Just getting into the hobby and pretty much decided on PM25mv but would like some guidance / opinion / direction please.
The G0704 has a lot of info on the web regarding conversion but I am drawn to the PM machine based on my research of the quality and excellent company reviews. If you would, please recommend a person / company who sells CNC kits. I see several out there but reviews show that these are really hobbyists and I get the sense that although they have good products, they may not be into this full time or may not even do it any more (some comments on really long waits to get the product). I see some kits out there on what appear to be more professional, full time companies but these are quite cost prohibitive. ArizonaVideo, BDtools, HeavyMetalCNC, ProCutCNC, AutomationTechnology, Hoss (who apparently only advises and provides prints), jr7k158 on ebay.
I will only use this for a hobby machine and don’t want to spend a fortune but I want to have good stuff. I could have gone with HF equipment and probably be fine but this is my curse… I always upsell myself to make sure I get something that I can grow into.
If you could take just a moment to give me a gut check on where I think I need to go with this: I buy a bolt on kit from the above mentioned, then buy the motor / controller kits (of which I haven’t researched as far as I feel these are more universal and could go on Grizzly’s, HF’s, PM’s but then… is there also a communication board or is this typically included with these kits? Then the software. Do I need both the software to run the machine and a software to design the part? I’m not asking you to go in great detail about these questions as I will do the research, but it sure would be nice if someone could tell me if I am considering all the right things so I don’t find after all this, I missed the ‘whatchamacallit’ that is required and I have to spend another $2,000 on it! I see Acorn, Fusion360, Mach4 software out there and not sure if I need just one or a combination of them. I am currently very fluent in Google Sketchup (don’t laugh, its free and I am just playing around) and was wondering if this could export files to the actual machine software. Again, not asking you to research or write a paper on this for me, but if you just happen to know…
What I see right now is the machine (+- with shipping and stand) at $2200, conversion kit at $800, electronics at $400 (this I may be off on, haven’t spent a lot of time there), software at $200. So I can get into this at $3600. Now I have to compare this to a ready made unit (saw one on ebay) for around $4k (so maybe I am in the ballpark with what I think I need). The problem with that ready assembled unit is, I don’t have control of which kits, electronics, software is used and I don’t get the experience of building it (also will play with it in manual for a couple months before I install the conversions, although I do want to go ahead and buy everything now). One other option is, build my own conversion kit; but I’m not going to undertake that now; perhaps on my next machine! I realize all the accessories, bits, holders, vice etc... are on top of the aforementioned costs.
I will cut this short (LOL) although I have so many more thoughts and questions; I was just hoping perhaps some hobbyist (or perhaps a professional) that loves this stuff and doesn’t mind enthusiastically helping someone trying to get into this fun field would chime in! Again, I think I prefer the PM machine but that Grizzly has so much more on the internet about it that I feel safe with it and am just hoping the PM machine has as much available out there.
Thanks so much for your time already in just reading this.
The G0704 has a lot of info on the web regarding conversion but I am drawn to the PM machine based on my research of the quality and excellent company reviews. If you would, please recommend a person / company who sells CNC kits. I see several out there but reviews show that these are really hobbyists and I get the sense that although they have good products, they may not be into this full time or may not even do it any more (some comments on really long waits to get the product). I see some kits out there on what appear to be more professional, full time companies but these are quite cost prohibitive. ArizonaVideo, BDtools, HeavyMetalCNC, ProCutCNC, AutomationTechnology, Hoss (who apparently only advises and provides prints), jr7k158 on ebay.
I will only use this for a hobby machine and don’t want to spend a fortune but I want to have good stuff. I could have gone with HF equipment and probably be fine but this is my curse… I always upsell myself to make sure I get something that I can grow into.
If you could take just a moment to give me a gut check on where I think I need to go with this: I buy a bolt on kit from the above mentioned, then buy the motor / controller kits (of which I haven’t researched as far as I feel these are more universal and could go on Grizzly’s, HF’s, PM’s but then… is there also a communication board or is this typically included with these kits? Then the software. Do I need both the software to run the machine and a software to design the part? I’m not asking you to go in great detail about these questions as I will do the research, but it sure would be nice if someone could tell me if I am considering all the right things so I don’t find after all this, I missed the ‘whatchamacallit’ that is required and I have to spend another $2,000 on it! I see Acorn, Fusion360, Mach4 software out there and not sure if I need just one or a combination of them. I am currently very fluent in Google Sketchup (don’t laugh, its free and I am just playing around) and was wondering if this could export files to the actual machine software. Again, not asking you to research or write a paper on this for me, but if you just happen to know…
What I see right now is the machine (+- with shipping and stand) at $2200, conversion kit at $800, electronics at $400 (this I may be off on, haven’t spent a lot of time there), software at $200. So I can get into this at $3600. Now I have to compare this to a ready made unit (saw one on ebay) for around $4k (so maybe I am in the ballpark with what I think I need). The problem with that ready assembled unit is, I don’t have control of which kits, electronics, software is used and I don’t get the experience of building it (also will play with it in manual for a couple months before I install the conversions, although I do want to go ahead and buy everything now). One other option is, build my own conversion kit; but I’m not going to undertake that now; perhaps on my next machine! I realize all the accessories, bits, holders, vice etc... are on top of the aforementioned costs.
I will cut this short (LOL) although I have so many more thoughts and questions; I was just hoping perhaps some hobbyist (or perhaps a professional) that loves this stuff and doesn’t mind enthusiastically helping someone trying to get into this fun field would chime in! Again, I think I prefer the PM machine but that Grizzly has so much more on the internet about it that I feel safe with it and am just hoping the PM machine has as much available out there.
Thanks so much for your time already in just reading this.