X-Carve DIY CNC Machine Review
video description
The biggest issue with these machines is rigidity, and price. It's not really that rigid because of several factors:
1) The stand-offs that hold the gantry and maker-slide rails up from the waste-board aren't really that beefy. Instead of using thin sheet steel, i made mine out of 6. 35mm aluminium, (1/4 for the imperialists: p)
2) The gantry maker-slide rails, while somewhat rigid, do torque, and on the 1000mm version, it's quite a lot, i ended up shimming the gantry rails with a piece of 4. 75mm flat bar steel. (3/16) Torque was almost completely removed (i say almost, because i didn't try standing on it to see if it still torqued: p)
3) Supporting structure, or lack thereof. In the 500mm version, the support for the waste board is adequate for lightweight materials, and thin pieces of aluminum. However, on tougher materials, the lack of proper support under the waste-board allows the waste-board to deflect, and warp. Even on the 500mm version, this happens, but it's not really noticeable unless you're looking at the surface finish of a flat that's had several passes made in succession. I solved this by replacing adding additional supports, and actually anchoring the waste-board to the support rails every 100mm.
Accuracy issues:
1) Te waste-board is painted. It looks nice, but a stencil or something should be included, as you'll need to resurface it regularly if doing any through cuts, or if you have an issue or crash. It should also be mentioned, that the waste-board should be face milled before first use, just to ensure it's perfectly parallel with the spindle.
2) Belts suck. PERIOD. while they do work, they require constant monitoring, and retensioning. They lose their strength over time, and aren't really that reliable. For this reason, the accuracy of the belt system is kind of hit or miss, you will need to constantly measure, and adjust your GRBL settings to compensate for deterioration of the belt's performance, as well as tighten the belts as they slack over time. It should also be noted, keep several spare belts on hand, while i've not had one break yet, it's sure to happen sooner or later as you keep tightening them to maintain the proper tautness required for operation.
3) No DRO, or Digital readout, or independent measurement system on the machine is a BAD IDEA! missed steps happen, and without witnessing a lot of successive missed steps, most people won't even know it's happening, one or two missed steps over time adds up to quite a few, and a ruined project. A high count rotary encoder on each axis and an arduino with I2C LCD is plenty enough to keep track of actual machine position vs grbl's calculated machine position. grey-code optical encoders could also work, but the amount of dust, and debris generated by the machine would make it difficult to maintain them.
Pricing:
1) The quiet cut spindle being sold, is a cheap, no-name Chinese import. The bearings are very poor quality, and seated in rubber, making for constantly deteriorating run out on the spindle. The price if purchased directly from the chinese manufacturer is only around 30 USD, versus the 80usd inventables sells them for. This massive price hike can be seen throughout the inventables shop, where pretty much everything is marked up anywhere from 250% - 500% depending on the piece.
Overall, the machine is a nice concept behind it, but poor implemented, and extremely overpriced components, and kits doesn't save it.
The only saving grace for this machine, is it's modular enough that the issues i've outlined can be addressed by the user, and that the machine is opensource hardware, and can be built by anyone with a few exceptions. The makerslide rails, and gantry carriage cannot be built by the home hobbyists as they are, one would need to redesign them to make it easier for hobbyists to make.
For the rest of it, the machine works quite well with chillipepper, and pretty much any software that can control a GRBL based device. The inventables Easle Site needs quite a few improvements, including but not limited to tool selection, tool customization, auto-leveling adjustment etc.
Date: 2020-09-05
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Comments and reviews: 9
Nick
You can tell you got this for free. You were way too forgiving. If I paid 1, 000 for one of these and ran into those problems motor doesnt fit, poor incomplete/erroneous instructions, improperly sized terminal blocks, need to crimp your own damn connector contacts the fracking thing should go straight back into the box and returned for a full refund. Thats way too much money for a sub-par CNC machine.
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You can tell you got this for free. You were way too forgiving. If I paid 1, 000 for one of these and ran into those problems motor doesnt fit, poor incomplete/erroneous instructions, improperly sized terminal blocks, need to crimp your own damn connector contacts the fracking thing should go straight back into the box and returned for a full refund. Thats way too much money for a sub-par CNC machine.
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Dr. Cosmar
I would love to see a step by step 3d printer building guide from you. Most of them are very incomplete, cut corners, or fail to explain steps well enough to follow. I'm doing a project soon and it looks like I'll have to piece the information together from various sources.
I just love the detail you put into your videos, what you call nit picking, is what I call in-depth information.
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I would love to see a step by step 3d printer building guide from you. Most of them are very incomplete, cut corners, or fail to explain steps well enough to follow. I'm doing a project soon and it looks like I'll have to piece the information together from various sources.
I just love the detail you put into your videos, what you call nit picking, is what I call in-depth information.
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The
When the motor didn't fit you could have used freeze spray on it to cool it down to the point it shrunk. if that wasn't enough then heat up the space it goes in with a torch to expand it. Just might have made it a tight fit: )
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When the motor didn't fit you could have used freeze spray on it to cool it down to the point it shrunk. if that wasn't enough then heat up the space it goes in with a torch to expand it. Just might have made it a tight fit: )
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Gigabecquerel
What happened to the CNC?
I haven't seen it in any other of your videos, even though it would have been usefull.
After a year of using this machine, would you still recomend it?
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What happened to the CNC?
I haven't seen it in any other of your videos, even though it would have been usefull.
After a year of using this machine, would you still recomend it?
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PYROWORKSTV
One question, would you carve some small parts for me? (I'm also German living in Germany )
I need some plexiglas parts for a nice looking audio amplifier: )
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One question, would you carve some small parts for me? (I'm also German living in Germany )
I need some plexiglas parts for a nice looking audio amplifier: )
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Maria's
+GreatScott! Great review. I had ordered a Chinese CNC miller off of Ebay without success, I am glad I saw this review as I am going to order one myself.
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+GreatScott! Great review. I had ordered a Chinese CNC miller off of Ebay without success, I am glad I saw this review as I am going to order one myself.
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Homero
it's been a year how is the x-carve doing any problems or complications? you should make a video about all the complications and problems that you've had.
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it's been a year how is the x-carve doing any problems or complications? you should make a video about all the complications and problems that you've had.
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cybot63
just go buy a tap and die set at most hardware stores for around 50. 00 bucks and tread you own holes so you don't wreck the parts.
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just go buy a tap and die set at most hardware stores for around 50. 00 bucks and tread you own holes so you don't wreck the parts.
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Balazs
Since when is something you buy in pieces DIY? You just put it together but it's not your product of parts from independent sources
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Since when is something you buy in pieces DIY? You just put it together but it's not your product of parts from independent sources
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