guy to convert to cnc.

He did a great job on the hardware part - double nut ball screws which required some milling out of the center piece.

But shortly after I got it home I threw away the electrical work he had done and replaced it with a mach4 compatible board, redid all the wiring, added some sensors, so on and so forth.

I also have a lathe that isn't really cnc, but I replaced the motor on it with a treadmill motor from ebay and did the clough42 (search youtube) mod with a little control screen for setting threads / in and what not.

So yes, I CNC on the mill and halfway cnc on the lathe.

Will post pics if interested. It is super awesome to take an idea, model it up, and then make it out of metal.

I'd like to own a cnc router for wood work but just don't want to dedicate the limited space in my garage for it.

jaggiemaggie said:

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What kind of stuff do you do with the k40?

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Mostly just customization of woodworking projects I've done. These are all for my personal hobby use. I have considered doing some small project sales and customization at fairs and such, but haven't done much to get it setup for that. The 3018 has a 5W diode laser, and I've been considering adding an Ortur to it with a few mods for some extra power. I need to replace the K40 control board with a Laserburn compatible unit, but haven't looked much beyond the Cohesion3D unit. I'll probably do that at the same time I run the extension mods for it. https://replicantfx.com/k40-laser-cutter-rebuild-12x24in-2/

I have a 4x8 Camaster. I use Vectric products (Aspire & Vcarve) for most of the product design and toolpathing. I also just moved my Nova 1624 lathe over by my CNC so I can cut turned objects on my CNC.