sunndelight
Plastic
- Joined
- May 22, 2017
Hello everyone. I have searched through this forum hoping to find the answers I need but I ended up having to post my questions after all. My questions are about an affordable (affordable to me that is) CNC machine for working with jewelry grade metals. I need the machine to:
- Route out shapes and designs from flat sheets of metal plate up to 1 mil but a little thinner is fine too.
- I only need to work with flat surfaces at this time.
- I'd like to be able to work with silver, gold, aluminum, copper, maybe brass and bronze too and jewelry grade zinc alloys or other jewelry grade metal alloys. (Question: If it can cut metal, can it cut non-metals too?)
- It would be nice if it could also cut through steel and stainless steel, but I can live without that luxury.
- The cutting I am referring to would be all the way through such as cutting complete circle shapes out of one sheet plate of metal and also more intricate designs such as a script letter B.
- I would also like it to engrave on flat surfaces of metals.
- Most of the designs or shapes I plan to route out will be no bigger than 2" x 2" (with only a handful being 3" x 8") so the work space does not need to be large.
- I need the machine to be VERY PORTABLE...as in desk top size and easy to move and set-up.
- I'd like to be able to use easy to use software with it. I do not have a degree in machining or code so the interface has to be laymen user friendly.
- I'd like to be able to design my own shapes or designs with the proper software for the CNC machine.
- I'd like the machine to be able to produce about 10 small pieces of cut outs per/hr.
- I'd like this machine to not cost me $7K. It seems that I can't get away from this big number. I have contacted several companies and I end up with sticker shock during our conversation. My budget right now is only $1000 complete (or add another $500 for software and additional parts needed). I'm hoping I can boost my business with such a machine and then use the proceeds to upgrade to a more appropriate machine.
I know I am asking a lot. I just need that little bit of "an edge" and a CNC would do that greatly for me, but the costs are so prohibitive for me. I have seen cheaper ones on Ebay and the various different "direct from China" sites, but I don't know enough about these machines to trust my judgement in choosing one. I know the terminology "RPM's" and "Spindle Type" are important factors to consider but I am not familiar with the industry to understand them. Please, won't somebody help me understand and point me in the right direction? Perhaps a site that explains it all in good laymen language detail and a push in the direction of a decent machine for my needs. Thanks to all. I appreciate any replies.
- Route out shapes and designs from flat sheets of metal plate up to 1 mil but a little thinner is fine too.
- I only need to work with flat surfaces at this time.
- I'd like to be able to work with silver, gold, aluminum, copper, maybe brass and bronze too and jewelry grade zinc alloys or other jewelry grade metal alloys. (Question: If it can cut metal, can it cut non-metals too?)
- It would be nice if it could also cut through steel and stainless steel, but I can live without that luxury.
- The cutting I am referring to would be all the way through such as cutting complete circle shapes out of one sheet plate of metal and also more intricate designs such as a script letter B.
- I would also like it to engrave on flat surfaces of metals.
- Most of the designs or shapes I plan to route out will be no bigger than 2" x 2" (with only a handful being 3" x 8") so the work space does not need to be large.
- I need the machine to be VERY PORTABLE...as in desk top size and easy to move and set-up.
- I'd like to be able to use easy to use software with it. I do not have a degree in machining or code so the interface has to be laymen user friendly.
- I'd like to be able to design my own shapes or designs with the proper software for the CNC machine.
- I'd like the machine to be able to produce about 10 small pieces of cut outs per/hr.
- I'd like this machine to not cost me $7K. It seems that I can't get away from this big number. I have contacted several companies and I end up with sticker shock during our conversation. My budget right now is only $1000 complete (or add another $500 for software and additional parts needed). I'm hoping I can boost my business with such a machine and then use the proceeds to upgrade to a more appropriate machine.
I know I am asking a lot. I just need that little bit of "an edge" and a CNC would do that greatly for me, but the costs are so prohibitive for me. I have seen cheaper ones on Ebay and the various different "direct from China" sites, but I don't know enough about these machines to trust my judgement in choosing one. I know the terminology "RPM's" and "Spindle Type" are important factors to consider but I am not familiar with the industry to understand them. Please, won't somebody help me understand and point me in the right direction? Perhaps a site that explains it all in good laymen language detail and a push in the direction of a decent machine for my needs. Thanks to all. I appreciate any replies.