If you are looking for an affordable desktop CNC router and milling machine the new Makesmith CNC machine created by recent university graduates Bar Smith and Tom Beckett might be worth more investigation and is priced at just $195.
The CNC has been specifically designed to help you build a desktop CNC machine and uses standard components such as an Arduino Mega board and offers a work area of 9 x 9 x 2 inches.
The creators of the Makesmith CNC machine explain : “The kit contains EVERYTHING you need to put together your own desktop CNC router except the dremel. You will receive a complete set of laser-cut parts to construct the frame and moving parts of the router, all the necessary metal hardware, an Arduino compatible microcontroller, three continuous rotation servos and three magnetic encoder boards, and all of the requisite bolts and wires.
To assemble your kit you will need a soldering iron (previous soldering experience is not necessary) and some glue. You should be able to put your kit together in just a few hours.
Before you purchase a kit, it is important to understand that you are purchasing a CNC router which was designed to minimize cost. To keep costs low we use standard threaded rods instead of lead screws which results in backlash (slop between the nut and threaded rod). This can be largely compensated for in the software. The movements of the machine are slow because the forces on the frame have to be kept small to keep accuracy high.”
The Makesmith CNC machine project is currently over on the Kickstarter crowd funding website looking to raise enough pledges to make the jump from concept to production.
So if you think Makesmith CNC machine is something you could benefit from using, visit the Kickstarter website now to make a pledge and help Makesmith CNC machine become a reality.
Source: Kickstarter